|
|
Prophet
|
|
|
In religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has
encountered the supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary with
humanity.
Claims of prophets have existed in many cultures through history, including
Christianity, Judaism, Zoroaster in Persia, the Sibylline and Delphic Oracles
practices in Ancient Greece, Islam, the Volusia in Old Norse, and many others.
Traditionally, prophets are regarded as having a role in society that promotes
change due to their messages and actions. The label 'prophet' is subjective; a
person considered an authentic prophet by some will be considered a false
prophet by others.
In the late 20th century the appellation of a 'prophet' has been used to refer
to individuals particularly successful at analysis in the field of economics,
such as in the derogatory 'prophet of greed'.
Alternatively, social commentators who suggest escalating crisis in environment
and society due to a lack or failure of due care are often referred to as
'prophets of doom. |
|
|
|
God is believed to have instructed each of these prophets
to warn his community against evil and urge his people to obey God. Although
only 25 prophets are mentioned by name in the Qur'an, a Hadith (no. 21257 in
Musnad Ibn Hanbal) mentions that there were 124,000 of them in total throughout
history, and the Qur'an says that God has sent a prophet to every group of
people throughout time, and that Muhammad is the last of the Prophets. In
general, Muslims regard the stories of the Quran as historical. The message of
all the prophets is believed to be the same. Many of these prophets are also
found in the texts of Judaism (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings;
collectively known as the Old Testament to Christians) and Christianity. |
|
|
Muslims believe that evidence for the Prophethood of
Muhammad is as good as the evidence for previous prophets. A common argument is
to ask why the Jew or Christian believe in Moses or Jesus, and to use the same
answer to prove Muhammad's Prophethood. They also maintain that all accusations
levied on their prophet can be used against persons such as Abraham, Israel,
Moses and Jesus. Thus they hold that the Jews or Christians are not consistent.
If they believe in Moses or Jesus for their miracles, the same should apply to
Muhammad. If Muhammad is accused of fighting, is it not the same said about
Abraham, Moses and David? They also argue that prophecies about Muhammad are
still in the Old and New Testaments.
Q: What does Allah say to those who claim that Muhammad, pbuh, has taken
the Qur'an from other cultures?
A: And those who disbelieved said: "This (The Qur'an) is only a lie
that he (Muhammad) had fabricated and was helped upon it by other people
(Jews and Christians);" therefore they had committed aggression and
falsehood. And they said: "Mythologies of the ancients, he (Muhammad) had
asked to be written for him so they are being dictated upon him morning and
evening ." Say: It (The Qur'an) has been sent down by The One who knows The
Secret in the Heavens and the earth. Yet He is Forgiving and Merciful.
Q: What are Muslims supposed to say when they hear
the name of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?
A: Indeed Allah and His angels send His (Allah) blessings on the
Messenger (Muhammad); O people who have faith say 'Allah's blessings and
peace be upon him', in acknowledgement. Those who harm Allah and His
prophet, Allah has cursed them in This Life and the Other Life and had
prepared a humiliating punishment for them. And those who harm the men and
the women of faith, with other than what they did; they will carry a
falsehood and a clear sin.
Q: Some people claimed that the Prophet Muhammad,
pbuh, was not from humans, what does Allah say?
A: Say: (order from Allah to Muhammad) I am only a human being like
you; It is being revealed to me that Your God is only One God so who is
hoping to meet His God, let him do a righteous deed and not to partner
anyone with the wordhip of His God.
Q: Could the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, manage on
his own to have some extra knowledge of The Unseen?
A: Say: I am only a warner and that there is no god except Allah The
One, The All-Subduer (Conqueror), The God of the Heavens and the earth and
what is between them, The All-Mighty, The Most-Forgiving; Say: That is great
news; You are from it turning away; I did not have knowledge (before The
Quran) about the Highest Assembly (of angels) when they were arguing*; It is
being revealed to me (Muhammad) that I am only a clear warner --- Say: I do
not ask you for a reward for it (Quran) and I am not from the pretenders; It
is only a Message to the inhabitants of the world; And you will know (the
truth of) its news after a while.
Q: What would have been the punishment of the
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, if he had made up in the Qur'an some
verses and attributed them to Allah?
A: And I (Allah) do swear by what you see and what you cannot see! It
is (Qur'an) the speech of an honourable prophet; And it is not the speech of
a poet, little is what you believe! And it is not the speech of a fortune
teller, little is what you remember! Being sent down from The God of the
inhabitants of the worlds; And if he (Muhammad) made up in Our name some
sayings We would have taken him by the right hand (punished); And then We
would have cut from him the aorta (blood distributor in the heart); And no
one from you would have blocked him; And it is a reminder to the righteous;
And We do indeed know that there are from you rejectors (of it) as lies; And
it is a regret on the disbelievers; And it is the Truth of The Certainty
(Absolute Truth); So glorify the name of Your God, The Great.
|
|
