The Messengers of Allah (SWT)

By Ayaan Qayyum, Founder and CEO

124,000. That is the number of Prophets sent to this earth, across all of time. Ibrahim (Abraham), Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), and Muhammad (ﷺ) were part of this massive group. These famous religious figures were all sent by Allah (SWT). But you may ask: For what? Why were these men sent? What even is a prophet? What is the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger?

Firstly, a Messenger is he who was revealed new information and assigned the task of relaying it to their nations, so as to better their character and bring their nation closer to Allah (SWT). Prophets are those who were tasked to relay previously sent information. Both act as models of the ideal human behavior for others to follow. They are some of the greatest humans ever, and are very close to Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) has directly talked to some of them and performed miracles for them, such as the splitting of the moon for Muhammad (ﷺ), allowing Isa (AS) to walk on water, Musa (AS)’s staff turning into a serpent, and preventing the fire from harming Ibrahim (AS). It is important to note that no miracle was performed by a Prophet or Messenger without the will and assistance of Allah (SWT), as assuming otherwise would put a Prophet or Messenger on par with Allah (SWT) Himself.

Most miracles sent by Allah (SWT) benefited not only those who witnessed them but all of mankind as well. Muhammad (ﷺ)’s entire Miraj journey lasted less than five seconds and prescribed five prayers a day mandatory for all Muslims. Moreover, the greatest miracle ever sent to Muhammad (ﷺ) was actually the Quran. It wasn’t his healing spittle, or the blessings that were sent everywhere he went, it was the book sent to his nation. This is understandable. Unlike other books sent to Messengers, the Quran is the only one that was preserved in its original form. The nation of Muhammad (ﷺ) is also far larger than the nation of every other prophet, a sign of the successes of Muhammad (ﷺ).

Below we will briefly discuss two Prophets and Messengers: Adam (AS) and Nuh (Noah AS).

Adam (AS) was the first human ever created. He and his wife, Hawa (Eve), lived in Jannah before disobeying Allah (SWT) and getting kicked off onto the earth at the same time as Shaytaan. One of his sons, Cain, murdered his brother Abel, noting the first instance of murder, ever. Nearing Adam’s death, his other son Seeth (Seth), took over the responsibilities of prophethood.

Nuh (Noah) (AS) was born 146 years after the death of Adam (AS). Unfortunately, he was the only one left on the earth who worshipped Allah (SWT), and not idols. He is commonly known in Christian and Jewish scriptures for his association with his ark, but there is more to his story than that. “He said: "O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all my calling added nothing but to their flight from the truth. Verily! Every time I called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and magnified themselves in pride. Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud); then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private, I said to them: 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers." What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His Punishment), and you hope not for reward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness. While He has created you in different stages” (Quran 23:13-14).

For over eight-hundred years he preached to the people of the world, and generation after generation he saw people take steps away from him and Islamic monotheism. One day, Allah (SWT) revealed to Nuh (AS) that no others would believe, leading Nuh (AS) to pray for the end of the disbelievers. Allah (SWT) instructed him to build an ark in preparation for a flood the world had never seen. It rained for months. Seventy-two believers and a male and female pair of every animal on earth were on the ark with him. No believer had children, except for Nuh (AS). This is why he is known as the second Adam, or Father of Mankind.

The stories of the prophets are all fascinating. No prophet was more or less human than you and me, but their character marks the ideal of what mankind could be. Every single story of the prophets in the Quran and the Hadiths describe dealing with struggles, which disproves the notion that Prophets and Messengers had fewer problems than everyone else. On the Day of Judgement, some Prophets may have huge nations of people standing behind them as followers, whereas some may have none. Some Prophets spent their entire lives preaching and were never able to reach a single person. May Allah (SWT) grant us all the strength and ability to have the patience and good character of these Prophets and to integrate their practices into our daily lives.