Concept of Prophet Hood in Quran

A Lecture Presented to a group of Non Muslims

During Ramadan 1430 H
‫ و الصلة و السلم على محمد و آله‬- َ‫بسم ال الرحمن الرحيم الْحَمْدُ لِّ رَبّ الْعَالَمِين‬
‫ أما بعد‬- ‫و أصحابه أجمعين‬

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,

All Praise be to Allah, Creator and Sustainer of this Universe .
And May His Peace and Blessings be to His Messenger
Mohammad and his family and Companions,
Afterwards,
 Arrangement of
Presentation

A. Need of Divine Guidance & Scope

B. How Divine Guidance is Provided
C. Qualities of Prophets
D. Duties of Prophets.
E. Common Messages of all prophets
F. Prophets and Miracles
G. How people treated their prophets.
H. The Last Prophet
A. Need for Divine Guidance in Human lives

 Is there really a need of Divine Guidance into

Human Lives?
 What is the scope of this Divine Guidance?

We will discuss these points before proceeding to

our main topic.
 A. (Contd.)

 Human beings need guidance on understanding

the secrets of this Universe (material and physical
sciences)
 Human beings also need guidance in
understanding their Creator and what are His likes
and His dislikes and what is the purpose of human
life on this earth (Spiritual Matters)
Divine Guidance for Physical Sciences

 The growth of Physical Science has been gradual

and with time.
 There is no urgent need for divine guidance
directly in these fields as success of humans and
their civilization is not based on the level of
scientific progress.

That is why there is not too much direct divine

guidance in these matters.
Need for Guidance in Spiritual matters
((Knowing our Creator and His likes and Dislikes

 This is a field where humans really need divine

guidance, because if they are left to themselves, it
is very difficult for them to find it.
 Then these matters do not change with time.
 That is why Divine Guidance thru out the ages has
been provided for spiritual matters.
 If Human life is a test, then it is very important
that humans should be educated about the test and
what they will be asked. Other wise it would be
like taking exams without teaching in the class
 Divine Guidance((Confirmation

Verily We take upon ourselves to ‫ن عَلَيْنَا لَ ْلهُدَى‬

ّ ‫ِإ‬
Guide (92:12)

And unto God leads straight the ِ‫َوعَلَى الِّ قَصْدُ السّبِيل‬
way but there are ways that turn ٌ‫َومِ ْنهَا جَائِر‬
aside (16:9)
 B. Methods of providing guidance

 There can be two methods for providing guidance:

1. Provide direct guidance to each and every human
(It looks interesting, but it is not workable in a
social environment).
2 Provide guidance by sending a Working Model
(This is more practical and easier)
 That is the model which is selected by our Creator

and these models are known as prophets.

We will discuss in some details about the prophets.
 C1. Qualities of Prophets
((All prophets were Humans

Their Apostles said to them: “We are ‫حنُ ِإ ّل‬

ْ َ‫قَالَتْ َلهُمْ رُسُُلهُمْ ِإنْ ن‬
‫بَشَرٌ ِمثْلُكُمْ وَلَ ِكنّ الَّ يَ ُمنّ عَلَى‬
humans like yourselves..” 14:11 ِ‫عبَادِه‬
ِ ْ‫َمنْ يَشَاءُ ِمن‬

And before you also the Apostles We
(sent were but men ( 16-43
And before you also the Apostles We
(sent were but men (21:7
And they say “What sort of an
Apostle is this, who eats food and
(walks thru the street…(25:7
ً‫وَمَا أَرْسَ ْلنَا ِمنْ َقبْ ِلكَ ِإلّ رِجَال‬
ْ‫نُوحِي إَِل ْيهِم‬
ً‫وَمَا أَرْسَ ْلنَا َقبْ َلكَ ِإلّ رِجَال‬
ْ‫نُوحِي إَِل ْيهِم‬
ُ‫وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرّسُولِ يَأْكُل‬
ِ‫سوَاق‬ ْ َ‫الطّعَامَ َويَمْشِي فِي ال‬
 C1. ((.Contd

