Lecture 6

HISTORY OF THE PROPHETS

Importance of Advent of Prophets:

Prophets were sent for the guidance of mankind so that mankind can live a
peaceful life in this world and have salvation in the Hereafter.
        
   
“Then, whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever
follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on him nor shall they
grieve.” [Al-Baqarah: 38]
Purpose of the advent of Prophets:
 To convey the message of Allah to mankind so that people have no excuse to
plead before Allah (swt).
       
  
“All Messengers were sent as bearers of good news and warners, so
that after their coming people should have no excuse to plead before
Allah.” [An’Nisa: 165]
 For establishing just system.
     
    
“Indeed, We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed
with them the Scripture and the Balance (Justice) that the mankind may
keep up justice.” [Al-Hadeed: 25]
Difference between Nabi (Prophet) and Rasool
(Messenger):
 Prophets were those chosen persons of Allah to whom He revealed His
Guidance.
 Some of the prophets were particularly appointed towards their nations for
establishing obedience of Allah and they are called Messengers of Allah. The
only Messenger who was appointed towards the whole humanity was Hazrat
Muhammad (saw).
 The Messengers being appointed by Allah were His representatives; therefore
they were under special protection from Allah. Some of the prophets were
killed by sinful people but each Messenger was secured by Allah.
       
 
And verily, Our word has already passed to Our slaves – the Messengers.
That undoubtedly they shall be helped. (As’Saffaat: 171-172)
        
Allah has decreed “Most surely, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the
dominant.” Undoubtedly Allah is Powerful, All-Mighty. (Al-Mujadilah: 21)
History of Prophets as revealed in Qur’aan:
 Allah sent thousands of prophets out of which the names of some prophets
have been mentioned in Qur’aan:
 Lecture 6

         
   
And Messengers We have mentioned to you before,
and Messengers We have not mentioned to you. (An’Nisa: 164)
Qur’aan mentions the names of only twenty six prophets [See Table 1].
 The details about six messengers and their nations have been repeated again
and again in Qur’aan [See Table 2].
 The believers of two prophets Hazrat Moosa (as) and Hazrat Muhammad (saw)
were given the status of Ummah. The function of Ummah is to convey the
Guidance of Allah to mankind, through their words and acts.
The believers of Hazrat Moosa (as) are known as ‘Bani-Israel’. Israel is the
good name of Hazrat Yaqoob (as) and his offspring from his twelve sons is
called ‘Bani Israel’.
       
    
O’ Children of Israel! “Recall My favour, which I bestowed upon you, and
exalted you over the entire world in your time. (Al-Baqarah: 47)
When Bani-Israel reached to the extreme of disobedience of Allah, they were
degraded from the status of Ummah:
       
      
       
And humiliation and misery were stamped upon them and drew in the wrath of
Allah. This was because they used to disbelieve the Ayaat of Allah and killed
the prophets wrongfully. This was due to their disobedience and transgression.
(Al-Baqarah: 61)
After Bani-Israel the status of Ummah was given to the believers of Hazrat
Muhammad (saw):
      

   
And thus We made you exalted among all nations that you may be witnesses to
mankind and the Messenger (saw) be a witness over you. (Al-Baqarah: 143)
      
    
You are the best of people ever raised up for mankind, you command! To good,
and forbid evil, and keep faith unto Allah. (Aal-e-Imran: 110)
 Five messengers have been regarded as messengers of strong will, firmness and
courage in Qur’aan (Al-Ahqaaf: 35):
i) Hazrat Noah (as)
ii) Hazrat Ibrahim (as)
iii) Hazrat Moosa (as)
iv) Hazrat E’essa (as)
v) Hazrat Muhammad (saw)
        
      
   
“Allah has ordained for you the same Deen (Islam), which He ordained
for Noah(as), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad

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 Lecture 6

[saw]) and that which We ordained for Ibrahim(as), Moosa(as) and

E’essa(as) saying you should establish the Deen.” [Ash’Shura: 13]

 Hazrat Noah (as)

 Preached for about nine hundred and fifty years
 He had four sons namely Haam, Saam, Yafis and Yaam. Yaam was the
only disbeliever and was drowned with other disbelievers.
 After him the whole humanity belongs to offspring of his three Muslim
sons and so he is also known as Adam (as), the IInd.
   
