Knowing Your Lord: The Essence of Creation
The greatest thing that man must know in this life is the knowledge about his Lord, who created him from nothing and showered him with blessings. And the greatest purpose for which Allah created the creation is to worship Him alone.
But how can man know his Lord as it is due? What are the duties and obligations binding on him? How can he worship his Lord? Man can find who will assist him during vicissitudes of life, provide for his needs like treatment for an ailment, give some medicine, assist in building a house, and so on; but he cannot find among ordinary people who can make him know his Lord and explain to him how to worship him.
This is because human intelligence cannot independently know what Allah intends, he cannot even perceive the intention of his fellow human being before he tells him what he intends. How can he then know what Allah means?
Further, it is also because, this matter is only restricted to the Messengers and Prophets whom Allah has chosen to convey the Message and to those who come after them among the rightly guided leaders and the heirs of the Prophet, who follow their way, take to their Path and help them to convey their message.
For men cannot receive revelation from Allah directly as they are unable to bear it. God Almighty says: “It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, or from behind a veil, or that He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His leave. Verily, He is Most-High, Most-Wise.” (Holy Quran 42:51)
Prophets and Messengers: The Chosen Intermediaries
They should therefore be an intermediary and an envoy who can convey the law of Allah to His slaves. Those intermediaries and envoys are the Messengers and Prophets. The angel will carry the message to the Prophet and the Prophet will convey it to the people. The angels do not carry the message to men directly, for the world of angels is naturally different from that of human beings. God Almighty says: “Allah chooses Messengers from angels and men.” (Holy Quran 22:75)
The wisdom of Allah necessitates that the Messenger should come from the race of those whom he is sent to so that they could understand him because of their ability to speak with him. If Messengers had been sent to mankind from among the angels, they could not have been able to face him or learn anything from him.
Allah, the Exalted says the following on the matter:
“And they say: Why has not an angel been sent down to him? Had we sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them. And had We appointed him an angel, We indeed would have made him a man, and We would have certainly confused them in which they are already confused.” (Holy Quran 6:8-9)
“And We never sent any of the Messengers before you (O Muhammad) but they ate food and walked in the markets. We have made some of you a trial for others: Will you have patience? And your Lord is Ever All-Seer (of everything). And those who expect not to meet with us (those who deny the Day of Resurrection and the life of the Hereafter) said: ‘Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?’ Indeed, they think too highly of themselves and are scornful with great pride.” (Holy Quran 25:20-21)
“And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad) any but men.” (Holy Quran 16:43)
“And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people so that he might make the Message clear to them.” (Holy Quran 14:4)
Human Struggles and the Triumph of Faith
These Messengers and Prophets possessed complete and perfect reason, sound nature, truthfulness in words and deeds, sincerity in conveying what was put in their trust, Divine immunity from all that could tarnish human conduct and physical appearances that are free from all things that are repugnant to sights and repulsive to sound human taste. Allah Almighty purified them in their persons and manners.
They are the most perfect in manners, purest in souls, and most generous. Allah combined in them good manners and excellent conduct as He combined in them deliberateness, knowledge, magnanimity, generosity, bravery, and justice. By these qualities, they were distinguished among their peoples.
The evidence of this is implied in the following verses of the Holy Scripture:
“They said: ‘O Salih! You have been among us a figure of good hope till this (a new thing which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship your God alone). Do you forbid us the worship of whom our fathers have worshipped’?” (Holy Quran 11:62)
“They said: ‘O Shuaib! Do your prayers command that we give up what our fathers used to worship, or that we give up doing what we like with our property? Verily, you are the forbearer, right-minded’.” (Holy Quran 11:87)
“And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard) of character.” (Holy Quran 68:4)
The Messengers and Prophets are, therefore, the best ones among Allah’s creatures. He selected them and chose them to carry His Message and convey it to mankind.
“Allah knows best with whom to place His Message.” (Holy Quran 6:124)
“Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Ibrahim and the family of Imran above the mankind (of their time).” (Holy Quran 3:33)
These Messengers and Prophets- despite the lofty qualities with which Allah described them and the excellent conduct for which they were known- are nevertheless humans who suffered what other humans suffer; they suffered hunger and sickness; they slept, ate, married, and died. They were even subjected to persecution; many of them were killed or expelled from their homes.
Allah Almighty says, addressing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
“Verily, you will die, and verily, they (too) will die.” (Holy Quran 39:30)
“And indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad) and made for them wives and offspring.” (Holy Quran 13:38)
“And remember when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, or to kill you or to expel you (from your home), they were plotting, and Allah too was plotting, and Allah is the Best of those who plot.” (Holy Quran 8:30)
But to them were the end, victory, and authority in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says:
“Allah will help those who help his (cause).” (Holy Quran 22:40)
“Allah has decreed: Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious. Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.” (Holy Quran 58:21)
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