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ULUL''AZM ANBIYA''
(ARCH-PROPHETS)
AND ALL OTHER PROPHETS
There were five prophets who had divine books and
independent teachings. They are referred to as Nuh (Noah) (AS),
Ibrahim (Abraham) (AS), Musa (Moses) (AS), ''Isa
(Jesus) (AS), and Muhammad (SA) in the following verse:
"He has made plain to you of the religion what He
enjoined upon Nuh and that which We have revealed to you, and that which
We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and ''Isa that keep to obedience and be
not divided therein... (42:13)."
These five prophets, who have books and divine religious
laws, are called the Ulul''azm Anbiya'' (arch-prophets). The
messengers of Allah, however, were not limited to these five prophets,
rather each ummah (people) had a messenger. Many prophets were sent
by Allah to lead the people, of whom only the names of less than twenty
have been mentioned in the Holy Qur''an.
The Almighty Allah states:
"... There are some of them that We have mentioned to
you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to
you...(40:78)."
He also states:
"And every ummah had a messenger...(10:47)."
Allah states:
"...And (there is) a guide for every people
(13:7)."
Yes, prophets, who came after each of the Ulul''azm
Anbiya'' invited people to follow the divine religious laws of the same
prophets. Thus, prophetic mission and the call continued until Allah
appointed the Prophet Muhammad (SA) ibn Abdillah to bring the previous
prophetic missions to perfection and to communicate the latest orders and
the most complete divine religious laws. His divine book became the last
book and consequently, the religion of Prophet Muhammad (SA) will remain
valid until Qiyamah (Resurrection) and his religious laws will remain
everlasting.
(1) PROPHET NUH (AS)
Nuh (AS) (prophet Noah) was the first prophet
appointed to prophetic mission and sent towards mankind as bearer of
divine religious laws and a divine book by Allah, the Merciful.
Nuh (AS) invited the people of those days to monotheism
and belief in the Oneness of Allah and asked them to refrain from
polytheism and idolatry. As evident from his stories in the Holy Qur''an,
Nuh (AS) seriously struggled to settle class distinctions and to
eradicate injustice and cruelty. He notified the people of his teachings
by way of reasoning which was something new to the people of those
days.
After a long period of suffering with ignorant, stubborn,
and unruly people, Nuh (AS) guided only a small group of people.
Thus, by means of Nuh''s (AS) Deluge, the Almighty Allah annihilated
unbelievers and cleansed the earth of their defiled entity. Nuh
(AS) and a group of his followers who were saved laid the cornerstone of a
religious society over again.
This Holy Prophet (SA) is the founder of the religious
laws of monotheism and the first divine representative who struggled
against cruelty, injustice, and rebellion. Owing to his valuable services
rendered to the divine religion, he is allotted a praise and greeting by
Allah, a praise which will remain alive and perpetual as long as mankind
exists.
"Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations
(37:79)."
(2) PROPHET
IBRAHIM (AS)
A long time elapsed after Nuh. (AS).
Although many prophets, such as Hud, Salih, and others also led the people
towards Allah and righteousness, the polytheism and idolatry flourished
day by day and finally became universal. By His sublime wisdom, the
Almighty Allah appointed Ibrahim (AS) (prophet Abraham) as a prophet.
Ibrahim (AS) was a perfect example of a man with innate
disposition who searched for truth with his pure and immaculate nature. He
found out the oneness of Allah and struggled against polytheism and
injustice all his life.
As revealed by the Holy Qur''an and confirmed by the
ahadith of the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (Members of the
Household of the Prophet Muhammad [SA]), Ibrahim (AS) spent his childhood
in a cave away from the clamours of people and the tumultuous urban life.
He only saw his mother who carried food and water for him from time to
time.
One day he came out of his cave and followed his mother
to town and paid a visit to his uncle, Adhar, but everything seemed new
and interesting to him. Amidst thousands of bewilderments and wonders and
with utmost impatience and calmness, his immaculate nature focussed on the
creation of things that he saw, trying to find out the secret of their
existence and the cause of their creation. He saw idols which Adhar and
others carved and worshipped. Ibrahim (AS) asked about their identity, but
the explanation he got about their divinity was not convincing. He saw a
group of people who worshipped venus, others who worshipped the moon, and
yet another group who worshipped the sun. Their divinity was unbelievable
to Ibrahim (AS) because each one of them set after a few hours.
After these incidents, Ibrahim (AS), fearlessly,
announced his worshipping of the Almighty Allah and his disgust of
polytheism and idolatry. He thought of nothing but struggle against
idolatry and polytheism. He struggled against id ol-worshippers tirelessly
and relentlessly and invited them towards monotheism.
Finally, he found a way to the idol-temple and broke the
idols. Because of this deed, which people regarded as the greatest crime,
Ibrahim (AS) was put to trial. After completion of the formalities,
Ibrahim (AS) was thrown into the fire, but Allah saved him and he came out
of the fire unharmed.