“And We made his offspring the only surviving offspring.”[As-Saffaat: 77]
 The Holy Qur’aan contains one complete surah regarding Hazrat
Noah(as) named ‘Surah Noah’.

 Hazrat Ibrahim (as)

 Three remarkable aspects of his dignity are:
i) Khalilullah (Friend of Allah)
   
“And Allah did take Ibrahim(as) as an intimate friend.”
[An’Nisa:125]
ii) Abul Anbiya (Father of the Prophets): After him all the prophets
were from his offspring.
     
  
“And Indeed, We sent Noah(as) and Ibrahim(as) and placed in
their offspring prophethood and scripture.” [Al-Hadeed: 26]
iii) Imaam un Naas (Leader of the mankind)
   
“Surely, I am going to make you leader for all mankind.”
[Al-Baqarah: 124]
 He went through different trials; the peak of them was to sacrifice his
son. In each tribulation he preferred the love of Allah over the love of
anything else.

    


“And (remember), when the Lord (Allah) of Ibrahim (as) tried
him with (certain) commands, which he fulfilled.” [Al-Baqarah: 124]
        
 
“When his Lord said to him ‘Submit’, He said, ‘I have submitted
myself to the Lord of all worlds’.” [Al-Baqarah: 131]
That’s why Qur’aan mentions seven times that he was not polytheistic,
i.e. he did not equalize the love of any thing with the love of Allah (swt).
 Importance of the way of Ibrahim (as):
 Qur’aan has regarded the way of Ibrahim (as) as Straight Path
(Siraat-e-Mustaqeem).
       
 

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 Lecture 6

      


“Say (O Muhammad [saw]): ‘Truly, my Lord has guided me to
a Straight Path, a right deen, the way of Ibrahim(as) and he
was not of polytheistic.”
[Al-An’aam: 161]
 Hazrat Muhammad (saw) had been asked to follow the way of
Hazrat Ibrahim (as).
      
    
“Then, We have inspired you (O Muhammad [saw] saying):
Follow the way of Ibrahim (as) and he was not of polytheistic”.
[An’Nahl: 123]

 Hazrat Moosa (as)

 The different events of his life have been mentioned in five hundred and
fifty five Ayaat of Qur’aan.
 His life has been categorized in three spans:
i) From birth to arrival in Madyan from Egypt.
ii) The advent of prophethood and returning back to Egypt.
iii) Exodus from Egypt to his death.
 Allah has given him the honor of directly conversing on Earth with
Himself.
   
“Allah spoke directly to Moses(as) as in conversation.” [An’Nisa:
164]
 Nine miracles were bestowed upon him: two of them are mentioned
time and again
i) Miraculous staff
ii) White glowing hand
 Torah was given to him and hence the Israelites were granted status of
an Ummah i.e., the group of people who are responsible for propagating
teachings of Book of Allah and establishing a just system based on
Guidance of Allah.

 Hazrat E’essa (as)

 His birth was miraculous, i.e., without father.
 The miracles granted to him were at height.
 ‘Injeel’ bestowed to him.
 He preached in the most difficult environment.
 His sermons consist of great wisdom and he is regarded as the master of
analogies.
 Jews tried to crucify him; Allah (swt) ascended him alive to the Heaven.
 Before the end of the world he will descend as a follower of the Holy
Prophet (saw) and will establish the Kingdom of Allah (swt) and impose
the wrath of Allah (swt) on Jews.

4
 Lecture 6

 Hazrat Muhammad (saw)

 The life of Hazrat Muhammad (saw) will be discussed separately in the
next lecture.