Belief in the Prophets - The Religion of Islam The Six Pillars of Faith and Other Islamic Beliefs Belief in the Prophets Font size: Description: The purpose and role of the Prophets, the nature of the message that they brought to humanity, and the emphasis that they were mere humans with no divine attributes. Category: Published on 16 Jan 2006 Last modified on 04 Jan 2015 Printed: 1048 Viewed: 85302 (daily average: 21) Rating: 4.1 out of 5 Rated by: 34 Best Rate it Belief in certain prophets who God chose to relay His message to humans is a required article of Islamic faith.

"The Prophet (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers.� Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His prophets.� (They say,) �We make no distinction between one another of His prophets...�" (Quran 2:285) God conveys His message and relates His will through human prophets.� They form a link between the earthly beings and the heavens, in the sense that God has picked them to deliver His message to human beings.� There are no other channels to receive divine communications.� It is the system of communication between the Creator and the created.� God does not send angels to every single individual, nor does He open the skies so people can climb up to receive the message.� His way of communication is through human prophets who receive the message through angels.

To have faith in the prophets (or messengers) is to firmly believe that God chose morally upright men to bear His message and pass it to humanity.� Blessed were those who followed them, and wretched were those who refused to obey.� They faithfully delivered the message, without hiding, altering, or corrupting it.� Rejecting a prophet is rejecting the One who sent him, and disobeying a prophet is disobeying the One who commanded to obey him. God sent to every nation a prophet, mostly from amongst them, to call them to worship God alone and to shun false gods.

"And ask (O Muhammad) those of Our prophets whom We sent before you: �Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful (God)?�" (Quran 43:45) Muslims believe in those prophets mentioned by name in Islamic sources, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, to name a few.� A general belief is held in those not mentioned by name, as God says: "And, indeed We have sent prophets before you (O Muhammad), of some of them We have related to you their story, and of some We have not related to you their story..." (Quran 40:78) Muslims firmly believe the final prophet was the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and there will be no prophet or messenger after him.

To appreciate this fact, one must understand that the teachings of the last prophet are preserved in original language in their primary sources.� There is no need for another prophet.� In the case of earlier prophets, their scriptures were lost or their message was corrupted to the point that truth was hardly distinguishable from falsehood.� The message of the Prophet Muhammad is clear and preserved and will remain so till the end of time. The Purpose for Sending Prophets We can identify the following main reasons for sending prophets: (1)� Guiding humanity from the worship of created beings to the worship of their Creator, from being in a state of servitude to the creation to the freedom of worshipping their Lord. (2)� Clarifying to humanity the purpose of creation: worshipping God and obeying His commands, as well as clarifying that this life is a test for each individual, a test of which its results will decide the type of life one will lead after death; a life of eternal misery or eternal bliss.� There is no other definite way to find the true purpose of creation. (3)� Showing humanity the right path that will lead them to Paradise and to salvation from Hellfire.

(4)� Establishing proof against humanity by sending prophets, so people will not have an excuse when they will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.� They will not be able to claim ignorance to the purpose of their creation and life after death. (5)� Uncovering the unseen �world� which exists beyond the normal senses and the physical universe, such as the knowledge of God, existence of angels, and the reality of the Day of Judgment. (6)� Providing human beings practical examples to lead moral, righteous, purpose-driven lives free of doubts and confusion.� Innately, human beings admire fellow human beings, so the best examples of righteousness for humans to imitate are those of God�s prophets. (7)� Purifying the soul from materialism, sin, and heedlessness. (8)� Conveying to humanity the teachings of God, which is for their own benefit in this life and in the Hereafter.

Their Message The single most important message of all prophets to their people was to worship God alone and none else and to follow His teachings.� All of them, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jesus, Muhammad and others, in addition to those we do not know - invited people to worship God and shun false gods. Moses declared: "Hear, O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4). This was repeated 1500 years later by Jesus, when he said: "The first of all the commandments is, �Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.�" (Mark 12:29).

Finally, the call of Muhammad some 600 years later reverberated across the hills of Mecca: "And your God is One God: there is no god but He..." (Quran 2:163) The Holy Quran states this fact clearly: "And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying): �none has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.�" (Quran 21:25) The Message Bearers God chose the best among humanity to deliver His message.� Prophethood is not earned or acquired like higher education.� God chooses whom He pleases for this purpose. They were the best in morals and they were mentally and physically fit, protected by God from falling into cardinal, major sins.� They did not err or commit mistakes in delivering the message.� They were over one hundred thousand prophets sent to all mankind, to all nations and races, in all corners of the world.� Some prophets were superior to others.� The best among them were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.

