Mankind’s need for Prophethood

Q: what is the importance of prorhecy for the humanity? Why is faith in Prophethood so important


A: Praise be to Allaah

Mankind is in need of Messengers and Prophets from Allaah, to light the way and guide them to ways of peace, and to warn them against the ways of evil and corruption. Some of the things for which mankind clearly needs Messengers and Prophets are:

1 - Guidance to Allaah, may He be exalted and glorified
Mankind has gone through periods where they did not have Messengers and Messages from Allaah for a long time, and so they fell into the traps of illusions and myths, so they prayed to natural phenomena and heavenly bodies, or idols that could neither benefit nor harm them, worshipping them in fear and hope. At the same time, they were subjected to humiliation by those who claimed divinity, such as the Pharaohs and others. Even though there was never a time when at least a few people wondered about Who had sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and instinctively realized that there was a Creator, they still failed to worship Him properly and heed His commands and prohibitions and understand what He wanted them to do and not do, because they had no contact with anybody who could tell that about all that. The wisdom of Allaah dictated that He should save the confused and misguided by blessing them with the knowledge of His Divine qualities and Beautiful Names, so He honoured them and all of humanity by sending Messengers who would guide them towards the Creator, as He tells us in the story of Nooh (peace be upon him): {لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ } "Indeed, We sent Nooh to his people and he said, 'O my people! Worship Allaah! You have no other ilaah (god) but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!'" Transliteration: Laqad 'Arsalnā Nūĥāan 'Ilá Qawmihi Faqāla Yā Qawmi A`budū Allāha Mā Lakum Min 'Ilahin Ghayruhu 'Innī 'Akhāfu `Alaykum `Adhāba Yawmin `Ažīmin.[al-A'raaf 7:59]. All the Prophets and Messengers, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them, came one after the other, bringing the same Message.

2 - Guidance regarding the Hereafter
One of the reasons why Prophets and Messengers were sent was to tell people about the Hereafter, because if man does not believe in Allaah and the Last Day, he will be a slave to his desires, running after material things and following the ways of misguidance. If he is reminded or advised, he will deny that he is answerable for his deeds. Allaah has described such people in His words (interpretation of the meaning): { وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ بِذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ} "And they say, 'There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except al-dahr (the time).' And they have no knowledge of it, they only conjecture."Transliteration: Wa Qālū Mā Hiya 'Illā Ĥayātunā Ad-Dunyā Namūtu Wa Naĥyā Wa Mā Yuhlikunā 'Illā Ad-Dahru Wa Mā Lahum Bidhālika Min `Ilmin 'In Hum 'Illā Yažunnūna. [al-Jaathiyah 45:24].

So it was the task of the Prophets and Messengers to establish proof of the Last Day, and to explain that the One Who created mankind from nothing is able to bring them back to life after their death, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): {قُلِ اللَّهُ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} "Say: 'Allaah gives you life, then causes you to die, then He will assemble you on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. But most of mankind know not."Transliteration: Quli Allāhu Yuĥyīkum Thumma Yumītukum Thumma Yajma`ukum 'Ilá Yawmi Al-Qiyāmati Lā Rayba Fīhi Wa Lakinna 'Akthara An-Nāsi Lā Ya`lamūna [al-Jaathiyah 45:26]. On that Day, the scales of justice will be set up and scores between oppressors and their victims will be settled. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): {وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا ۖ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَاسِبِين } "And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners." Transliteration: Wa Nađa`u Al-Mawāzīna Al-Qisţa Liyawmi Al-Qiyāmati Falā Tužlamu Nafsun Shay'āan Wa 'In Kāna Mithqāla Ĥabbatin Min Khardalin 'Ataynā Bihā Wa Kafá Binā Ĥāsibīna .[al-Anbiya' 21:47]. If it were not for this Reckoning, which we know about only through Prophethood, life would be pointless and a means only for wrongdoing - and this is contrary to the wisdom of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted.

