PROPHETS

Muhammad believed that he is the seal of the prophets (See also SEAL OF THE PROPHETS). Since Muhammad sought to establish his credibility by placing himself in the tradition of the biblical prophets, it is important to investigate whether or not his life and message lines up with theirs: Mohammed the prophet versus the prophets.

Muslims believe that prophets are truthful, trustworthy, intelligent, brave and do not commit sins, have no repulsive qualities, have nice voices and faces.

According to Tradition the prophets number 124,000. Their work is to teach and guide, like a preacher today. Among them are messengers (rasul), of whom Islam says there are 313. Each messenger comes with a book revealed particularly to him for the particular people. 25 of these are mentioned by name in the Qur'an. Once people are sent a prophet, they are responsible for their beliefs and no excuse will be accepted for not heeding the message, and it applies also to those which the message reaches in coming times.

List of prophets mentioned:

- Adam the "Chosen of Allah",
- Noah (Nuh), the "Prophet of Allah",
- Moses (Musa), the "Coverser with Allah",
- Abraham (Ibrahim), the "Friend of Allah",
- Ishmael (Isma'il), the "Sacrifice of Allah",
- Jesus (Isa), the "Word of Allah" and the "Spirit of Allah".
- Isaac (Ishaq),
- Jacob (Ya'qub),
- David (Dawud),
- Solomon (Sulaiman),
- Elijah,
- Elisha,
- Jonah (Yunus),
- John the Baptist (Yahya),
- Zechariah (Zakariya), father of John the Baptist.
- There are also Salih (al-A`raf 7:73-79; Hud 11:61-68; ash-Shu`ara' 26:141-159; al-Jathiyah - an-Najm), Hud and Shu'aib (al-A`raf 7:85-93; Hud 11:84-95; al-`Ankabut 29:36-37), although it is not clear who they are.

Muslims believe that prophethood is the free gift of Allah, and not by own choice. They must be free from

> 1. telling lies,
> 2. committing wrong deeds,
> 3. stupidity or laziness,
> 4. concealing any part of the message.
> 5. Also, are male (there are some disagreements about this. see below), free and not slaves, free from disfiguring and disabling diseases.

Absent from the list are many of the biblical prophets, be they "Major" (because their prophetical writings are long) like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, or "Minor" (because their prophetical writings are short) like Amos, Haggai, Malachi, etc, except Jonah.

We note that Abraham and Isaac have both told lies. See Abraham for more details. The Qur'an also accuses Muhammad for having concealed some of the revelations. See Muhammad for more details.

From the above, it is not difficult to understand the Muslim objection to various Christian beliefs about prophets. In the Bible, the shortcomings of many of the prophets are clearly recorded, without any attempt to justify or cover up. Muslims feel that the Bible has done an injustice to these prophets by fabricating these "sins" to justify our own sins. However, a careful reading of the Bible shows that these sins of the prophets are not in anyway commended, and the disastrous results following these sins are often clearly portrayed.

Also, it is also not difficult to see the Muslim objection to the crucifixion of the Jesus on the Cross, for they view that God does not forsake his prophets, and that they must have very "nice" physical properties.

> "Once in every year, Gabriel recited the Quran to me. This year he recited it twice. He also told me that every succeeding Prophet has lived to half the age of his predececssor. He told me that Jesus, son of Mary, lived to a hundered and twenty years. Therefore, I think, I may live to about sixty years." (Mawahib-ud-duniya by Qastalani, vol 1,p. 42)

This hadith, however, is suspect in its content. Consider the three prophets believed by Muslims: Zechariah, his son John the Baptist and Jesus. If Jesus lived to 120 years, then John the Baptist should have lived to 240, but he died before Jesus (and they were born less than a year apart), executed by Herod. Moreover, that must mean that Zechariah lived to 480 years old! By the time we reached Adam, he would have to live millions of years! If we work the other way round, the Bible records that Adam died at 930 years old (Genesis 5:5). Then geometric halving of ages clearly brings the life of Muhammad (or even Jesus) down to mere seconds.

- accept him who confirms earlier revelation, Âl 'Imran 3:81

- adversary to each, al-An`am 6:113

- advised to turn to those with earlier scriptures, Yunus 10:95; al-Anbiya' 21:7

- appealed to earlier scriptures to confirm Qur'an, ar-Ra`d 13:36; ash-Shu`ara' 26:192-197; al-Ahqaf 46:10

- as judge, an-Nur 24:48-51

- behaves sublimely, al-Qalam 68:4

- Book of Prophets in the Bible, known as Sahaif-e-anbia

- charity during consultation with, al-Mujadilah 58:12

- coming foretold, al-A`raf 7:157; as-Saff 61:6, see JESUS.