After a while, Ibrahim (AS) emigrated from his original
birthplace, Babylon, to Syria and Palestine and continued his invitation
of monotheism there.
In the last days of his life, he was blessed with two
children: Ishaq (AS) (Prophet Isaac), the father of Isra''il (AS)
and Isma''il (AS) (Prophet Ishmael), the father of ''Arab Mudar. By
the order of Allah, Isma''il (AS), in infancy, and his mother were
taken to Hijaz by Ibrahim (AS). They settled around Mount Tuhamah
in an arid and barren land without inhabitants. In this manner,
Ibrahim (AS) invited the nomadic Arabs to monotheism. Then he built
Ka''bah and described the rites of Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) which
remained prevalent among the Arabs until the advent of Islam and the call
of Prophet Muhammad (SA).
Ibrahim (AS) was endowed with the innate religion.
According to the explicit wording of the Holy Qur''an, he had a divine
book. He was the first person to call the divine religion as "Islam" and
it''s followers as "Muslims". Indeed, the religions of the world advocating
monotheism, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam terminate at Ibrahim
(AS), because Musa (AS), ''Isa (AS), and Prophet Muhammad (SA), the leaders
of the aforementioned three religions, were all the descendants of Ibrahim
(AS) and had followed his path of call and invitation to monotheism.
(3) PROPHET MUSA (AS)
Musa (AS) (Prophet Moses) ibn ''Imran is the third of
the Ulul''azm Anbiya'' and is bestowed with a book and
shari''ah (divine religious laws). He was a descendant of
Isra''il (AS) or Y''aqub (AS) (Prophet Jacob).
Musa (AS) had a tumultuous life. He was born at a time
when the Israelites were living in Egypt among Gipsies in a state of
abjectness and servitude and when their sons were beheaded by the order of
Fir''awn (Pharaoh*).
The mother of Musa (AS), according to the order given to
her while asleep, placed Musa (AS), in a wooden box and left him in the
Nile River. The water carried the box directly to the castle of
Fir''awn.
By the order of Fir''awn, the box was picked up.
When they opened it, they found a baby inside.
Because of the insistence of the queen, Fir''awn
dispensed with killing the child. Since they did not have a son, they
adopted him as their own son and put him under the care of a nurse (who
was incidentally his own mother)
Up to the early stages of his youth, Musa (AS) lived in
the palace of Fir''awn. Then, after an accidental murder, fearing
Fir''awn, he ran away from Egypt. He went to Madyan and met Prophet
Shu''ayb (Jethro) (AS). He married one of Shu''ayb''s daughters
and grazed his sheep for a few years. After a few years, he reminisced his
birthplace, took his wife with him, and set out for Egypt, carrying his
belongings along. On his way, when he reached Mount Sinai at night, he was
assigned to prophetic mission by the Almighty Allah. He was chosen by
Allah to invite Fir''awn to the religion of Tawhid, to
liberate the Israelites from the yoke of the Gipsies, and to designate his
brother, Harun (Aaron), as his minister. But after he announced his
mission and communicated the divine message, Fir''awn who was an
idol-worshipper and who had also introduced himself to the people of Egypt
as one of the gods, did not accept Musa''s (AS) prophetic mission and
refused to grant freedom to the Israelites.
Although for many years Musa (AS) invited people to
tawhid and showed many miracles, Fir''awn and his people
showed no reaction other than toughness and moroseness. Finally, by the
order of Allah, Musa (AS) emigrated the Israelites and went from Egypt to
Sinai desert at night. When they reached the Red sea, Fir''awn, too,
came to know and chased them with his army.
Through a miracle, Musa (AS) split the water of the sea
and crossed it along with his people, but Fir''awn and his army were
drowned. After this event, Allah revealed the Tawrat to Musa (AS)
and established the Shari''ah of Musa (AS) among the Israelites.
* In Egypt, kings were called "Pharaohs".
(4) PROPHET ''ISA (AS)
Prophet ''Isa (AS) is the fourth of the Ulul''azm
Anbiya'' bestowed with a book and shari''ah. The circumstances of
his birth were unusual. His mother, Maryam, a pious virgin, was
worshipping Allah (in Jerusalem) when Ruhulqudus or Jibril
(Gabriel) descended from heavens, gave her the good tidings of ''Isa''s (AS)
birth; and by Jibril''s breathing on her sleeves, Maryam
became pregnant with ''Isa (AS).
After his birth, ''Isa (AS) began to speak in the cradle
in defence of his m other against unfair calumnies attributed to her. He
also informed the people about his Nubuwwah and divine book
(Injil). Later, in his youth, he proceeded to invite the people and
revived the shari''ah of Musa (AS) with minor modifications. He sent
missionaries from among his hawaris (disciples) to the surrounding
places. After his call was spread among the people, the Jews (his
ummah) embarked on killing him, but Allah saved him, and the Jews
caught someone else in his place and crucified him.