3 - Meeting man's need for religion
So long as man remains sound of nature, clear of mind and pure of heart, his need for religion remains a part of him, and he understands that there has to be an Almighty Creator who created and organized the universe in the best way. Thus there emerges from the depths of his being the urge to submit himself fully to the Creator, to seek His help at times of calamity and distress, and to humble himself before Him, as he feels his great need for Him both at times of ease and of hardship. This is referred to in the Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning): {فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} "So set your face towards the religion of pure Islamic monotheism haneefa (worship none but Allaah Alone), Allaah's fitrah (pattern) with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in khalq-illah [i.e., the Religion of Allaah], that is the straight religion, but most of men know not."Transliteration: Fa'aqim Wajhaka Lilddīni Ĥanīfāan Fiţrata Allāhi Allatī Faţara An-Nāsa `Alayhā Lā Tabdīla Likhalqi Allāhi Dhālika Ad-Dīnu Al-Qayyimu Wa Lakinna 'Akthara An-Nāsi Lā Ya`lamūna. [al-Room 30:30]

According to a hadeeth narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): «Every new-born baby is born according to the fitrah, then his parents make him into a Jew or a Christian or a Magian (Zoroastrian)»[Agreed upon]. How could a man know how to become religious and worship his Creator without Revelation from Allaah to tell him about it? There has to be a mediator between Allaah and His creation so that mankind can know about the religion which the Creator wants them to follow; this is the role of the Prophets.

4 - Guidance regarding proper ways of dealing with one another
It is well known that man is by nature sociable, and that he has wishes and desires that cannot be achieved except in cooperation with his fellow-man. So it is clear that mankind urgently needs guidance to regulate his relationships with others, to outline the right way of behaving, to resolve disputes and conflicts, to guard against wrong-doing and oppression, and to protect people's rights - lest some people oppress others. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): {لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ} "Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scriptures and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice…"Transliteration: Laqad 'Arsalnā Rusulanā Bil-Bayyināti Wa 'Anzalnā Ma`ahumu Al-Kitāba Wa Al-Mīzāna Liyaqūma An-Nāsu Bil-Qisţi. [al-Hadeed 57:25].

5 - Guidance towards sound morals
It is also a part of man's nature that he will strive to fulfil his needs even if he does so by means of oppression and domination. So he urgently needs a deterrent, in the form of belief in Allaah and the Last Day, to motivate him to acquire good qualities and praiseworthy morals. These can only be known through the divine laws brought and conveyed by the Prophets and Messengers of Allaah, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them.

6 - Achieving justice in accordance with the will of Allaah
It is well known that Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, is Fair and Just. He rewards the one who does good as a blessing and favour from Him, and He punishes the one who does wrong as an act of justice on His part.

Allaah, by His wisdom and mercy, sent His Messengers, from Aadam to Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them all) to establish proof (so that people would have no excuse). Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): {وَلَوْ أَنَّا أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ لَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَوْلَا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ آيَاتِكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَذِلَّ وَنَخْزَىٰ} "And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this (i.e., Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the Qur'aan), they would surely have said, 'Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger, we should certainly have followed Your aayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), before we were humiliated and disgraced.'"Transliteration: Wa Law 'Annā 'Ahlaknāhum Bi`adhābin Min Qablihi Laqālū Rabbanā Lawlā 'Arsalta 'Ilaynā Rasūlāan Fanattabi`a 'Āyātika Min Qabli 'An Nadhilla Wa Nakhzá. [Ta-Ha 20:134] {رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ..}
"Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allaah after the Messengers…"Transliteration: Rusulāan Mubashshirīna Wa Mundhirīna Li'llā Yakūna Lilnnāsi `Alá Allāhi Ĥujjatun Ba`da Ar-Rusuli. [al-Nisa' 4:165]

Allaah, Who is the Most Just of judges, has decreed that He will not punish a nation until He has sent a Messenger to them, as He says: {مَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا} "Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his own self. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)."Transliteration: Mani Ahtadá Fa'innamā Yahtadī Linafsihi Wa Man Đalla Fa'innamā Yađillu `Alayhā Wa Lā Taziru Wāziratun Wizra 'Ukhrá Wa Mā Kunnā Mu`adhdhibīna Ĥattá Nab`atha Rasūlāan [al-Isra' 17:15]

The above should explain the extent of mankind's need for Messengers and their Messages, and why their happiness in this world and the next is connected to that.

And Allaah knows best.