People went to extremes with the prophets.� They were rejected and accused of being sorcerers, madmen, and liars.� Others turned them into gods by giving them divine powers, or declared them to be His children, like what happened to Jesus. In truth, they were fully human with no divine attributes or power.� They were God�s worshipping slaves.� They ate, drank, slept, and lived normal human lives.� They did not have the power to make anyone accept their message or to forgive sins.� Their knowledge of future was limited to what God revealed to them.� They had no part in running the affairs of the universe. Out of the Infinite Mercy and Love of God, He sent to humanity prophets, guiding them to that which is the best. He sent them as an example for humanity to follow, and if one does follow their example, they would live a life in accordance to the Will of God, earning His Love and Pleasure Poor Prophets of Islam | Islam Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Adam (Bible) 5 "Adam is the first prophet of Islam and the first human being.

He was created by God but brought to life forty days after being kept as a dry body." Enoch (ancestor of Noah) 3 Idris lived during a period of Drought inflicted by God to punish the people of the world who had forgotten God. Idris prayed for salvation and for an end to the suffering, and so the world received rain. Noah 7 Although best known for the Deluge (mythology), Nuh became a primary preacher of monotheism at his time. Muslims believe his faith in God led to his selection for building the Ark . هود</br>Hud (prophet) Eber 9 Muslims believe that only Hud (prophet), for whom the Hud (sura) of the Qur'an takes its name, and a few other people survived a great storm inflicted by God, similar to the Deluge (mythology) five generations earlier, to punish the people of the `Ad who had forgotten about God. Hud, by comparison and records, receives no mention in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Shaloh 7 According to the Qur'an God ordered Saleh to leave behind his people, the tribe of Thamud, after they disbelieved and disobeyed God's order to care for a special camel and instead killed it. In Saleh's and his followers' (believers) absence, God punished the people with an utter cry from the skies that killed his people instantly. Note that Saleh is not Shelah mentioned in the Old Testament . Abraham 5 Muslims regard Abraham as one of the significant prophets, because they credit him with rebuilding the Kaaba in Mecca . His family, including his son Ishmael , also receives credit with helping create the civilization around Mecca that would later give birth to the final prophet of Islam , Muhammad . Ibrahim also significantly almost sacrificing his son Ismail ( Ishmael ) to God in an event now commemorated annually by Eid ul-Adha. He is also the first prophet to name the believers as " Muslims " meaning "those with full submission to God".

لوط</br>Lut Lot 2 Lot is most notable in Islam for attempting to preach against Homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorra in addition to preaching for his people to believe in the Oneness of God, only to be mocked and ignored by the people who lived there. Islam also denies the acts attributed to Lut that are mentioned in the Old Testament , like drinking and being drunk, and having intercourse with and impregnating his two daughters. إسماعيل</br>Isma'il Ishmael 9 Muslims regard Ismaïl , first-born son of Ibrahim , as a notable prophet in Islam for his near-sacrifice in adulthood. As a child he and his mother Hagar's search for water in the region around Mecca led God to reveal the Zamzam well, which still flows to . إسحاق</br>Ishaq Isaac 9 According to Islamic tradition, Isaac , second-born son of Ibrahim , became a prophet in Canaan. He, along with his brother Ismaïl , carried on the legacy of Ibrahim as prophets of Islam .

يعقوب</br>Yakub Jacob 2 Yakub , according to the Qur'an was "of the company of the Elect and the Good" and he continued the legacy of both his father, Isaac , and his grandfather, Abraham . Like his ancestors, he was committed to worshipping God exclusively. يوسف</br>Yusuf Joseph 3 Yusuf , son of ( Yakub ) and great-grandson of Ibrahim , became a prominent advisor to the king of Egypt after he interpreted the phaoroh's dream which predicted the economic state of Egypt. He spent a large part of his life away from his eleven brothers, who showed jealousy of Yusuf because their father favored him. They took him one day, telling their father that they where going to play and have fun, but they planned to kill him. Instead, they threw him down a well and told their father Yaqub that he was eaten by a wolf. According to Islam Yusuf was gifted with half of the beauty granted to mankind. أيوب</br>Ayyub Job 8 According to Islamic tradition, Ayyub was rewarded by a Fountain of youth, which removed all illnesses except death, for his service to God in his hometown outside Al Majdal.

