Belief in Allah’s ﷻ Messengers

This article focuses on the fourth Pillar of Iman the Messengers of Allah ﷻ .

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• The fourth pillar of Iman is belief in all of Allah’s ﷻ Messengers. Allah ﷻ sent Messengers and Prophets to teach people about Tawheed. Muslims believe in all of Allah’s ﷻ Messengers and Prophets. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ (سورة البقرة : ٢٨٥)

“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” (Soorat al-Baqarah:285)

• Muslims believe in the 25 Prophets and Messengers mentioned by name in the Qur’aan. They also believe in all the other Prophets and Messengers that are not mentioned in the Qur’aan. Their names, the people to whom they were sent, and their stories are unknown.

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ (سورة النحل ٣٦)

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot.” (Soorat al-Nahl:36)

• Allah ﷻ has sent a Messenger to every nation to invite them towards worshipping him alone and to abstain from associating partners with him. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

وَرُسُلًۭا قَدْ قَصَصْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًۭا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ۚ وَكَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًۭا (سورة النساء ١٦٤)

“And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you.” (Soorat an-Nisaa:164)

• All the Messengers were trustworthy men who were chosen by Allah ﷻ to guide people away from falsehood towards the truth. Belief in the Messengers means accepting that they conveyed the Message perfectly.
• Muhammad ﷺ is the last Messenger of Allah ﷻ , there will be no other messenger after him. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا (سورة الأحزاب : ٤٠)

“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and seal [i.e., last] of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.” (Soorat al-Ahzaab:40)

What we learn from the lesson:

1. Muslims believe in all the Prophets and Messengers, those mentioned in the Qur’aan and those who are not.
2. All Messengers and Prophets were trustworthy men.
3. They were human beings chosen by Allah ﷻ .
4. They spread the message of Tawheed perfectly.

“Discussion:”

1. List the names of the 25 Messengers mentioned in the Qur’aan .