- don't acquire slaves except through war, al-Anfal 8:67

- don't raise your voice above, al-Hujurat 49:2

- emulate his ways, al-Ahzab 33:21

- every prophet appointed an adversary, al-An`am 6:12

- evil forces as enemies of all prophets, al-An`am 6:112; al-Hajj 22:52; al-Furqan 25:31

- false prophets are wicked, al-An`am 6:93,143-144,157; al-A`raf 7:37; Yunus 10:17; Hud 11:18; al-`Ankabut 29:68; az-Zumar 39:32; as-Saff 61:7

- given scriptures, al-An`am 6:84-89.
  v. 89 is kind of funny since it says that these 18 people were given the scripture (singular. Ar. al-Kitab), but Muslims only attributes scriptures to Moses, David and Jesus.

- God's covenant with, al-Ahzab 33:7

- has come to pardon, al-Ma'idah 5:15

- has come to you, at-Taubah 9:128

- has highest claim on allegiance of believers, al-Ahzab 33:6

- inspiration of, an-Nisa' 4:163; al-An`am 6:86

- keeps awake 2/3, 1/2, or 1/3 of the night praying, al-Muzammil 73:20

- lack of privacy, al-Ahzab 33:53; al-Hujurat 49:4-5

- make no distinction between them, al-Baqarah 2:285; an-Nisa' 4:152

  On the other hand, Âl 'Imran 3:33 says that Allah preferred Adam, Noah, family of Abraham and Imran above all other creatures. Also, bani Isra'il 17:55

  A response

  .

- miracles only by God's leave, al-Mu'min 40:78

- only mortal human, Yusuf 12:109; an-Nahl 16:43; al-Kahf 18:110; al-Anbiya' 21:7-8; al-Furqan 25:7; Ha Mim Sajdah 41:6

- people who are false prophets are wicked al-An`am 6:93,143-144,157; al-A`raf 7:37; Yunus 10:17; Hud 11:18; al-`Ankabut 29:68; az-Zumar 39:32; as-Saff 61:7

- prefered some over others, bani Isra'il 17:55

- perform no miracles, al-An`am 6:37,57

- prayer at birthplace of,
  various scholars believed that praying at the birthplace of Muhammad gives better results, for example: an-Naqqash (266-351 A.H.), quoted in al-Fasi's "Shira' al-Gharam," Vol. 1, p. 199; al-Azraqi, a 3rd-century historian of Mecca, in his book "Akhbar Makka," Vol. 2, p. 160; The oldest source that mentions a public commemoration of the Mawlid is in Ibn Jubayr's (540-614 A.H.) "Rihal" ("Travels"), p. 114-115.

- prophecy in language of target population, Ibrahim 14:4; an-Nahl 16:89

- purpose of, al-Baqarah 2:213; al-An`am 6:48,130; Ibrahim 14:4-6

- saw Gabriel twice in visions, al-An`am 6:13-18; an-Najm 53:6-7; at-Takwir 81:23

- (SEAL OF THE PROPHETS).

- sleep with closed eyes but opened heart, Sahih Bukhari 4.770

- some not mentioned, al-Mu'min 40:78

- some superior, al-Baqarah 2:253; bani Isra'il 17:55

- those who came before had wives and children, ar-Ra`d 13:38

- torment about those who won't accept the message, al-Kahf 18:6

  - in Mecca, al-An`am 6:33,35

- wives

  - 'Aisha and Hafsa jealous of Maria the Copt? at-Tahrim 66:1

  - rewards and punishments, al-Ahzab 33:30-31

  - warnings to, al-An`am 6:10-12; at-Tahrim 66:1-5

  - will be let go if they desire, al-Ahzab 33:28-29
    * On the other hand, widowed wives of Muhammad are not allowed to remarry, al-Ahzab 33:53.

- women,

  in the Qur'an Mary was mentioned in Maryam 19:16 and al-Anbiya' 21:91 alongside other prophets. The mother of Moses was given revelation (al-Qasas 28:7). Most Muslim scholars say no, quoting, "wa mA 'arsalnA min qablika 'illA ri^gAlaN" meaning, "We have not sent before you except men". (Yusuf 12:10; an-Nahl; al-Anbiya' 21:7; az-Zukhruf). The word "ri^gAl" in means "male humans". A small group, like ibn Hazm (d. 456 AH), Qurtubi, however, believe that Mary and the mother of Moses are prophets (al-Milal wal-Nihal). Opponents respond by saying that bees also receive revelation (Suratu-n-Nahl), but that does not constitute prophethood. In a report in Bukhari, Muhammad says: "Among those before you [i.e. Israelites] there used to be men who were spoken to by God without being prophets, and if there is such a one among my followers it is Umar." (??source??)

- al-Baqarah 2:61,91,124-134,136,177,213; Âl 'Imran 3:21,80

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