Ayyub is believed to have suffered an illness for 18 years as test of patience by God. شعيب</br>Shu'aib Jethro 2 Jethro was a direct descendant of Abraham . According to Islam , he was appointed by God to guide the people of Midyan and Aykah, who lived near Mount Sinai . When the people of the region failed to listen to his warnings, God destroyed the disbeliever's villages. Although the Qur'an and the reported speeches from Muhammad mention that Musa married one of Shu'aib 's daughters, the Old Testament tells the same story of a man named Jethro . Some scholars believe that Jethro in the Old Testament is not the same person as Shu'aib in the Qur'an. موسى</br>Musa Moses 5 Moses , whom the Qur'an refers to more than any other prophet, had the distinction of revealing the Tawrat ( Torah ) to the Israelites . The Qur'an says Musa realized his connection with God after receiving commands from him during a stop at Mount Sinai. He later went on to free the enslaved Hebrews after the Egyptian pharaoh denied God's power.

Musa subsequently led the freed Hebrews for forty years through the desert after they refused to obey God's command and enter the Holy Lands, saying to Moses (as mentioned in Qur'an , "O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here." During this long journey, on another trip to Mount Sinai Musa received the Tawrat and the Ten Commandments. At the end of his life, according to Islamic tradition, Musa chose to die to be closer to God instead of taking an offer that would have extended his life. هارون</br>Harūn Aaron 8 Harun (Aaron) served as an assistant to his older brother Musa ( Moses ). In Islam , he, like Musa, received the task of saving the Israelites from the Egyptian pharaoh . He would often speak for Musa when Musa’s speech impediment prevented him from doing so himself.

ذو الكفل</br>Dhul-Kifl most likely Ezekiel 5 The status of Dhul-Kifl as a prophet remains debatable within Islam, although both sides can agree that he was indeed a righteous man who strived in the way of God. Some studies also note that Dhul-Kifl can be also Obadiah , who is mentioned in the Old Testament to be the one that took care of 100 prophets. He is also believed to have possibly been Gautama Buddha. داود</br>Dawud David 7 In Islam , God revealed the Zabur ( Psalms ) to Dawud (David). Dawud also has significance as the one who defeated Goliath. It is worth to note that the story of King David with Uriah according to the Islamic tradition is different, thus the acts attributed to King David in the Old Testament like sending Uriah to be killed for the purpose of marrying his wife is denied in Islam . سليمان</br>Süleyman Solomon 6 Süleyman ( Solomon ) learned a significant amount from his father Daud before God made him a prophet. According to Islamic tradition, Süleyman received power to manipulate nature, including the Djinn.

Known for his honesty and fairness, he also led a kingdom that extended into southern Arabia. إلياس</br>Ilyas Elijah 3 Ilyas (Elijah), descendant of Harun (Aaron), took over control of the southern part of the Arabia after the kingdom of Sulaiman (Solomon) collapsed. Islamic tradition says he attempted to convince the people of the Peninsula of the existence of only one God, but when the people refused to listen they were smitten with a drought and famine. اليسع</br>Al-Yasa Elisha 3 Al-Yasa (Elisha) took over the task of leading the Israelites after Ilyas ' (Elijah) death. He attempted to show the king and queen of Israel the powers of God, but was dismissed as a magician. Subsequently, the Assyrians were able to make people burn and inflict significant damage on them. يونس</br>Yunus Jonah 5 Islamic tradition shows that God commanded Yunus ( Jonah ) to help the people of Nineveh towards righteousness. However, after Nineveh's people refused to listen to God, Yunus became disgruntled and became angry for God.

After an incident where Yunus was spared death, he decided to re-commit himself to striving for God, attempting to lead the people of Nineveh to righteousness. But after returning to evil, illicit ways, the Scythians conquered them. زكريا</br>Zakariya Zechariah 6 A descendant of Süleyman , Zakariya (Zachariah became a patron of Maryam ( Mary ) the mother of 'Isa . According to the Qur'an , he prayed to God asking for a son, since his sterile wife Al-Yashbi could not provide one. God granted his wishes, temporarily lifting his wife's sterility and allowing her to give birth to Yahya ( John ). يحيى</br>Yahya John the Baptist 2 Yahya ( John ) was cousin to Isa and Islam says that, throughout his lifetime, Yahya captivated audiences with his powerful sermons that preached Abrahamic monotheism . The Qur'an does not mention baptism. عيسى</br>Isa Jesus 3 God sent one of the highest ranked prophets in Islam, Eisa al-Maseeh, (Jesus the Messiah) to guide the Children of Israel.

