Prophet Hood in Islam
Allah created man for a noble purpose, to worship Him and lead a virtuous life based on His teachings and guidance. To teach man know his role and the purpose of his existence, He sent prophets and messengers with clear and practical instructions of what human has to do. Thus Allah has chosen from every nation at least one prophet to convey His Message to people. And it is part of Iman to believe in all prophets.
Allah, may He be exalted, says,
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe. (Surat al Muminoon: 44)
Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner. (Surat al Fatir: 24)
According to Islam, Prophet hood is a blessing and favor from Allah that He may bestow on whom He wills. However, prophets in Islam may be recognized by some features: (Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood)
Such as, during period of Musa (a), his nation was excelling in magic, so his major miracle was to defeat the best magicians of Egypt of his day.
The content of the prophets’ message to mankind can be summarized as follows: (Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood)
How many prophets were sent all throughout history?
Allah has named some of those Messengers and told us the stories of some of them, but not of many others. Allah, may He be exalted, says,
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]. And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech. (Surat Al Nisa: 163-164)
The reports differ concerning the number of Prophets and Messengers. And most reports are week. The most well-known of the reports is the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (ra), which says that the number of Prophets was one hundred and twenty-four thousand, among whom the number of Messengers was three hundred and fifteen.
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many Prophets were there? He said: “One hundred and twenty-four thousand.” I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many of them were Messengers? He said: “Three hundred and thirteen, a good number.” I said: O Messenger of Allah, who was the first of them? He said: “Adam.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, 361)
Actually, no one knows their number except Allah, because He says:
And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some We have not related to you their story (Surat al Ghaafir:78)
Those who are known are those who are mentioned in the Qur’an or in the sahih Sunnah. (Is there any saheeh text about the number of Prophets and Messengers?)
It possible for more than one prophet to be sent at one time?
Multiple prophets were sent to nations at one time to help each other and strengthen the message they brought. Because the addition of another witness strengthens a claim.
Allah sent Musa and Harun pbut to pharaoh of Egypt together. Allah says,
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. (Surah Taha: 42-43)
Is it possible for women to be prophets?
Allah, may He be exalted, has decreed that one of the attributes of the prophets is masculinity. Allah did not send any prophet from among women. This exclusivity is indicated by the verse in which Allah says:
And We sent not before you (O Muhammad SAW) but men to whom We inspired (Surat al-Anbiya:7)
The prophets were men for reasons which were dictated by the nature of their task. The role of Messenger requires a great many tasks to be performed: addressing men and women, meeting people in secret and openly, moving throughout the land, confronting liars and establishing proof against them and debating with them, preparing and leading armies, and going through the sufferings of war. All of that is suitable for men but not for women. He should be in charge of those who follow him, so he issues commands and prohibitions to his followers, and he rules and judges among them. And by default women are obliged to obey their husband. So in this case more ambiguity would have arisen. (There were no female Prophets or Messengers)
Is it possible that Buddha was a prophet?
Though some Muslim scholars said seeing similarities between Islam and Buddhism that Buddha may be a prophet but Allah knows best. But in reality, He had neither claimed to be an incarnation nor a prophet. He was born as Hindu, and he didn’t even question the pre-supposed Hindu beliefs/doctrines. He preached a non-theistic philosophy. So, no issue whether the people can believe in god or not. (Muhiyaddin)
Buddha was not a Prophet, rather he was a philosopher who followed a religion that was not divinely-revealed. His people exaggerated about him and believed that he was divine, and they worshipped him instead of Allah. (Buddha was a kaafir philosopher not a Prophet)
Allah created humans and Jins only for His worship. But without proper knowledge they are not able to know the purpose of their creation. And it is not befitting to Allah the he left His creation without knowing why he created them. Allah blessed us by letting us knowing about Him and His creation and afterlife through sending prophets time to time.
Allah, may He be exalted, says,
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe. (Surat al Muminoon: 44)
Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner. (Surat al Fatir: 24)
According to Islam, Prophet hood is a blessing and favor from Allah that He may bestow on whom He wills. However, prophets in Islam may be recognized by some features: (Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood)
- He is the best person in his community morally and intellectually.
- He is supported by miracles to prove that he is not an imposter. Those miracles are granted by the power and permission of God and are usually in the field in which his people excel and are recognized as superior.
Such as, during period of Musa (a), his nation was excelling in magic, so his major miracle was to defeat the best magicians of Egypt of his day.
- Every prophet states clearly that what he receives is not of his own making, but from God, for the well-being of mankind. He also confirms what was revealed before him and what may be revealed after him. They all preached the same creed that Allah is one, He created us and we all will return to Him in the Judgment day.
