The Essence of Prophethood

The greatest thing that man must know in this life is the knowledge about his Lord, Who created him from nothing and showered him with blessings. And the greatest purpose for which Allah created the creation is to worship Him Alone.

But how can man know his Lord as it is due? What are the duties and obligations binding on him? How can he worship his Lord? Man can find who will assist him during vicissitudes of life, provide for his needs like treatment for an ailment, giving some medicine, assisting to build a house and so on and so forth; but he cannot find among ordinary people who can make him know his Lord and explain to him how to worship Him. This is because human intelligence cannot independently know what Allah intends, he cannot even perceive the intention of his fellow human being before he tells him what he intends. How can he then know what Allah means? Further, it is also because, this matter is only restricted to the Messengers and Prophets whom Allah has chosen to convey the Message and to those who come after them among the rightly guided leaders and the heirs of the Prophet, who follow their way, take to their Path and help to convey their message. For men cannot receive revelation from Allah directly as they are unable to bear it. Allah says,

 “It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, of from behind a veil, or that He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His leave. Verily, He is Most-High, Most Wise.” [Surah Ash-Shooraa, 42:51]

There should therefore be an intermediary and an envoy who can convey the law of Allah to His slaves, those intermediaries and envoys are the Messengers and Prophets. The angel will carry the message to the Prophet and the Prophet will convey it to the people. The Angels do not carry the message to men directly, for the world of angels is naturally different from that of human beings. Allah says,

 “Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men.” [Surah Al-Hajj, 22:75]

The Wisdom of Allah necessitates that the Messenger should come from the race of those whom he is sent to, so that they could understand him because of their ability to speak with him. If Messengers had been sent to mankind from among the angels, they could not have been able to face him or learn anything from him. Allah the exalted says,

“And they say: Why has not an angel been sent down to him? Had we sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them. And had We appointed him an angel, We indeed would have made him a man, and We would have certainly confused them in which they are already confused.” [Surah Al-An‘aam, 6:8-9]

He also says,

“And We never sent before you (O Muhammad) any of the Messengers but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience? And your Lord is Ever All-Seer (of everything). And those who expect not a meeting with Us (i.e., those who deny the Day of Resurrection and the life of the Hereafter) said: ‘Why are not the angels send down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?’ Indeed, they think too highly of themselves and are scornful with great pride.” [Surah Al-Furqaan, 25:20-21]

He also says,

“And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad) any but men.” [Surah An-Nahl, 16:43]

He also says,

“And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make the Message clear to them.” [Surah Ibraaheem, 13:4]

These Messengers and Prophets possessed complete and perfect reason, sound nature, truthfulness in words and deeds, sincerity in conveying what was put in their trust, Divine immunity from all that could tarnish human conduct and physical appearances that are free from all things that are repugnant to sights and repulsive to sound human taste.[1] Allah purified them in their persons and manners. They are the most-perfect in manners, purest in souls and most generous. Allah combined in them good manners and excellent conduct as He combined in them deliberateness, knowledge, magnanimity, generosity, bravery and justice. By these qualities, they were distinguished among their peoples. The people of Prophet Saalih told him as Allah informs us in His Book,

“They said: ‘O Saalih! You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this (new thing which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship your God (Allah) alone). Do you now forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped?’ ” [Surah Hood, 11:62]

He also informs us of what the people of Prophet Shuaaib told him,.

“They said: ‘O Shuaaib! Does your prayers command that we give up what our fathers used to worship, or that we give up doing what we like with our property. Verily, you are the forbearer, right-minded.’ ” [Surah Hood, 11:87.]

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, was also popular among his people with the title “Al-Ameen” (the trustworthy) even before he received the revelation, His Lord describes him saying,

“And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard) of character.” [Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4]

The Messengers and Prophets are therefore, the best ones among Allah's creatures. He selected them and chose them to carry His Message and convey it to mankind, and,  

“Allah knows best with whom to place His Message.” [Surah Al-An‘aam, 6:124]

Allah says,

 “Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Ibraaheem and the family of ‘Imraan above the mankind (of their time).” [Surah Aal ‘Imraan, 3:33]

These Messengers and Prophets – in spite of lofty qualities with which Allah described them and the excellent conducts for which they were known – are nevertheless humans who suffered what other humans suffer; they suffered hunger and sickness; they slept, ate, married and died. Allah says, addressing Prophet Muhammad,

“Verily, you will die, and verily, they (too) will die.” [Surah Az-Zumar, 39:30]

Allah also says,

“And indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad) and made for them wives and offspring.” [Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:38]

They were even subjected to persecution; many of them were killed or expelled from their homes. Allah says addressing Prophet Muhammad,

“And remember when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, or to kill you or to expel you (from your home), they were plotting and Allah too was plotting; and Allah is the Best of those who plot.” [Surah Al-Anfaal, 8:30]

But to them were the end, victory and authority in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Allah says,

“Allah will help those who help His (cause).” [Surah Al-Hajj, 22:40]

He also says,

“Allah has decreed: Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious. Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.”  [Surah Al-Mujaadilah, 58:21]