The Anbiya (Prophets) were the chosen from mankind and sent to guide humanity. They are distinct from the Rusul (Messengers) in that they did not bring any new Shari'ah (Divine Law), but revived and followed the existing Shari'ah of a previous Messenger.
The Messengers are the chosen from amongst the Prophets and Allah sent them with a Shari'ah for their nations. Every Messenger is a Prophet, but not every Prophet is a Messenger.
Some Messengers were preferred over others concerning the Books revealed to them, the legislations they were given and the size of their nations.
From all the Messengers sent throughout history, the Qur'an distinguishes five of them and calls them the Uloo'l Azmi minar Rusul ; Messengers who displayed unparalleled strength of will and perseverance in the task they were assigned with. [Surah al-Ahqaf -46:35]
The first and the best of them is Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the seal of the Prophets and the only Prophet sent for all of mankind and jinn. He is the most honored of all of Allah's creation.
Second is Ibraheem عليه السلام, the one whom Allah called his Khalil (Intimate Friend). He was the ultimate example of unquestioning obedience and as such, Allah honored him by appointing him as the Imam of mankind for true guidance. Every Book that was revealed by Allah upon any Prophet after Ibraheem was from his progeny.
Third is Musa عليه السلام, the one whom Allah spoke directly to without any intermediaries. He is also the Messenger mentioned the most in the Qur'an and though his Ummah is the second largest after the Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Children of Israel were an ungrateful, disobedient and cowardly lot who were punished by Allah.
Note: It is not completely clear who has the more virtue between Eesa and Nuh.
Eesa عليه السلام, the one whose birth was a sign of the Omnipotence of Allah; that He creates what He wants without the phenomenon of cause and effect. He was the last Prophet of the Children of Israel. When the Jews persecuted and tried to kill him, Allah raised him body and soul upto the heavens and he will descend during the End of Times.
Nuh عليه السلام, the first Messenger sent to mankind and the one who spent the longest in calling his people to Tawheed. Nuh spent 950 years calling his people to guidance before he finally made du'a to Allah to save him and the believers from the evildoers. Allah answered his supplication and destroyed his nation by sending the Flood.
[Reference : Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir]
No comments:
Post a Comment