The Qur'an makes it very clear that in Islam , Jesus is not the begotten (physical) son of God, but rather a nabi and rasul (messenger) of God. 'Isa performed many miracles with the permission of God, for example: raising the dead, creating a bird from clay, talking as an infant. Islamic traditions states that he abstained from drinking alcohol . It also states that he received a revelation, the Injil (Gospel), though according to Islam , it has suffered distortion. Muslims believe that no crucifixion of 'Isa took place, meaning he did not die on the cross. They believe that God raised Isa up to himself and thet Isa will return to Earth to fight the Dajjal and break the cross. The Qur'an and Saheeh Hadeeth tell a consistent story. From the Qur'an: Ch:4,verses:157-159 as translated: "157.

And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ]; 158. But Allah raised him ['Iesa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise; 159. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him ['Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allah and a human being], before his ['Iesa (Jesus) or a Jew's or a Christian's] death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death).

And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Iesa (Jesus)] will be a witness against them." From Hadeeth as translated: "Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, 'By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya (a tax taken from the non−Muslims, who are in the protection, of the Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and no body will accept charitable gifts.'"{Sahih Bukhari} محمد</br>Muhammed Islamic beliefs about the prophets - ReligionFacts ReligionFacts Robinson, Francis (ed.) and Ira M. Lapidus (foreword) Islamic beliefs about the prophets Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is revered as "the Seal of the Prophets" - the last and greatest of the messengers of God. He is not divine in any way, for the strict monotheism that characterizes Islam does not allow for such an interpretation. Other prophets (nabi in Arabic) are important in Islam as well, all of which are shared with the Jews or the Christians.

Traditionally, five prophets are recognized by Islam as having been sent by Allah (known as ulul azmi, "the Resolute"): - Noah (Nuh) - Abraham (Ibrahim) - Moses (Musa) - Jesus (Isa) - Muhammad Prophets of Islam There are a number of other historical figures recognized in the Quran as prophets, and still others that are not mentioned. "And certainly We sent messengers before you: there are some of them that We have mentioned to you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to you..." (Qur'an 40:78) Muslims trace their heritage to the Hebrew people and prophets. The term "Semite" derives from Shem, the son of Noah, and both Jews and Arabs consider themselves Semitic people. In particular, they trace their ancestry to Ishmael, the firstborn son of Abraham. Abraham in Islam In the Hebrew Scriptures, Abraham and Sarah, approaching old age, had difficulty bearing a child. This problem was made even more serious by the fact that God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. So, with Sarah seemingly barren, Abraham took Hagar as a second wife.

Hagar bore Abraham a son, named Ishmael. Shortly thereafter, however, Sarah also bore Abraham a son, named Isaac. Having fulfilled her marital duty and God's promise, Sarah demanded that Abraham reject Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham did so, and from this point, the Qur'an departs from the biblical story to follow the story of Ishmael. According to the Qur'an, Ishmael went to the place that would later be known as Mecca. His descendents would be the Muslims, while Isaac's descendents became the Jews. Article Info Prophets Buy the book from Alislam Online Store. THE BELIEF IN THE PROPHETS The fourth fundamental article of faith in Islam is belief in all the prophets. This article is in fact a logical conclusion to the third one. The same philosophy as underlies the belief in all books also necessitates belief in all the prophets. The Holy Quran speaks of the many prophets who mostly belong to the Middle Eastern line of prophethood, beginning with Adam upto the time of Muhammad, peace be upon him. But there are exceptions to the rule.

There are two things which are specifically mentioned in the Quran relating to this issue: a) Although the names and short histories of some prophets were revealed to the Holy Founder of Islam, the list is in no way exhaustive. They are just specimen names, and there are a large number of prophets do not find mention in the Quran. b) In the list of prophets who are specifically mentioned, there are certain names which do not seem to belong to the prophets of Israel. Many commentators therefore are inclined to believe that they are non-Arab prophets who are included in the list just for the sake of representation of the outer world. For instance, Dhul-Kifl is one name in the list of prophets which is unheard of in the Arab or Semitic references. Some scholars seem to have traced this name to Buddha, who was of Kapeel, which was the capital of a small state situated on the border of India and Nepal. Buddha not only belonged to Kapeel, but was many a time referred to as being 'Of Kapeel'. This is exactly what is meant by the word 'Dhul-Kifl'.

