Anbiyya (Prophets)

Call for Peace

 

In the Name of Allah,

the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful

Deen e Islam

[Way to Peace]

Anbiyya e Karam

[Prophets]

Introduction

Brothers and Sisters!

Assalam o Alleyykum

[Peace be Upon You]

Anbiyya e Karam (Prophets) are also offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) and therefore human beings where they are born in the womb of their mother by natural process i.e. husband and wife mate. They eat, drink, get married, have children, and look for the Bounties of Allah. They also have health issues and have to be treated by a physicianby taking medicine.

Brothers and Sisters! The human aspect of Anbiyya e Karam has to be mentioned at the start because the concept of Anbiyya has been distorted by the people where they are regarded a different creation which is ‘supernatural’ and is specially created by Allah to convey His (SWT) Message to mankind.

Brothers and Sisters! Mankind is Ashraf ul Makhlukat. (The Most Superior) and is viceroy of Allah. Therefore, there is no other creation that is superior to mankind.

Brothers and Sisters! However, the superiority is determined on the basis of piety and good deeds. This aspect has been highlighted in the Last Sermon of Khatim ul Anbiyya Hazrat Mohammed (SAW):

All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non – Arab, nor a non – Arab has superiority over an Arab; Also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.

Brothers and Sisters! The statement: All mankind is from Adam and Eve negates the concept of Anbiyya being a creation other than mankind. For the sake of argument, had Anbiyya e Karam were supernatural creation then Prophet Mohammed (SAW) must have mentioned. The scholars have derived that the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) had made this statement specifically to tell the mankind that Anbiyya e Karam are also offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) because previously people regarded Anbiyya e Karam a supernatural creation and had given the status of Allah e.g. Hazrat Esa’a (PBUH) is given the status of Son of Allah and He (PBHU) is worshipped as God. Anbiyya e Karam are offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) is revealed in the Qur’an:

Surah Maryam Verse no. 58


Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among Prophets, of the offspring of Adam and of those whom We carried (the ship) with Nuh (Noah), and of the offspring of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Gracious (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and weeping.

Brothers and Sisters! Anbiyya e Karam are also normal human beings and this has been revealed in the Qur’an:

Surah Ibrahim Verse no. 11

Their Anbiyya (Messengers) said to them: “We are no more than human beings like you, but Allah bestows His Grace to whom He wills of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you an authority (proof) except by the Permission of Allah. And in Allah (alone) let the believers put their trust.

Brothers and Sisters! This Verse was revealed when the Kuffar (disbelievers) said to their Anbiyya that they are normal human being like them and how can they believe him and they turn away from the faith of their forefathers:

Translation Surah Ibrahim Verse no. 10

Their Anbiyya (Messengers) said: “What! Can there be a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you (to Monotheism and to be obedient to Allah) that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed.”

They said: “You are no more than human being like us! You wish to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Then bring us clear authority (i.e. a clear proof of what you say).”

Brothers and Sisters! The difference between a Nabi (Prophet) and an ordinary person is that Nabi receives revelation in respect of Guidance of Allah for the mankind either directly or through Angel.

Translation Surah Al Kahf Verse no. 110

Say (O Mohammed (SAW)): I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that you ilah (Allah) is One ilah (Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.”

Brothers and Sisters! Let us look at the chronology why there was a need for Anbiyya e Karam while all mankind is offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH).

Brothers and Sisters!

  • Allah was Lone Entity. Allah had enormous attributes and powers and there was no one to whom Allah could expose His (SWT) powers and attributes.
  • The connotation of Hadith e Qudsi is: Allah told Khatim ul Anbiyya (SAW):

    I was a hidden Treasure.

    I wished to be recognized.

    So I created Jinn and Inss.

    [Spirits and mankind]

  • Allah created Hazrat Adam (PBUH) from clay .
  • The status of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) was determined as Ashraf ul Makhlukat (Most Superior Creation) where Angels and Jinn’at along with other creations were Commanded by Allah to prostrate Hazrat Adam (PBUH). Brothers and Sisters! Ulema e Karam has derived that the prostration was for a pact that all the creations will be of service to mankind.
  • Angels and other creations prostrated Hazrat Adam (PBUH) except Iblees the chief of Jinn’at (Spirits). When asked why he did not prostrate Hazrat Adam (PBUH) he replied that he is superior to Hazrat Adam (PBUH) as he is made of fireand He (PBUH) is made of clay. Brothers and Sisters! In other words the Shaitan declared that he will not be of service to mankind.
  • Iblees invited the Anger of Allah and curse upon him. In short, Iblees (Shaitan) took respite from Allah to digress mankind from Right Path.
  • Mankind was created for a test. The test was that if he follows the Command of Allah or not. For this test Allah created Naffas (Psyche) and transmitted it in his Fitrat (disposition). The job of Naffas was determined that it will inspire to oppose the Commands of Allah.
  • Hazrat Adam (PBUH) was alone. To treat loneliness of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) upon the Command of Allah Hazrat Haw’wa (RTU emerged from Hazrat Adam’s (PBUH) rib and they were tied in wedlock by Allah.
  • Allah asked them to go and live in Paradise and they can eat and drink anything they like and they can go anywhere they like. However, as mankind was created for a test i.e. if he follows Commands of Allah, Allah Commanded them not to go near the specific tree and if they went they will be losers.
  • In short, Shaitanlured them to go near that specific tree and they ate the fruit of that tree where they became naked and tried to cover their private parts with leaves.
  • As punishment Allah sent them on earth. Allah told them that they will have to live in the world and follow His (SWT) Guidance in their day to day life which will be conveyed to them through Anbiyya e Karam.
  • As the offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) were to emerge in the world so Allah made Hazrat Adam (PBUH) Nabi (Prophet) so that He (PBUH) could educate and bring the offspring up as per the Guidance of Allah.
  • As the life span in this world is for a short time, Hazrat Adam (PBUH) had to depart from this world. However, He (PBUH) left his offspring to keep following the Guidance of Allah and their offspring to come.
  • The offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) digressed from the Right Path as there were Naffas and Shaitanto lure them to oppose Guidance of Allah and develop self made theologies which will satisfy their Sensual Appetite.

    Brothers and Sisters! This is where the need to commission Anbiyya e Karma arose.

Brothers and Sisters! Mankind is Allah’s creation. Allah loves them and Allah does not want them to go to Hell. So Allah commissioned Anbiyya e Karam to convey His (SWT) Message to repent, beg forgiveness of Allah and revert to the Right Path.

Brothers and Sisters! Question will emerge in mind that why Allah did not send Angels to convey His (SWT) Message to the mankind because it was Angel Hazrat Gibra’iel (PBUH) who used to reveal Guidance of Allah to the Anbiyya e Karam.

Brothers and Sisters! Human life starts from birth when husband and wife mate, wife gets pregnant and for nine months the embryo develops: bone skeletonis formed; thereafter flesh grows on the bones, internal organs: heart, lungs, liver, and kidneysetc.etc. come into being, veinsand arteriesare formed for the circulation of blood and soul is blown into the body and human being becomes alive and when the water is broken then the child comes out of the uterus of mother. Brothers and Sisters! All this process develops love for the children in the heart of mother and vice versa.

Brothers and Sisters! If an Angel was sent to convey the Message of Allah then he would have come in the form of a human being whom no one had seen before. All he could do was to read the Message of Allah and go away. To understand the concept of Angel the Angels are like Robots. The knowledge capacity of Angels is limited. They cannot answer every question. Moreover, Angels are different creature than man. There is no compatibility. For example: Angels do not eat, do not drink, do not get married. Angels come into being upon the behest of Allah in complete form. There is no childhood, youth, old age for Angels.

Brothers and Sisters! It is natural phenomenon that to understand and appreciate properties of anything there has to be compatibility between two parties. For example: to understand scientific theories both parties have to be scientists. A scientist cannot understand the theology of a physicianor accountant  or a lawyer.