It should be pointed out here that the Almighty Allah, in
the Holy Qur''an, confirms a divine book called the "Injil" for ''Isa
(AS), which was revealed to him. It is different from the Gospels written
after ''Isa (AS) about his life and call. Among them, four Gospels
compiled by Luke, Mark, Matthew, and John are formally recognized by
Christians.
(5) PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SA) IBN ''ABDILLAH
The biography of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SA) ibn
Abdillah is clearer than those of all prophets preceding him, because as a
result of the lapse of time and historical changes, their books,
shari''ahs, and even their personalities have been distorted and
their biographies have become ambiguous.
In fact, there are no clear documents other than those
imparted to us through the divine book of Islam, viz, Qur''an
and the speeches and statements of Prophet Muhammad (SA) and the Ahl
al-Bayt (AS). But there is a clear history on the life of Prophet
Muhammad (SA) which describes the characteristics of his life
adequately.
The Holy Prophet (SA) of Islam is the last prophet
appointed by the Almighty Allah to lead the people of the world.
Fourteen centuries ago, mankind lived in such a condition
that nothing was left of Tawhid except nominally and when people
had completely deviated from Tawhid and theism. Human manners and
justice had died away in their society. Holy Ka''bah had turned into an
idol-temple and the religion of Ibrahim (AS) had converted into
idolatry.
Arabs led a tribal life and even a few of their cities in
Hijaz and Yemen and elsewhere were governed in the same tribal manner. The
Arabs lived in the meanest and most backward conditions. Instead of
culture and civilization, they indulged in unchastity, sensuality,
alcoholism, and gambling. They buried their daughters alive. Most people
subsisted by Way of theft, banditry, murder, and plundering each other''s
belongings, livestock, and cattle. Cruelty and bloodshed were regarded as
the greatest honours.
In such an environment, the compassionate Allah appointed
Prophet Muhammad (SA) to reform and lead the people of the world. Allah
revealed the Holy Qur''an to him, consisting of divine education, theism,
the ways of implementation of justice, and beneficial advice. Allah
commissioned him to invite people toward humanity and adherence to the
truth using that divine authentic Book, Qur''an.
Prophet Muhammad (SA) was born in the city of Makkah in
570 AD (53 years before Hijrah) in the noblest and most honourable
Arab family.
Muhammad''s (SA) father died before he was born. He lost h
is mother when he was six years old. After two years, his grandfather
(Abdul Muttalib), who was his guardian, died. Then the Prophet (SA) was
put under the guardianship of his kind uncle, Abu Talib (the father of the
Leader of the Faithful, ''Ali [AS]).
Abu Talib held him den just like one of his own children.
Until a few months before Hijrah, he always did his best for the
protection and support of Muhammad (SA) and he was never negligent.
The Arabs of Makkah, like other Arabs, indulged in
breeding sheep and camels. They sometimes used to trade with neighbouring
countries, especially with Syria. They were illiterate people who made no
effort to educate their children.
Like all his people, the Prophet (SA), too, had not
learnt to read and write, but from the beginning of his life, he was
privileged by having a series of praiseworthy attributes. He never
worshipped idols, lied, and committed theft and treachery. He guarded
against evil, disrespectful, and indecent actions and was wise and
efficient. Therefore, he gained considerable popularity among the people
within a short period and became known as "Muhammad al-Amin" meaning
"Muhammad the trustworthy". The Arabs often entrusted him with their
belongings and talked about his honesty and efficiency. When he was about
twenty years old, a wealthy lady of Makkah, Khadijah al-Kubra, designated
him as her representative in commercial trade. As a result of his
truthfulness, honesty, wisdom, and efficiency, she earned a great deal of
profit. She was naturally attracted by the personality and magnanimity of
the Holy Prophet (SA) more than ever and finally proposed to him for
marriage. Afterwards also for years, she continued commercial works with
her husband.
Being considered as one of the people, the Holy Prophet
(SA) had an ordinary association with people until the age of forty. Of
course, he differed from them in that he had a praiseworthy and decent
behaviour and guarded against indecent deeds and conducts which had
spoiled others. He did not possess cruelty, hard-heartedness, and status
consciousness, thus had earned the respect and confidence of people. It
was such that when the Arabs were reconstructing the House of Ka''bah, a
quarrel and dispute arose among the tribes on the erection of Al-Hajar
al-Aswad (the Black Stone). The people unanimously chose the Holy
Prophet (SA) as an arbitrator. He then ordered the people to spread a
cloak to place Al-Hajar al-Aswad within. The nobles of the tribes
lifted the sides of the cloak and the Holy Prophet (SA) installed the
Al-Hajar al-Aswad in its place, thus bringing the conflict of the
people to an end without any massacre and bloodshed.
Before his Al-Bi''that al-Nabawiyyah (appointment
for prophethood), although the Holy Prophet (SA) worshipped Allah and
refrained from idol-worshipping, the people did not bother about him
because he did not explicitly struggle against the superstitious beliefs
of idolatry. The same applied to those belonging to other religions such
as Jews and christians, who lived respectfully among the Arabs without
being bothered by them.