It should be remembered that the consonant 'p' is not present in Arabic, and the nearest one to it is 'fa'. Hence, Kapeel transliterated into Arabic becomes Kifl. Apart from the evidence of the Quran, there is one reference which is controversial among the commentators. There is a tradition reported from the Holy Prophet (sa) which speaks of an Indian prophet by name. In his words: There was a prophet of God in India who was dark in colour and his name was Kahan. 1 Now anyone acquainted with the history of Indian religions would immediately connect this description to Lord Krishna, who is invariably described in the Hindu literature as being dark of complexion. Also, the title Kanhaya is added to his name Krishna. Kanhaya contains the same consonants K,N,H as does the name Kahan -- in no way an insignificant similarity. But whether any non-Arab prophet was mentioned by name or not is only an academic discussion. There is no denying the fact that the Holy Quran makes it incumbent on every Muslim not only to believe in all the prophets, but it also clearly informs us that in every region of the world and in every age, God did raise messengers and prophets.

This belief in principle in the truth of the founding prophets and also the minor prophets of other religions is a unique declaration of the Quran, absent in all other divine books. It throws light on the universality of creation as well as on the universality of Islam itself. If the Quranic claim that the teachings of the Quran are for the entire world is true, then it has to recognise the truth of all prophets. Otherwise the followers of so many different religions will not find any connecting bridge between themselves and Islam. The recognition of the truth of all books and the recognition of the truth of all prophets is a revolutionary declaration which has many benefits for man as a whole. Among other things, it powerfully paves the way for inter-religious peace and harmony. How can one be at peace with the followers of other religions if one considers them to be impostors and if one monopolises the truth only for the religious divines of one's own faith? It is a universal observation that the followers of various religions tend to know very little about the doctrinal aspects of their own religions.

It is the ordained priesthood or other leaders who seem to be the custodians of religious knowledge, and it is to them that the common people turn when they stand in need of religious guidance. Such people are far more sensitive to the question of the honour of their prophets and divines than they are even on the issue of God and His honour. Apart from Islam, none of the divine books of religions bear testimony to the truth of the founders of other religions. The absence of any recognition of the truth of prophets other than their own has insulated religions from one another, each one claiming to monopolise truth, each viewing the prophets of other religions as impostors. Although in every day life we do not find this expressed in such strong terms, the hard reality remains, that if the followers of any religion take their beliefs seriously, they have to consider all other religions to be false, even at their sources. It is impossible to conceive a Christian, a true believer in Christianity as he understands it today, who would testify to the truth of Buddha, Krishna and Zoroaster.

Particularly, the Christian stance against the Holy Prophet (sa) of Islam is exactly the one mentioned above; they have to denounce him as an impostor, otherwise the only alternative for them is to become Muslims. The orientalists discussing this subject have always maintained this position very clearly, many among them having gone to the extent of showing undisguised hostility towards the founder of Islam on the premise that he had to be false. The same applies to other religions alike. Although in every day life we do not come across such glaring examples of discourtesy and insult, but whether one keeps one's views to oneself or expresses them openly, the barrier still remains. It is evident from this that the followers of all religions have compartmentalised themselves against all others, and the barrier between truth and falsehood, right or wrong does succeed in preventing the religious harmony so much needed by man today. Of course, there are very civilised and educated Christians in the world, who out of courtesy would not offend the sensibilities of Muslims by denouncing the Holy Prophet (sa) of Islam as an impostor. However the Christians, in accordance with their beliefs, have no option but to reject the truth of the founder of Islam.

In the case of a Muslim however, it is a completely different story. When he speaks of Jesus Christ or Moses or Krishna or Buddha with veneration and love, he does so because he has no other option. It is a part of the fundamental article of his faith to extend not just a human courtesy, but to genuinely believe in their truth and honour. In the light of this, this article of faith appears to hold an importance of global scale. It establishes inter- religious peace and harmony and genuinely creates an atmosphere of mutual trust and love. Like the Unity of God it holds the intrinsic quality of being irreplaceable -- there is no alternative. The Promised Messiah, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, has summarised the Islamic belief in other prophets as follows: One of the principles which forms the basis of my belief refers to the established religions of the world. These religions have met with wide acceptance in various regions of the earth. They have acquired a measure of age, and have reached a stage of maturity. God has informed me that none of these religions were false at their source and none of the prophets impostors.

2 This is a beautiful principle, which promotes peace and harmony, and which lays the foundation for reconciliation, and which helps the moral condition of man. All prophets that have appeared in the world, regardless of whether they dwelt in India or Persia or China, or in some other country, we believe in the truth of them, one and all. 3 With the establishment of this fact that there had to be prophets all over the world in all ages who originated from God, the stage seems to be set for a universal prophet. The acceptance of a universal prophet requires a reciprocity. When you expect others to believe in someone you consider to be true, it would certainly help if you bear witness to the truth of such holy people in whom the other party has unshakeable faith. Islam therefore lays down the foundation for the universality of a single prophet. As such the claim of the Quran -- that the Holy Prophet (sa) was raised not only for Arabia but for the whole of mankind -- is founded on a sound philosophy. We find mention in every religion of a utopian future or golden age when all mankind would be brought under the one flag. But there does not seem to be any foundation laid for the unification of man in his beliefs and dogmas.

