Lesson 2: Before the Birth of the Prophet
Central Objectives of Prophet-hood
The purpose of Revelation
The continuity of Prophethood
- Many writers of Seerah began the Seerah from the birth of Adam a.s, this is because events were building up and unraveling to the climax of created existence which was the birth of the Prophet (SAW).
- Allah created Adam a.s and it is said in the tafseer, as he was creating him, he mentions to the angel that he would make a successor. He says to the angels, " And remember when your lord said to the angels, Indeed I am making on this earth a successor" The Angels asked Allah, "Will you make something in this Earth that will corrupt it and spill blood while we continually glorifying your praises and extolling your holiness." Allah replies to them, "Indeed I know that which you do not know." Ibn Katheer says in his tafseer in regards to this, I know the greater wisdom in creating this species despite the corrupt things which you have mentioned they will do but you do not know because I will create among them prophets and I will send messengers and there will be among them righteous ones, martyrs, truthful ones, servants, pious ones and scholars etc. This is what Ibn Katheer explains of the ayah above.
- Because of sending prophets, instead of being disobedient there will be righteous types of human beings. From this we understand that had we been left alone without any prophets or guidance, we would have been as the angels were saying. However, Allah did send us a messenger and its up to us to follow him.
- What is the central objectives of Prophet-hood?
- Allah says: "Truly Allah was gracious to the believers when He raised up amongst them a Messenger from themselves to recite to them His signs and to purify them, to teach them the book and the wisdom though before they were in manifest error." It was out of Allah's graciousness that he sent a Messenger of the same background and to recite Allah's sign and purify the people he was sent to and to teach them the book and the wisdom even though before they were misguided.
- Allah says: "Alif Lam Ra - A book we have sent down to you so you may bring forth mankind from darkness to light by the leave and permission of their lord to the path to the All Might and All praised God to all which belongs from the heaven and the Earth." The purpose of sending forth the messenger was to bring mankind out of the darkness to light and unto the straight path which leads to Allah.
- In order to really understand the sending of the Messenger of Allah, we need to understand four things: A) Source of the message B) Message itself C) The Messenger himself D) Those addressed by the message.
- Source of the message is Allah, the one who is free from any need yet who all others are in absolute need of.
- Message itself: Revelation. Wahyy - The act of informing or sending information which is instantaneous and subtle. It is not something which is developed but instantaneously revealed. It simply occurs when it needs to occur. It is the placing of a piece of news in a hidden way or it is the conveying of the divine truth to humanity by means of the human being which is the messenger of Allah. It is that which Allah caused to descend to the hearts of the Prophets without any worldly means. It is eternal speech and is not distorted. The revelation is the answer to the request for the human request for divine guidance. i.e Surah Faitha: Guide us to the straight path
- The Messenger: A prophet is a human being who as been granted revelation of a sacred law. i.e Shariah. Difference between a messenger and Prophet is that a messenger is also commanded to convey that sacred law. It could be to immediate family, village, country. Every single messenger was sent to convey only to his own people but the final prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent to convey message to all of mankind. So, every messenger is a Prophet but not every Prophet is a messengers. Examples of messengers: Ibrahim, Esa, Musa and Muhammad. Examples of Prophets: Yunus, Zakariiya, Adam. Alyehis-salam.
- There are four necessary characteristics that every Prophet must have. There are necessarily known and if they aren't met, that person claiming prophet hood cannot be testified to. These are:
- Sidq - Truthfulness
- Amanah - Trustworthy in their deeds. They keep promises and do not cheat anyone.
- Tableegh - Transmitting a message. When they are calling others to the path, they must be given commandments to follow.
- katanah - Intelligence.
- Those addressed by the message: In the previous prophets, it could have been a village, a certain ethnic group but in the case of Muhammad (SAW) it was to all of mankind.
- To sum up the role of the Messengers, we can look at the ayah: When Ibraheem and Ismaeel a.s built the Ka'bah, they were not natives to Makkah, they were sent there and Ibraheem gave the call to people to come for Hajj and they made dua'a to Allah: O Lord sent forth from amongst them a Messenger who will recite your signs to them and teach them the book and who will teach them the wisdom and who will purify them and truly you are the all mighty, all wise.
- Here again, the ayah outlines the role of the Messenger;
- They convey the revelation by hearing it and reciting/teaching it to the believers.
- They purify the believers from false belief. i.e. shirk and kufr. The distractions in their heart from the fruits of faith.
- They teach them the revelation. To recite and explain the Qur'an and apply it in their lives. And the wiisdom - Hikmah means the Sunnah and actions/lifestyles of the Prophet (SAW).
- Commentators say that this duaa by Ibraheem and Ismaeel a.s was answered in the person of Muhammad (SAW).
The purpose of Revelation
- The main take away from revelation is guidance which is of benefit to humanity. Temporal benefit is in this life and eternal benefit is in the hereafter.
- Without revelation, we would not have achieved success. This is why the messenger has such a high status. Allah refers to him as a mercy to mankind.
- System of sacred law given in the revelation. i.e. shariah. It's primary purpose is to ensure we have benefit in every single aspect of our live.
- The content and areas the Shariah gives us guidance on is both on a personal and societal level.
- On a personal level, it tells us about belief, worship, conduct, dealings i.e rights of others, transactions i.e buying and selling and spirituality.
- On a societal level, it tells us how to preserve personal and collective interests. Societal laws of shariah work so individuals can pursue those six personal aspects. It preserves the ability to follow those six personal aspects. Furthermore, it adds the collective interest into the societal section of sharia law. Collective interest means organizing a system of roads for example or educational system. Shariah can help to organize those aspects as well as personal aspects.
- Preservation - Maqasid As Shariah which are the five main objectives that Shariah is trying to preserve in the life of the human being.1) The preservation of the dee and for minorities for them to practice their religion. 2) Al Hayat or preserving life - How to go about our lives and not infringe upon other people. 3) Preservation of the intellect - Without this humans are not able to discern between right and wrong. i.e anti drug laws, prohibition of alcohol, education etc.4) Preservation of honor - A person's ability to live with dignity. This takes away the idea of a caste system within the Muslim community. No body should be disparaged or seen as lower. 5) Preservation of properly and wealth. i.e safely keep or invest their money, laws on houses and owning land/property. Other: Preservation of family and lineage. Societies are not build merely through individuals but through family structures. i.e spousal relations, extended families, communities etc.
- There are three levels of deen: 1) Action - outward 2) Emaan and belief in articles of faith - Inward 3) Ehsaan - Spiritual excellence - Worship Allah as if you see him or to know that He sees you.
- The consciousness of time, circumstance and place is important to applying these three dimensions of deen and that's when you have a complete way of life.
- In these three dimensions, the exemplar who is an embodiment of these aspects is the messenger of Allah (SAW).
The continuity of Prophethood