(week 1)
Messengers and Prophets
What is the difference between a Messenger and a Prophet?
- There are similarities and differences between Messengers (Rusul) and Prophets (Anbiyaa): They were all men. They were all trustworthy and honest. They all had the same mission: to spread the concept of Tawheed. They all carried out their missions successfully.
- The differences between Messengers and Prophets are that Messengers were sent with new laws that everyone had to follow. The new laws cancelled out some or all of the previous laws of the other Messengers. In addition, Allah ﷻ sent down a Divine Book to each of His Messengers:
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ( سورة الحديد ٢٥ )
We have already sent Our Messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scriptures…(Soorat al-Hadeed: 25)
- Therefore, things that were forbidden for one Messenger may have been allowed for another and vice versa. The reason for this was the Wisdom and Mercy of Allah ﷻ Although it is good to explore Allah’s ﷻ wisdom, it is incorrect to question the reasons behind Allah’s actions. Muslims accept, reject, love or dislike, just as Allah ﷻ orders them to do.
- All the Prophets followed the teachings of the Messengers that came before them. They did not come with new legislation, but they were sent to support the laws of the previous Messengers.
- It is important to know that all the Messengers were Prophets, but not all the Prophets were Messengers.
- All Prophets and Messengers received revelation from Allah ﷻ , and all had the basic message of inviting people to worship Allah ﷻ alone:
( سورة النحل : ٣٦ ) وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ
And We certainly sent into every nation a Messenger, (saying). “Worship Allah and avoid taaghoot.” (Soorat an-Nahl: 36)
- The exact number of Prophets and Messengers that were sent by Allah ﷻ is unknown. However, it is known that Allah ﷻ sent many more of them than we may be aware of.
- Aadam (عليه السلام) was the first Prophet, and Nooh (عليه السلام) was the first Messenger sent by Allah ﷻ .
What we learn from the lesson:
- Prophets as well as Messengers received revelation from Allah ﷻ .
- Messengers came with new legislation and were given Divine Books.
- There were more Prophets than Messengers.
- Aadam (عليه السلام) was a Prophet and Nooh (عليه السلام) was both a Messenger and a Prophet.
“Discussion:”
- What is the diffrence between a Messenger and a Prophet ?
Muslims Believe in All the Messengers and Prophets of Allah ﷻ
What does belief in the Messengers and Prophets mean?
- Allah ﷻ sent Messengers and Prophets to call people to worship Him alone. He ﷻ chose these men to carry out this important mission because they were fully capable of doing so. It was through the wisdom of Allah ﷻ that He chose these men, guided them and blessed them with Prophethood. All Prophets and Messengers carried out their duty devotedly and were successful in what they did. Some Prophets did not have any followers, but this does not mean that they failed. They were successful because they fulfilled their mission in calling people to Tawheed.
- There are many verses in the Qur’aan where Allah ﷻ mentions that He chose certain men to become Messengers and Prophets:
وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌۭ (٨٣) وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ (٨٤) وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ(٨٥ ) وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًۭا ۚ وَكُلًّۭا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ(٨٦ ) وَمِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ وَإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ ۖ وَٱجْتَبَيْنَـٰهُمْ وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ (٨٧) ( سورة الأنعام ۸۳-٨٧ )
And that was Our (conclusive) argument which We gave Ibraaheem against his people. And We gave him Is-haaq and Ya’qoob-all (of them) We guided. And Nooh, We guided before; and among his descendants, -Daawood and Sulaimaan and Ayyoob and Yoosuf and Moosaa and Haaroon. And Zakariyyah and Yahyaa and ‘Eesaa and Ilyaas – and all were of the righteous. And Ismaa’eel and Al-Yasa’ and Yoonus and Loot and all (of them) We preferred over the ‘Aalameen. And (some) among their fathers and their descendants and their brothers- and We chose them and We guided them to a Straight Path. (Soorat al-An’aam:83-87)
- Muslims believe in all of the Messengers and Prophets of Allah ﷻ and make no distinction between them:
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ( سورة البقرة : ٢٨٥ )
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Rabb, and (so have) the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, (saying), “We make -no distinction between any of His Messengers”. (Soorat al-Baqarah:285)
- Muslims believe that the Messengers and Prophets were human beings chosen by Allah ﷻ , and that the Messengers are neither gods, demigods nor the children of Allah ﷻ . Belief in the Messengers means believing that they conveyed the message of Allah ﷻ is perfectly. Believing in the Messengers and Prophets of Allah ﷻ is a pillar of Iman and denying that any Messenger or Prophet existed means to deny this pillar of Iman. An outright denial of any of the pillars of Iman puts a person outside the fold of Islam.
What we learn from the lesson:
- Allah ﷻ chose special men to become Prophets and Messengers.
- Belief in the Prophets and Messengers is a pillar of Iman.
“Discussion:”
- What does belief in the Messengers and Prophets mean ?
Soorat al-Muzzammil:
The One Who Wraps Himself (Part 1)
This part of the soorah encourages a Muslim to perform the Tahajjud prayer.
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
| 1. | Ya aiyuhal muzzammil | O thou folded in garments! | يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ |
| 2. | Qumil laila illaa qaleelaa | Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,- | قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا |
| 3. | Nisfahooo awinqus minhu qaleelaa | Half of it,- or a little less, | نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا |
| 4. | Aw zid ‘alaihi wa rattilil Qur’aana tarteela | Or a little more; and recite the Qur´an in slow, measured rhythmic tones. | أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا |
| 5. | Innaa sanulqee ‘alaika qawlan saqeelaa | Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message. | إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا |
| 6. | Inna naashi’atal laili hiya ashadddu wat anw wa aqwamu qeelaa | Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise). | إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا |
- Allah ﷻ honors His Prophets ﷺ by addressing him in the most honor able ways.
- Allah ﷻ had made Tahajjud prayer compulsory on the Prophet ﷺ in the beginning of Islam, before the five daily prayers were prescribed.
- The Tahajjud prayer is still strongly encouraged and is virtuous in Islam.
- The Tahajjud prayer is one of the best times to recite the Qur’aan and understand it.
- Allah ﷻ praises the person who firmly remembers and obeys Him.
- Remembrance of Allah ﷻ leads to the affirmation of Iman and the removal of grief and sadness.