It was for the first time in the history of religion that Islam paved the way for a universal religion by the declaration that all the people of the world, at different times, were blessed with the advent of divine messengers. According to the Holy Quran, the institution of prophethood is universal and timeless. There are two terms used to indicate the same office, each with slightly different connotations. The term An-Nabi has the connotation of prophecy. Those whom God chooses to represent Him are implanted with the knowledge of certain important events regarding the future. They are also told of things past, which were unknown to the people, and his knowledge of them stand as a sign of his being informed by an All-Knowing Being. Prophecy as such establishes the truth of the prophets, so that people may submit to them and accept their message. The second term used in connection with prophets, is Al-Rasool or Messenger. This refers to such contents of the prophet's revelation as deal with important messages to be delivered to mankind on God's behalf. Those messages could be speaking of a new code of law, or they could simply be admonishing people for their past lapses in reference to previous revealed laws.

Both these functions unite in a single person, and as such all prophets can be termed as messengers, and all messengers as prophets. According to Islam, all prophets are human beings and none bear superhuman characteristics. Wherever some miracles are attributed to prophets, which are understood to indicate their superhuman character, the categorical and clear statements of the Quran reject such a notion. Raising of the dead is one of such miracles attributed to certain prophets. Although similar descriptions are found in many divine scriptures or religious books, according to the Quran they are not meant to be taken literally, but have a metaphorical connotation. For instance, it is attributed to Jesus (as) that he raised the dead into a new life. But the Holy Quran speaks of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) in the same terms, with the same words being applied to his miracle of spiritual revival. Similar is the case of creating birds out of clay and causing them to fly in the name of God. These birds are only human beings who are bestowed with the faculty of spiritual flight, as against the earthly people. No prophet is granted an exceptionally long term of life which makes him distinctly different and above the brotherhood of prophets to which he belongs.

Nor is any prophet mentioned as having risen bodily to remote recesses of the universe. Wherever there is such mention, it is spiritual ascent which is meant, not bodily ascent, which the Quran categorically declares is against the character of prophets. When the Holy Founder of Islam was required by the People of the Book to physically ascend to heaven and bring back a book, the answer which God taught him was simply this: Say to them: 'My Lord is far above (such childish conduct). I am no more than a human being and a prophet.' Surah Bani-Israel (Ch. 17: V.94) This answer rejects all claims about other prophets who are understood to have ascended physically to heaven. The argument implied in this answer is that no human being and no prophet can rise bodily to heaven, otherwise the Prophet Muhammad (sa) could also have repeated the same miracle. The emphasis on the human characteristics of prophets and their human limitations is one of the most beautiful features of fundamental Islamic teachings. Prophets rise above their fellow human beings not because they were gifted with superhuman qualities, but only because they gave a better account of the qualities that they had been gifted with.

They remained human despite having ascended to great spiritual heights, and their conduct as such is inimitable by other human beings. On the issue of continuity of prophecy, Islam categorically declares the Holy Prophet (sa) of Islam to be the last of the law- bearing prophets and the Quran to be the last Divine book of law, perfected and protected till the end of time. Obviously a book which is perfect and also protected from interpolation transcends alteration. No change is warranted on both counts. As long as a book is perfect and protected from human interpolation, no change is justified. As far as prophecy other than law-bearing prophecy is concerned, the possibility of its continuity is clearly mentioned in the Quran. Again there are clear prophecies about such divine Founder of Islam and the Holy Book -- the Quran. The following verse of Surah Al-Nisa leaves no ambiguity about this: And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. Surah Al-Nisa (Ch.

4: V.70) In short, Islam is declared in the Quran to be the last perfected religion for the benefit of mankind, after which no new teaching would be revealed to annul the teachings of Islam, nor would a new independent prophet be born outside the domain of Islam; any new prophet would be completely subordinate to the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. The prophets always came to deliver a message. That message was not confined to the areas of beliefs, but also covered the areasre of practices and implementation of the beliefs. The teachings are divided into two large categories: How to improve one's relationship with God. How to conduct oneself in relation to one's fellow human beings. These two categories in fact cover all aspects of religious laws. We cannot enter into a lengthy discussion of how this task is carried out to perfection in Islam, but perhaps it would be appropriate to illustrate a few important features of this teaching of universal character. Islam - Prophets Islam Prophets of Islam Muslims believe that Allah (God) sent a series of prophets to earth, to teach about His nature and His guidance for human beings. From Adam to Muhammad, they all shared the same message. Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in!

