There are 75 instances of “Nabiy” meaning “Prophet” in singular form and “Nabiyeen” as well as “Anbiyaa-a” meaning “Prophets” in plural forms found in 72 verses across 20 surahs in the Quran. 72 verses are reviewed to educate ourselves about the events and activities of prophets sent with scripture to humanity for its disgrace and deviation (2:213, 5:46, 57:27). Since their role is so critical, even we cannot think of our religion or religious activities to prepare ourselves for the Hereafter without scripture sent down to us through them as our guidance. However, these instances are further studied by logically separating them into the following groups: (1) historical perspective, (2) divine guidance and (3) Muhammad being addressed as prophet at his lifetime in order to precisely understand his role when he has been among his contemporaries:
Historical perspective
- Those who followed Moses asked him to pray to God for substituting superior food with the inferior one, and their descendants killed prophets unjustly (2:61).
- Those who were given the scripture did not believe the scripture that came after that, even they killed the prophet unjustly (2:91).
- The Children of Israel promised to their prophet to fight in the cause of God if a king is chosen for them but when Saul was chosen as a king for them, they did not accept him claiming him not to be worthy of kingship while his sign of kingship was the ark that left behind the families of Moses and Aaron being carried by the angels (2:46-48).
- