BELIEF in the PROPHETS

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Prophets and ProphethoodDivine Purposes for Sending the ProphetsCharacteristics of the ProphetsThe essentials of ProphethoodHow many Prophets have been sent to mankind?Prophets Conveyed the Same MessageWhat are the differences between saints and

Prophets?What is a ‘miracle’?Why are Prophets human?Were there any woman prophets?

Outline

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Who are Prophets and What is Prophethood?Prophethood is the institution of bringing message

from God to His servantsProphets were chosen men through whom God

manifested Himself to illuminate the way of mankind so that mankind might be guided to the truth and be purified of sins

“God was gracious to the believers when He raised up among them a

Messenger from themselves who recites to them the verses (of His Book) and

shows them His signs [in their selves and in the universe], purifies them [of

their sins and their deviations of thought and belief], and instructs them in the

Book and the Wisdom. They were evidently in manifest misguidance before.”

[Quran, 3:164]

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Who are Prophets ?, cont’d.A prophet has brilliant intelligence and pure soul

Prophethood is not a position acquired through brilliance of intelligence and purity of soul. A Prophet is specially brought up by God.

No prophet was divine. Prophethood is the highest rank and a honor a

man can receive from God. No ordinary man can achieve the rank of any prophet.

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A Prophet is protected by God against all kinds of sin, whether major or minor, because he is created for a special purpose. He is protected from falling, since his going astray even an inch could result in great deviation of his people.

The Prophets never speak as a result of whims and fancies

“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is no less than revelation sent down to him.” [Quran 53:3-4]

Who are Prophets ?, cont’d.

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Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an

Adam Idris (Enoch) Nuh (Noah) Hud Saleh Ibrahim (Abraham) Isma'il (Ishmael) Ishaq (Isaac) Lut (Lot) Ya'qub (Jacob) Yousef (Joseph) Shu'aib Ayyub (Job)

Musa (Moses) Harun (Aaron) Dhu'l-kifl (Ezekiel) Dawud (David) Sulaiman (Solomon) Ilias (Elias) Al-Yasa (Elisha) Yunus (Jonah) Zakariyya (Zechariah) Yahya (John) Isa (Jesus) Muhammad

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Prophets are NOT oracles!!! Prophets have divine message. They are

MESSENGERS of GOD. Prophets have miracles which are done by

God through them. Prophets work for the good of mankind. Prophets never lie. Prophets do not ask for wages or power and

status.

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What is the Divine Purpose for Sending the Prophets??

The Prophets were sent

to illuminate the way of mankind  

  to guide people to the service of God 

to teach people the meaning of creation

to teach God’s laws  

to be examples

to establish the balance between this world and the next

to be God’s witnesses

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Some characteristics of the Prophets

The Prophets

 depended on revelation

 were sincere in every action  were very patient in faces of adversity were very compassionate toward all living beings

called people wisely and with kindness

 called humankind to God’s Unity

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The essentials of Prophethood

The essentials of Prophet hood common to all of the Prophets are, according to the theologians, as follows:

Truthfulness

Trustworthiness  

Convey the message

Intellect

Infallibility

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The prophets were all trustworthy and asked no wage for calling to God

“I am for you a trustworthy Messenger, so serve you God, and obey you me. I ask of you no wage for this; my wage falls only upon the Lord of the Worlds.” [Quran 26:107–9, 125–7, 143–5, 162–4, 178–80]

An important point!

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How many Prophets have been sent to mankind?No region or people has been altogether deprived of Divine

enlightenment through God’s chosen servants, His prophets.

Directly or indirectly, all people of all periods have, at some time in their history, known or been aware of a prophet and of his teaching. There never was a people without a Warner having lived among them. (Quran 35:24)

And We assuredly sent among every people a Messenger. (Quran 16:36)

The Qur’an mentions 25 out of 124,000 (or perhaps 224,000) prophets. We do not know exactly where and when many of them lived.We did in times past send Messengers before you; of them there are some whose stories We have related to you, and some whose story We have not related to you. (Quran 40:78)

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Prophets Conveyed the Same Message All the prophets called humankind to God's unity. In their teachings, differences might have happened in minor

matters depending on the conditions of their peoples. However, all these teachings are the same in essence. E.g., stealing is evil and a sin in all; yet, the way a thief is punished might differ.

For We assuredly sent amongst every people an Messenger

(with the command), ‘Serve God and eschew evil.’ (Quran

16:36)

Whenever people fell into darkness after a Prophet by forgetting, changing and distorting his message, God sent another one to enlighten them again. This continued until the coming of the Last Prophet.

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What are the differences between saints and Prophets? Prophets are chosen by God but saints

struggle to gain sainthood. Prophets are infallible while saints may sin. Saints just confirm the message of the

Prophets. Saints never reach the level of the Prophets. Saints may display acts of marvel but only

Prophets may perform miracles.

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What is a ‘miracle’?

A miracle is an extraordinary event that God Almighty brings about at the hands of a Prophet to prove his Prophethood, strengthen the believers' faith, and break the unbelievers' obstinacy.

Examples: The Staff of Moses Healing of Jesus The Holy Qur’an

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Why are Prophets human?

If Prophets came from angels, people would object to this saying, “We cannot be like them so we cannot follow them.”

The Prophets’ being human helps convey the message easily and in a more understandable way.

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Were there any woman prophets?

Prophets were from men.

“And before thee also the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message.” [Qur’an 16:43]

Thank you for your patience!