Belief in the Prophets and Messengers (1/3)
We have discussed belief in Allah (Mighty & Majestic) and His Oneness, and we have proven, with evidence and testimony, in several different ways, the Existence of God, the Creator of this universe and of all things from nothing, with His Supreme Attributes, Absolute Power, and Comprehensive Knowledge, as we have shown.
We have also discussed the point that, as a requirement of our belief in God, the Creator (Mighty & Majestic), His Attributes, and His Oneness—which is known as the unity of lordship (tawhid al-rububiyyah)—we must worship Him and draw near to Him without setting up partners or equals with Him!
It is from the Ultimate Wisdom of Allah (Mighty & Majestic) that He sent prophets and messengers to His slaves with the Straight Religion, so that they might know the Supreme Attributes of their God and Creator, how to worship Him (Noble & Sublime), how to maintain His unity, how to draw near to Him, and how to know the path that will lead to His good pleasure (Noble & Sublime) and how to avoid His displeasure.
What we would like to shed light upon very briefly is: some of the proof that Allah (Mighty & Majestic) raised prophets and messengers from amongst the people and sent them with a message, and that we are therefore required to believe in them, in their call, and in everything they came with.
Proof that Allah (Mighty & Majestic) sent prophets and messengers:
1. Man's unspoiled, good nature and sound, straightforward reason:
Allah (Mighty & Majestic) created human beings and designed them to believe in His Existence (Noble & Sublime) and His Oneness. He sent to them prophets and messengers of their own kind (human), speaking their own language, so that they might comprehend him and understand from him, and also that they might be able to talk to him and converse with him.
If He (Noble & Sublime) had sent to mankind a messenger of another type, like the angels, they would not have been able to face him or receive knowledge from him.
As such, it was from among the duties of prophets and messengers, according to the Saying of Allah Most High
{And We send not the Messengers but as givers of glad tidings and as warners. So whosoever believes and does righteous good deeds, upon such shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. * But those who reject Our Signs, the torment will touch them for their disbelief.}
[Al-An`aam 6: 48-49]
In other words, the prophet and messengers came bearing glad tidings of goodness, reward and blessing to Allah's good, believing slaves from Him (Blessed & Exalted). They were also sent to warn those who disbelieve in Allah Almighty and deny His signs (following in this their vain desires and trivial passions) of torment and punishment from Him (Noble & Sublime).
Man's unspoiled nature and sound reason do not deny what we have mentioned, nor do they stand against it; rather, they accept and agree with it in the strongest way. In fact, man's good nature and sound reason reject and oppose anyone who tries to make them doubt that Allah (Mighty & Majestic) sent prophets and messengers.
As a supplement to clarify the Wisdom of Allah (Mighty & Majestic) in sending prophets and messengers from among the same kind as those they were sent to (humans):
- If the prophets and messengers had been from among the angels, for instance, the people would not have been able to see them in their true form, due to the splendor of their appearance, and they would not have taken to them. They would have been overcome with fear and trembling when they spoke or touched them, and this would have made their speech and invitation of no benefit.
- If the angels had come as prophets and messengers in human form, it would have been confusing for the people, and they would have said to them: You are not angels; you are human.
- If the prophets and messengers had been from among the angels, men would not have been able to imitate them well.
If the angels called people to do what Allah (Mighty & Majestic) commanded them to do—from performing their religious duties to forsaking what they were forbidden to do—and if the angels had modeled this behavior for them, by obeying the Commands of Allah (Mighty & Majestic) and avoiding what Allah (Noble & Sublime) had forbidden them, so that the people could emulate them, the people would have said: It is not within our capacity to do what you have called us to do. You—angels—are able to do it and fulfill everything you were called to do because you are angels, and you are strong, but we are human, and we are weak.
That is why, in the Ultimate Wisdom of Allah (Mighty & Majestic), He sent prophets and messengers from among the same kind of being as those to whom they were sent—human beings. This is in addition to the many other wisdoms we have discussed, so we will suffice ourselves with the aforementioned.
