Prophets and messengers in Islam are chosen individuals sent by God to guide humanity. Their primary role is to convey God's messages, which center on the worship of God alone and the rejection of all other deities . They serve as divine conduits, teaching people what God loves and dislikes, and warning them against what incurs His wrath .
These exalted figures are essential for human well-being in both this life and the hereafter. They provide moral guidance, exemplify virtuous conduct, and clarify matters of the unseen that human intellect cannot grasp independently, such as God's names, attributes, and the realities of the afterlife. Without them, humanity would be left in ignorance and deviation, unable to fulfill the purpose of their creation, which is to worship God .
Scholarly Analysis
Introduction to Prophets and Messengers in Islam
Prophets and messengers (Anbiya' and Rusul) in Islam are divinely chosen individuals, the elite of creation, selected by God to convey His messages to humanity. Their mission is fundamental to human existence, providing guidance, clarifying the path to salvation, and establishing God's proof against mankind. The necessity of their mission is so profound that it is considered more vital than any other human need, serving as the very "spirit of the world, its light, and its life" .
Distinction and Purpose of Messengership
The term "Rasul Allah" (Messenger of God), when used in an absolute sense, refers to those who bring a message from God, whether angels or humans, as stated in the Quran: "Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among men" (Quran 22:75) . While all creation acts by God's will and power, messengers are specifically sent to convey His commands and prohibitions, guiding people to what He loves and approves, and warning against what He dislikes .
The overarching purpose of sending messengers is to fulfill the reason for humanity's creation: the worship and unification of God, performing what He loves, and avoiding what displeases Him. Humans cannot fully comprehend the true nature of worship without the guidance of these chosen individuals. Messengers are purified from all defects and supported by miracles and clear proofs, through which God reveals Himself and commands them to invite people to His sole worship .
Furthermore, the sending of messengers serves to establish a conclusive argument against humanity, leaving no excuse for disbelief. As the Quran states: "Messengers who delivered good news and warnings so that mankind would have no argument against Allah after the messengers" (Quran 4:165) and "And We would not punish until We had sent a messenger" (Quran 17:15) . This ensures that those who live, live by clear evidence, and those who perish, perish by clear evidence .
Core Functions and Roles of Messengers
The functions of prophets and messengers are multifaceted and crucial for the spiritual and moral well-being of societies. These roles include:
Calling to the Oneness of God (Tawhid): This is the ultimate goal and primary function of all messengers. From Noah to Muhammad, peace be upon them all, their central message has been to worship God alone and shun all false deities (Taghut). This is affirmed in the Quran: "And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut'" (Quran 16:36) . The essence of this call is the belief in God's uniqueness in His Lordship (Rububiyyah), His names and attributes (Al-Asma' wa al-Sifat), and His sole right to be worshipped (Uluhiyyah) .
Conveying Divine Law (Shari'ah): Messengers are entrusted with delivering God's laws and commands to people. This includes both the Quran and the Sunnah for Prophet Muhammad, as the Quran states: "O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message" (Quran 5:67) .
Clarifying Divine Revelation: Messengers explain and elaborate upon the divine scriptures and wisdom revealed to them. "And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought" (Quran 16:44) .
Bearing Good Tidings and Warnings: They inform people of the rewards awaiting those who obey God and the punishments for those who disobey. They are "messengers who delivered good news and warnings" (Quran 4:165) .
Serving as Exemplars (Uswah Hasanah): Prophets and messengers are perfect role models in their words, actions, and character, guiding humanity towards righteous conduct. "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern" (Quran 33:21) .
Establishing God's Law: They are responsible for implementing and enforcing God's law among people, judging between them according to what God has revealed. "And judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations" (Quran 5:49) .
Bearing Witness on the Day of Judgment: On the Day of Resurrection, messengers will testify against their nations that they conveyed God's message clearly. "And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves. And We will bring you, [O Muhammad], as a witness over these" (Quran 16:89) .
The Unity of the Messengers' Religion (Islam)
Despite the diversity of their specific laws and methodologies (Shari'ah and Minhaj), all prophets and messengers shared a single core religion: Islam. This means complete submission to God alone, worshipping Him exclusively, and obeying His commands at all times. This fundamental principle of Tawhid (monotheism) is the essence of Islam, which God accepts from no one, neither from the first generations nor the last .
The Quran explicitly states that all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, were Muslims, meaning they submitted to God. Noah declared, "And I was commanded to be of the Muslims" (Quran 10:72). Abraham and Jacob enjoined their children, "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except as Muslims" (Quran 2:132). Moses told his people, "O my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims" (Quran 10:84). And the disciples of Jesus said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims" (Quran 5:111) .
The unity of their religion is further evidenced by several points:
Singular Message: The core of their call was one: the reality of Islam, which is Tawhid .
Mutual Affirmation: Earlier prophets foretold the coming of later prophets, and later prophets confirmed the truth of those who came before them. God took a covenant from all prophets that if a messenger came to them confirming what they had, they would believe in him and support him .
Interconnected Belief: Belief in all messengers is interconnected. Disbelief in any one messenger is considered disbelief in all of them. The Quran condemns those who differentiate between God and His messengers, saying, "We believe in some and disbelieve in others," declaring them to be true disbelievers . Therefore, anyone who receives the message of Prophet Muhammad and does not affirm it is a disbeliever, even if they claim to be Muslim or believe in other prophets .
While the general meaning of Islam encompasses the submission to God by all nations following their respective prophets, the specific Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad, which includes the Quranic law, is exclusively for his nation. When the term "Islam" is used today without qualification, it refers to this specific meaning, as God perfected the religion for this nation .
The Role of Intellect and Revelation
Human intellect plays a role in recognizing the truth of the prophets' messages. Messengers presented signs and proofs that allowed people to ascertain their truthfulness through rational contemplation and deduction. For instance, Prophet Abraham used rational arguments against the worship of celestial bodies, demonstrating that anything that rises and sets cannot be a god worthy of worship .
However, human intellect alone cannot grasp many unseen realities, such as the detailed knowledge of God's names and attributes, angels, jinn, devils, or the rewards and punishments of the afterlife. Therefore, the guidance of prophets is indispensable for understanding these truths and for distinguishing between what is beneficial and harmful in both this life and the hereafter . The revelation brought by messengers is the light that illuminates these matters, without which humanity would remain in darkness and error .
Conclusion
Prophets and messengers are the chosen elite of humanity, sent by God to guide people towards His worship and to establish His definitive proof. Their roles encompass calling to the oneness of God, conveying and clarifying divine law, delivering glad tidings and warnings, serving as perfect role models, establishing justice, and bearing witness for their communities. Despite variations in specific laws, their core religion, Islam, remained consistent: complete submission to God alone. Human intellect, while capable of recognizing the truth of their claims through divine signs, remains dependent on their revelation for comprehensive knowledge of the unseen and for detailed guidance on the path to salvation. Their mission is thus an indispensable mercy from God, without which humanity would be lost in ignorance and deviation.