The content of the prophets’ message to mankind can be summarized as follows: (Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood)
- Clear concept about Allah: His attributes, His creation, what should and should not be ascribed to Him.
- Clear idea about the unseen world, the angels, jinn (spirits), Paradise and Hell.
- Why God has created us, what He wants from us and what rewards and punishments are for obedience and disobedience.
- How to run our societies according to His will. Clear instructions and laws to run a smoothly functioning, harmonious society is given.
How many prophets were sent all throughout history?
Allah has named some of those Messengers and told us the stories of some of them, but not of many others. Allah, may He be exalted, says,
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]. And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech. (Surat Al Nisa: 163-164)
The reports differ concerning the number of Prophets and Messengers. And most reports are week. The most well-known of the reports is the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (ra), which says that the number of Prophets was one hundred and twenty-four thousand, among whom the number of Messengers was three hundred and fifteen.
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many Prophets were there? He said: “One hundred and twenty-four thousand.” I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many of them were Messengers? He said: “Three hundred and thirteen, a good number.” I said: O Messenger of Allah, who was the first of them? He said: “Adam.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, 361)
Actually, no one knows their number except Allah, because He says:
And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some We have not related to you their story (Surat al Ghaafir:78)
Those who are known are those who are mentioned in the Qur’an or in the sahih Sunnah. (Is there any saheeh text about the number of Prophets and Messengers?)
It possible for more than one prophet to be sent at one time?
Multiple prophets were sent to nations at one time to help each other and strengthen the message they brought. Because the addition of another witness strengthens a claim.
Allah sent Musa and Harun pbut to pharaoh of Egypt together. Allah says,
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. (Surah Taha: 42-43)
Is it possible for women to be prophets?
Allah, may He be exalted, has decreed that one of the attributes of the prophets is masculinity. Allah did not send any prophet from among women. This exclusivity is indicated by the verse in which Allah says:
And We sent not before you (O Muhammad SAW) but men to whom We inspired (Surat al-Anbiya:7)
The prophets were men for reasons which were dictated by the nature of their task. The role of Messenger requires a great many tasks to be performed: addressing men and women, meeting people in secret and openly, moving throughout the land, confronting liars and establishing proof against them and debating with them, preparing and leading armies, and going through the sufferings of war. All of that is suitable for men but not for women. He should be in charge of those who follow him, so he issues commands and prohibitions to his followers, and he rules and judges among them. And by default women are obliged to obey their husband. So in this case more ambiguity would have arisen. (There were no female Prophets or Messengers)
Is it possible that Buddha was a prophet?
Though some Muslim scholars said seeing similarities between Islam and Buddhism that Buddha may be a prophet but Allah knows best. But in reality, He had neither claimed to be an incarnation nor a prophet. He was born as Hindu, and he didn’t even question the pre-supposed Hindu beliefs/doctrines. He preached a non-theistic philosophy. So, no issue whether the people can believe in god or not. (Muhiyaddin)
Buddha was not a Prophet, rather he was a philosopher who followed a religion that was not divinely-revealed. His people exaggerated about him and believed that he was divine, and they worshipped him instead of Allah. (Buddha was a kaafir philosopher not a Prophet)
Allah created humans and Jins only for His worship. But without proper knowledge they are not able to know the purpose of their creation. And it is not befitting to Allah the he left His creation without knowing why he created them. Allah blessed us by letting us knowing about Him and His creation and afterlife through sending prophets time to time.
Bibliography
"Buddha was a kaafir philosopher not a Prophet." 29 Dec 2007. IslamQA. 15 June 2016. <https://islamqa.info/en/106416>.
Is there any saheeh text about the number of Prophets and Messengers? 17 Feb 2013. <https://islamqa.info/en/95747>.
Muhiyaddin, Muhammad Ali. A Comparative Study of the Religions of Today. n.d.
Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood. 6 Mar 2006. 18 June 2016. <http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/228/prophethood-in-islam-part-1/>.
"There were no female Prophets or Messengers." 28 July 2012. IslamQA. 15 June 2016. <https://islamqa.info/en/158044>.
Is there any saheeh text about the number of Prophets and Messengers? 17 Feb 2013. <https://islamqa.info/en/95747>.
Muhiyaddin, Muhammad Ali. A Comparative Study of the Religions of Today. n.d.
Prophethood in Islam (part 1 of 2): The Nature of Prophethood. 6 Mar 2006. 18 June 2016. <http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/228/prophethood-in-islam-part-1/>.
"There were no female Prophets or Messengers." 28 July 2012. IslamQA. 15 June 2016. <https://islamqa.info/en/158044>.
© 2016 by Tauhid Ahmed.