We did send prophets before you ْ‫سلً ِمن‬ُ ُ‫وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا ر‬

and appointed for them wives and ً‫قَبْ ِلكَ وَجَعَلْنَا َلهُمْ أَ ْزوَاجا‬
(children… (13:38 ً‫وَذُرّ ّية‬
?Why Angels are not sent as Prophets ِ‫ُقلْ َلوْ كَانَ فِي الَرْض‬
Say if there were settled on earth” َ‫مَلئِكَةٌ َيمْشُون‬
angels walking about in peace ْ‫طمَئِنّينَ لَنَزّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم‬ْ ُ‫م‬
and quite, We should certainly ً‫سمَاءِ مَلَكاً رَسُول‬ ّ ‫ِمنْ ال‬
have sent them down from the
heavens an Angel for a prophet
((17:95
 C2. Qualities of Prophets
(( Picked up by God

 No one can become prophet by his own

efforts:

God knows best, where ُ ْ‫الُّ أَعْلَمُ حَي‬

‫ث‬
(and by whom) to carry ُ‫يَجْ َعلُ رِسَالَ َته‬
(out His mission (6:124
 C3. Qualities of Prophets(Picked up from the
(same people and speak the same language

 Prophets are no stranger to their people, they are born

and brought up with their people and speak their
language
We sent not a prophet except ْ ِ‫وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا م‬
‫ن‬
to teach in the language of his ِ‫رَسُولٍ إِلّ بِ ِلسَان‬
(own people… (14:4 ْ‫َق ْومِهِ لِيُبَيّنَ َلهُم‬
What! (a book) not in Arabic ّ‫جمِيّ َوعَرَبِي‬ َ ْ‫أََأع‬
and a messenger an Arab?...
((41:44
 C4. Qualities of Prophets
((Sent to every nation and to every people

To Every people was sent a ٌ‫َولِ ُكلّ أُمّةٍ رَسُول‬

(Prophet (10:47
For We assuredly sent amongst ً‫وَلَقَدْ َب َع ْثنَا فِي ُكلّ أُمّةٍ رَسُول‬
(every people a messenger (16:36
And to every people (was sent) a ٍ‫ِإنّمَا َأنْتَ مُنذِرٌ َو ِل ُكلّ َق ْومٍ هَاد‬
(guide (13:7
And there never was a people ‫ِإنّا أَرْسَ ْلنَاكَ بِالْحَقّ بَشِيرًا‬
without a Warner having lived ‫َونَذِيراً وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمّةٍ إِلّ خل‬
ٌ‫فِيهَا نَذِير‬
(amongst them (35:24
 C5. Qualities of Prophets
((People of Highest Moral Character

No prophet could ever be false to ّ‫وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِيّ َأنْ يَغُل‬

(his trust (3:161

A whole life time before this have I ْ‫عمُراً ِمن‬

ُ ‫فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُ ْم‬
lived amongst you: will you not َ‫قَبْ ِلهِ َأفَل تَعْقِلُون‬
(then understand (10:16
 ?D1. Why prophets are sent
We sent the prophets only to give
(good news and to warn ( 6:48
The prophets were sent) for your)
Lord would not destroy for their
wrong doing men’s inhabitations
whilst their occupants were unwarned
((6:131
We sent Moses with Our signs to
“Bring out your people from darkness
(to light..” (14:4
ّ‫سلِينَ إِل‬
َ ْ‫سلُ الْمُر‬
ِ ْ‫وَمَا نُر‬
َ‫ُمبَشّرِين‬
َ‫ذَلِكَ أَنْ َلمْ َيكُنْ َربّك‬
‫ُم ْهلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُ ْلمٍ وَأَ ْهُلهَا‬
َ‫غَافِلُون‬
‫س ْلنَا مُوسَى‬َ ْ‫َولَقَدْ أَر‬
َ َ‫بِآيَا ِتنَا أَنْ أَخْرِجْ َقوْم‬
‫ك‬
ِ‫مِنْ الظّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النّور‬
ِّ‫َوذَكّرْهُمْ ِب َأيّامِ ال‬
 D2. Duties of Prophets

 Rehearse the Revelation received from God

 Explain its meanings to people.
 Sanctify his followers.
 Present themselves as working models for their
followers.
 Establish the Way of God
 Judge between people as per God’s laws.
 To give witness against their people on last day.
 To give accounts of their response from people
E1. Prophets: They form a continuous line, they
are one brotherhood

And verily this Brotherhood (of ً‫وَإِنّ هَذِهِ ُأمّتُكُمْ أُ ّمة‬

prophets) is one Brotherhood and I ْ‫وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبّكُم‬
am your Lord: therefore fear me ِ‫فَاتّقُون‬
(and no other (23:52
E2. What was the Fundamental teachings of
all Prophet’s message