Islamic beliefs - ReligionFacts ReligionFacts Robinson, Francis (ed.) and Ira M. Lapidus (foreword) Islamic beliefs Beliefs are important in Islam. Right beliefs about God, the universe, and humanity is of primary concern to Muslims. The Quran, the sacred text of Islam states, "Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets" (2:177). Belief in these doctrines, as well as many others, are important to Muhammad's followers, both past and present. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam teaches that there is one God in the universe, giving Muslims a monotheistic worldview. Also like Judaism and Christianity, Islam holds to the ministerial office of prophet, although not all of these faiths agree on who is, and who isn't, a prophet. For example, Christians believe John the Baptist was a prophet and Jews and Muslims don't. And Muslims believe that Muhammad was a prophet, yet Jews and Christians don't. All three faiths also believe in an afterlife, although the makeup of those destinations are immensely different in nature from each other.

For more information on Islamic beliefs, follow a link below: Muslim Beliefs about Allah The single most important belief in Islam, and arguably the central theme of the religion, is that there is only one God. The name of God is Allah, which is simply Arabic for "the (al) God (Ilah)." Muslim Beliefs about the Prophets Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is revered as "the Seal of the Prophets" - the last and greatest of the messengers of God. He is not divine in any way, for the strict monotheism that characterizes Islam (as well as Judaism) does not allow for such an interpretation. Other prophets are important in Islam as well, all of which are shared with the Jews or the Christians. Muslim Beliefs about Human Nature According to the Quran, Allah "created man from a clot of blood" at the same time he created the jinn from fire. Humans are the greatest of all creatures, created with free will for the purpose of obeying and serving God. Muslim Beliefs about Life and Salvation For a Muslim, the object of life is to live in a way that is pleasing to Allah so that one may gain Paradise.

It is believed that at puberty, an account of each person's deeds is opened, and this will be used at the Day of Judgment to determine his eternal fate. Muslim Beliefs about the Afterlife Like Christianity, Islam teaches the continued existence of the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. There will be a day of judgment and humanity will be divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise and Hell. Six Articles of Faith There is no official creed to which one must adhere to be considered a Muslim. All that is required is to believe and recite the Shahada: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his Prophet." Beyond this core belief, however, Muslim doctrine is often summarized in "Six Articles of Faith." Many Muslims believe that one must adhere to the six articles to be considered a Muslim. Muslim Views of Other Religions The Quran is clear that there must be "no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Yet Islam is not indifferent to conversion either - Muslims consider their religion to the be the one true religion, and invite people of all races, nationalities and religions to be part of it.

Belief in Scriptures - The Religion of Islam The Six Pillars of Faith and Other Islamic Beliefs Belief in Scriptures Font size: Description: Why God revealed His message in the form of scriptures, and a brief description of the �two of the Scriptures of God: the Bible, and the Quran. Category: Published on 16 Jan 2006 Last modified on 04 Jan 2015 Printed: 1231 Viewed: 83779 (daily average: 21) Rating: 4.2 out of 5 Rated by: 55 Belief in the scriptures revealed by God is the third article of Islamic faith. We can identify four main reasons for the revelation of scriptures: (1)� The scripture revealed to a prophet is a point of reference to learn the religion and obligations towards God and fellow human beings. �God reveals Himself and explains the purpose of human creation through revealed scriptures. (2)� By referring to it, 'disputes and differences between its followers in matter of religious belief and practice or in matters of social practice could be settled.

(3)� The scriptures are meant to keep the religion safe from corruption and deterioration, at least for some time after the death of the prophet. �At the present time, the Quran revealed to our Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, is the only scripture to remain safe from corruption. (4)� It is God�s proof against human beings.� They are not allowed to oppose or overstep it. A Muslim firmly believes that divinely revealed books were actually revealed by the Compassionate God to His prophets to guide mankind.� The Quran is not the only spoken Word of God, but God also spoke to prophets before Prophet Muhammad. "�and to Moses God spoke directly." (Quran 4:164) God describes true believers are those who: "�believe in what has been sent down to you (Muhammad) and what has been sent down before you�" (Quran 2:4) The most important and central message of all scriptures was to worship God and God alone.