Brothers and Sisters! Basically, Allah’s Message is to build Morals which will help to recognize Allah. When mankind will recognize Allah then he will keep getting closer to Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah has inflicted the ground of Morality in the Fitrat (Disposition) of every human being. So when Allah’s Message will strike ground of Morality the mind will accept it. For example: every human being will accept Allah’s Message:

  •  speak truth do not lie
  • be honest, do not cheat
  • respect elders and be affectionate to young one
  • get married and do not indulge in illicit intercourse
  • honour rights, do not infringe rights
  • etc.

Brothers and Sisters! As Message of Allah is based upon Moral Values, so there is compatibility between Nabi (Prophet) and human being.

Brothers and Sisters! The object of Message of Allah is to expend day to day life as per the Guidance of Allah. So the mankind needs a guide, role model, a teacher so that they can plan their day to day life by following the Nabi (Prophet).

Brothers and Sisters! Nabuwat (Prophethood) is a very responsible job. Therefore Nabi must possess following attributes:

  • family tree must be spotless
  • family must be a respectable family
  • he must be honest, integrate, and at the height of morality
  • he must be considerate, helping people in need and concern in his heart for mankind
  • his personality and character must be spotless
  • he must enjoy respect in the society
  • he must be intelligent and able to comprehend the properties of ILM (knowledge)
  • there must not be any contradiction between his words and actions
  • he must have his brought up within the community which will be his base ground to convey the Message of Allah
  • he must possess convincing power so that he can present Message of Allah with reasons
  • he must be a renowned person within the community
  • he must be trustworthy
  • etc.

    Brothers and Sisters! If a Nabi does not possess any of the above attributes people will not listen to him. Brothers and Sisters! Incidentally, this is the reason why Angel could not be sent to convey the Message of Allah because he will be coming out of the blues in human form and people will not know him then how they can accept that he is conveying the Message of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! As Nabi himself had been living within the community he would know what type of digression is prevailing and who are the people who have grossly digressed and who are the people who are honest and trustworthy. Brothers and Sisters! In view of the knowledge of the profile of the people and type of digression Nabi can plan how to convey the Message of Allah and where to start from. Brothers and Sisters!
Allah has revealed in the Qur’an that Nabi lives within the community so that they can trust him:

Translation Surah Yunus Verse no. 16

Say (O Mohammed (SAW)): “If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would he have made it known to you.

Verily, I have stayed among you a life time before this. Have you then no sense?”

Brothers and Sisters! As per narration more or less 124,000 Anbiyya have been commissioned but around 25 names of Anbiyya are mentioned in the Qur’an. The names of Anbiyya e Karam mentioned in the Qur’an can be browsed under link: No 5 Names of Anbiyya in Qur’an.

Brothers and Sisters! As there is a chain of Anbiyya Karam since Hazrat Adam (PBUH) to convey Message of Allah, therefore it will be useful to learn about the chronology of Anbiyya e Karam as per the circumstantial evidence. This can be browsed under link: No 1 Chain of Anbiyya e Karam.

Brothers and Sisters! It is mentioned that Nabuwat (Prophethood) is very cumbersome job and for such cumbersome job Anbiyya e Karam had to be educated and trained so that they can face the hardships which they will have to encounter when conveying the Message of Allah. Brothers and Sisters! This can be browsed under link: No 2 Training of Anbiyya e Karam,

Brothers and Sisters! Anbiyya e Karam are Messengers of Allah and history tells that they had to go through hardships to convey the Message of Allah. As they are role model for the mankind to follow so their profile and image has to be protected and preserved.

Brothers and Sisters! Selfish people have distorted the personality and character of Anbiyya e Karam in order to satisfy their Sensual Appetite on the basis that they are following the footsteps of Anbiyya e Karam. Brothers and Sisters! Please Browse link: No 3 Protection of Honour of Anbiyya e Karam.

CONCLUSION

Brothers and Sisters! Anbiyya e Karam are Messengers of Allah to convey His (SWT) Message to mankind so that they do not digress from the Right Path which leads to life hereafter which will be forever to enjoy the Bounties of Allah which no eyehas seen, no earhas heard and no mind can imagine. Therefore, we must listen to them in the form of reading, observing and planning our day to day life on their footsteps because every aspect of their life is role model for their followers.

May Allah be with You

Wass’a’lam

[May Allah Bless You]