 Worship only one True God

 Make no Partners in His Worship.
 Fear only True God and no one else.
 Follow me (i.e. follow my teachings)
 ?E3. How many prophets were sent
And those who (came) after..
them? None knows them except
(but God (14:9
We did aforetime send prophets
before you, of them there are some
whose stories we have related to
you and some whose story We
(have not related to you (40:78
ْ‫أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَأُ الّذِينَ ِمن‬
ٍ‫قَبْلِكُمْ َقوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَاد‬
ْ‫وَثَمُودَ وَالّذِينَ ِمنْ بَعْ ِدهِم‬
ُّ‫ل يَعْ َل ُمهُمْ ِإلّ ال‬
ْ ‫سلً ِم‬
‫ن‬ ُ ‫وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا ُر‬
‫قَبْ ِلكَ مِ ْنهُمْ َمنْ قَصَصْنَا‬
ْ‫عَلَ ْيكَ وَمِنْهُمْ َمنْ لَم‬
َ‫نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْك‬
E4. How Many Prophets Quran mentions by
:name

 Quran mentions 25 prophets by name and these

are:
 Adam, Noah, Enoch, HOOD, Saleh
 Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
SHOAIB
 Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisa,
Zachariah, Jonah, Job, John the Baptist, Jesus and
finally
 Mohammad the Last prophet
 E5. Why Quran mentions only Jewish and
?Arabian Prophets

 Because the message first came to Arabs and they

had to understand it fully. If Quran had mentioned
names of prophets whom they had never heard the
message would not have been clear to them.
 Because Jews, Christians and Arabs did have
some concept of human prophets, while in other
nations the concept of prophet hood was not very
clear and they had gone for concept of
Incarnation, i.e. God taking human form
 Allah knows Best
 F1. Prophets and Miracles

 The real sign of a prophet is in his message and his

upright and unselfish character, but to convince
common people God some times gives prophet
Miracles as a proof that they are from God.
 These Miracles are special acts which these prophets
show to people.
 The miracles are not by prophets own authority but
only by permission of God.
 No prophet can show any Miracle unless God
permits it.
F2. Prophets and Miracles:
Miracles are in the hands of God
It is not for us to bring you an
authority except as God
(permits (14:11
Say “The signs are indeed
with God and I am indeed a
(Clear Warner (29:50
Say “God has certainly power
(to send down a sign” (6:37
ْ‫َومَا كَانَ لَنَا َأنْ نَأْتِيَكُم‬
ّ‫بِسُلْطَانٍ ِإلّ بِإِذْنِ ال‬
ِّ‫ت عِنْدَ ال‬
ُ ‫قُلْ إِنّمَا اليَا‬
ٌ‫وَإِنّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُبِين‬
ْ‫قُلْ ِإنّ الَّ قَادِ ٌر عَلَى أَن‬
ً‫يُنَزّلَ آيَة‬
F3. Prophets and Miracles:
?Are Miracles sure sign of a prophet

 As mentioned, Miracles are not a sure

sign for a prophet, there have been many
prophets of God, who did not show any
miracle.
 So we cannot say that no one can be a
prophet unless he shows some miracle.
F4. Prophets and Miracles
What is difference between Miracles and Magic

 Miracles are real acts of God whereas magic is

mostly tricks and mesmerism.
 Prophets are honest truthful and men of highest
morality, whereas magicians and tricksters are
people of lowest morality and worldly wise type
of people.
 Prophets do not demand any worldly gains from
their miracles whereas magicians and tricksters are
only for worldly gain or popularity or some other
ulterior motives.
 Learned people can distinguish between Miracle
and Magic.
F5. Prophets and Miracles
Some Prophets and their Miracles

 Abraham: getting saved from fiery furnace

 Saleh: She Camel
 Moses: Rod, Shining Hand and Nine pestilences.
 Jonah: Surviving in the belly of Whale
 Jesus: Healing Lepers and those born blind and
dumb, bringing dead to life etc.
 Solomon: Understanding language of Birds.
 Mohammad: Quran
 G1. How people treated their prophet :
Rejected them

Then if they reject you, so were ٌ‫سل‬

ُ ُ‫فَإِنْ كَذّبُوكَ فَ َقدْ كُذّبَ ر‬
(rejected prophets before you (3:184 َ‫مِنْ قَبْلِك‬