"And we sent never a prophet before you except that we revealed to him, saying, �there is no God but I, so worship Me.�" (Quran 21:25) Islam is more inclusive in the holy revelations it affirms than any other heavenly religion in its present form. Muslims uphold and respect the following scriptures: (i)�� The Quran itself, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. (ii)� The Torah (Tawrah in Arabic) revealed to the Prophet Moses (different from the Old Testament read today). (iii) The Gospel (Injeel in Arabic) revealed to Prophet Jesus (different from the New Testament read in churches today). (iv) The Psalms (Zaboor in Arabic) of David. (v)� The Scrolls (Suhuf in Arabic) of Moses and Abraham. Third, Muslims believe whatever is true in them and has neither been altered or �deliberately misconstrued.

Fourth, Islam affirms that God revealed the Quran as a witness over the previous scriptures and confirmation of them, because He says therein: "And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Quran) in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (the collection of old scriptures)�" (Quran 5:48) Meaning the Quran confirms whatever is true in previous scriptures and rejects whatever alterations and changes human hands have made to them. Original Scriptures and the Bible We must distinguish between two matters: the original Torah, Gospel, and Psalms and the present day Bible.� The originals were God�s revelation, but the present day Bible does not have the exact original scripture. No divine scripture exists today in the original language it was revealed in, except the Quran.� The Bible was not revealed in English. �Different books of today�s Bible are at best tertiary translations and different versions exist.� These multiple translations were done by people whose knowledge, skill, or honesty is not known.� As a result, some bibles are larger than others and have contradictions and internal inconsistencies!

�No originals exist.� The Quran, on the other hand, is the only scripture in existence today in its original language and words.� Not one letter of the Quran has been changed since its revelation. �It is internally consistent with no contradictions.� It is today as it was revealed 1400 years ago, transmitted by a rock-solid tradition of memorization and writing.� Unlike other sacred texts, the entire Quran has been memorized by almost every Islamic scholar and hundreds of thousands of ordinary Muslims, generation after generation! The previous scriptures essentially consist of: (i)�� Stories of man�s creation and earlier nations, prophesies of what was to come like signs before the Judgment Day, appearance of new prophets, and other news.

The stories, prophecies, and news in the Bible read in churches and synagogues today are partly true and partly false.� These books consist of some translated fragments of the original scripture revealed by God, words of some prophets, mixed with explanations of scholars, errors of scribes, and outright malicious insertions and deletions.� Quran, the final and trustworthy scripture, helps us sort out fact from fiction.� For a Muslim, it is the criterion to judge the truth from the falsehood in these stories.� For example, the Bible still contains some clear passages pointing to God�s unity. [1] �Also, some prophecies regarding the Prophet Muhammad are found in the Bible as well. [2] �Yet, there are passages, even whole books, almost entirely recognized to be forgeries and the handiwork of men. [3] (ii)� Law and rulings, the allowed and prohibited, like the Law of Moses.

If we were to assume the law, that is the lawful and the prohibited, contained in the previous books did not suffer corruption, the Quran still abrogates those rulings, it cancels the old law which was suitable for its time and is no longer applicable today.� For example, the old laws pertaining to diet, ritual prayer, fasting, inheritance, marriage and divorce have been cancelled (or, in many cases, �reaffirmed) by the Islamic Law. The Holy Quran The Quran is different from other scriptures in the following respects: (1)� The Quran is miraculous and inimitable.� Nothing similar to it can be produced by human beings. (2) After the Quran, no more scriptures will be revealed by God.� Just as the Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet, the Quran is the last scripture. (3) God has taken it upon Himself to protect the Quran from alteration, to safeguard it from corruption, and to preserve it from distortion.� On the other hand, previous scriptures suffered alteration and distortion and do not remain in their originally revealed form. (4)� The Quran, for one, confirms early scriptures and, for another, is a trustworthy witness over them.

(5)� The Quran abrogates them, meaning it cancels the rulings of the previous scriptures and renders them inapplicable.� The Law of the old scriptures is no longer applicable; the previous rulings have been abrogated with the new Law of Islam. Footnotes: [1] For example the declaration of Moses: "Hear, O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the announcement of Jesus: "...The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29). [2] Refer to (Deuteronomy 18:18), (Deuteronomy 33:1-2), (Isaiah 28:11), (Isaiah 42:1-13), (Habakkuk 3:3), (John 16:13), (John 1:19-21), (Matthew 21:42-43), and more. [3] For example, refer to books of the Apocrypha. Poor Register & Why? Registration Why register?

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Question: In religion, according to Islam, who was the last of the prophets?
Answer: Muhammed