Rejected were the prophets before َ‫سلٌ مِنْ َق ْبلِك‬ ُ ُ‫َولَقَدْ كُ ّذبَتْ ر‬
you, with patience and consistency ‫علَى مَا ُك ّذبُوا‬
َ ‫َفصَبَرُوا‬
‫وَأُوذُوا‬
(they bore their rejection (6:34
And the people of Noah- when they َ‫سل‬
ُ ّ‫وَ َق ْومَ نُوحٍ لَمّا َك ّذبُوا الر‬
(rejected the prophet (25:37 ْ‫أَغْرَ ْقنَاهُم‬

No prophet came…but they said “A ْ ِ‫كَ َذلِكَ مَا َأتَى الّذِينَ م‬

‫ن‬
(sorcerer of one possessed” (51:52 ‫َق ْب ِل ِهمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلّ قَالُوا‬
ٌ‫جنُون‬
ْ َ‫سَاحِرٌ َأوْ م‬
 G2. How people treated their prophets
Mocked Them
Mocked were (many) prophets
(before you (6:10
Mocked were (many) prophets
(before you (13-32
But never came a prophet to
them, but they mocked him
((15-11
Mocked were (many) prophets
(before you (21:41
َ‫سلٍ مِنْ َقبْلِك‬
ُ ُ‫وَلَ َقدْ اسْ ُتهْزِئَ بِر‬
َ‫سلٍ مِنْ َقبْلِك‬
ُ ُ‫وَلَ َقدْ اسْ ُتهْزِئَ بِر‬
ّ‫وَمَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِل‬
َ‫كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْ َتهْ ِزئُون‬
ْ‫سلٍ مِن‬
ُ ُ‫وَلَ َقدْ اسْ ُتهْزِئَ بِر‬
َ‫َقبْلِك‬
 G3. How people treated their prophets
Persecuted, Threatened and even killed them

And the unbelievers said to their ْ‫وَقَالَ الّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِرُسُلِهِم‬

prophets “Be sure we shall drive you
(out of our land..” ( 14-13
The leaders, the arrogant party
amongst them said “O SHOAIB we
shall drive you and those who follow
(you from our city (7:88
Whenever comes to you a prophet…
Some you called imposters and
(others you slay (2:87
ْ‫ضنَا َأو‬
ِ ْ‫جنّكُمْ ِمنْ أَر‬
َ ِ‫َلنُخْر‬
‫َلتَعُو ُدنّ فِي مِلّتِنَا‬
ْ‫ستَ ْكبَرُوا ِمن‬ ْ ‫قَالَ الْمَل الّذِينَ ا‬
ُ‫ج ّنكَ يَا شُ َعيْب‬ َ ِ‫قَوْمِهِ َلنُخْر‬
ْ‫وَالّذِينَ آ َمنُوا مَ َعكَ ِمنْ قَ ْر َي ِتنَا َأو‬
‫َلتَعُو ُدنّ فِي مِلّتِنَا‬
‫أَفَكُلّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا ل‬
ً‫ستَ ْكبَ ْرتُمْ فَفَرِيقا‬
ْ ‫َت ْهوَى أَنفُسُكُمْ ا‬
َ‫كَ ّذ ْبتُمْ وَفَرِيقاً تَقْتُلُون‬
 G4. How people treated their prophets
((When they left this earth

 Some people raised them to the level of

Divinity, took the as God itself.
 Some people Changed the original message of
Prophets.
 Some people got divided into sects and
factions and each faction tried to get above
one another
 G5. Should we believe in All prophets?
Rejection of one prophet is indeed rejection of all

Those who deny God and His ِ‫إِنّ الّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالِّ وَرُسُلِه‬
prophets, and (those) who wish ِّ‫َويُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرّقُوا َبيْنَ ال‬
ٍ ْ‫وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ ُنؤْمِنُ بِبَع‬
‫ض‬
to separate God from prophets
ْ َ‫َو َنكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أ‬
‫ن‬
saying “We believe in some but ً‫سبِيل‬َ َ‫خذُوا َبيْنَ ذَلِك‬ِ ّ‫َيت‬
reject others…they are in truth َ‫) ُأوْ َلئِكَ هُمْ ا ْلكَافِرُون‬150(
((equally) unbelievers (4:150 ‫حَقّا‬
People of Noah (AAD, َ‫سلِين‬ َ ْ‫َك ّذبَتْ َق ْومُ نُوحٍ الْمُر‬
THAMOOD, LOT) rejected
(all) prophets (26: 105, 123,
(141, 160
?H1. Is the door of Prophet Hood still Open

 In old times prophets were sent to their own

people. Their message was only for their own
people
 Because the human civilization was in infancy,
there were not enough means of travel and
interaction between people located in different
nations and geographical areas.
 Religion of all prophets was basically same as for
as article of faiths are concerned, however there
was difference in some rituals and dietary laws
based on local conditions.
 ?H2. Is the door of Prophet Hood still Open

 It was in the plan of God that when human

civilization would be sufficiently progresses, He
will send a last Prophet and Universal prophet and
thru him combine all humanity under a common
system.
 So when that time came approx 1400 years back,
the Last and Final prophet was sent and the chain
of prophets came to an end and no more prophet
would come into the world now.
 H3. Is the door of Prophet Hood still Open?
Covenant taken from past prophets
Behold! God took the covenant of the
prophets saying” I give you book and
wisdom; then comes to you a messenger
confirming what is with you; do you
believe in him and render him
(help”?(3:81
And remember Jesus son of Mary said
“O Children of Israel I am the
messenger of God….glad tidings of a
messenger to come after me, whose
name shall be Ahmad) ( (61:6
َ‫َوإِذْ أَخَذَ الُّ مِيثَاقَ ال ّن ِبيّين‬
ٍ‫لَمَا آ َت ْيتُكُمْ ِمنْ ِكتَاب‬
ٌ‫وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُول‬
ّ‫مُصَ ّدقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ َل ُتؤْمِ ُنن‬
ُ‫بِهِ وَ َل َت ْنصُ ُرنّه‬
‫َوإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ا ْبنُ مَ ْريَمَ يَا‬
ُ‫بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنّي رَسُول‬
َ‫الِّ إِ َليْكُمْ ُمصَدّقاً لِمَا َب ْين‬
ً‫يَدَيّ ِمنَ ال ّتوْرَاةِ وَ ُمبَشّرا‬
‫بِرَسُولٍ يَ ْأتِي ِمنْ بَعْدِي‬
ُ‫اسْمُهُ أَحْمَد‬
H4. Is the door of Prophet Hood still Open?
? Is there really need of a new prophet

 The Book of God given to the Last Prophet is

preserved in its original condition.
 Sayings and life story of the Last prophet is
preserved in its minutest details.
 It is to say that Last Prophet is “Living and with
us” all these days.
 So really there is no need for any new prophet to
come into the world.
 H5. Coming of New Prophet-
?Boon or bane for humanity

 Coming of a new prophet is a difficult test for

humanity.
 If they reject a true prophet, they are in trouble.
 If they believe in false prophets, they are in greater
trouble.
 So it was a real mercy from God that door of
Prophethood was closed 1400 years back.

We sent you (O Mohammad) but ً‫ح َمة‬ْ َ‫وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلّ ر‬

(as mercy to all Creations (21:107 َ‫لِلْعَالَمِين‬
 Summary of Presentation

A .Humans do need Divine Guidance specially in

.Spiritual matters
B. Divine Guidance has been provided to each nation
.by sending prophets
C. All prophets were human, from the same community
.and men of highest moral characters
D. All prophets preached the same message which was
.to worship one God
E. Prophets often showed miracles as proof of their
authority. Miracles are Acts of God on the hands of
prophets
 (.Summary of Presentation (Contd

F .People rejected, mocked, persecuted and even killed their

.prophets when they were with them
G. When they died, they either raised them to divinity or
.changed their message
H. We have to believe in all prophets of God and must not
.reject any one
The door of prophet hood is now closed, after .IV
.coming of Last and Final prophet
J. This indeed is a mercy from God and boon .V
for humanity
 Conclusion

And our last saying is “Praise be ِ‫حمْدُ لِلّه‬

to Allah, the Cherisher and
“Sustainer of the Worlds
And May His peace and blessings
.be to our prophet Mohammad
َ ‫وَآ ِخرُ َد ْعوَان ْا َأ ْن اْل‬
َ‫رَبّ الْعَاَلمِي‬
‫والصلة و السلم على‬
‫نبينا ممد و آله و أصحابه‬
‫أجعي‬

I thank you for your presence and your patience .

.May Peace and Blessings of Allah be on All of You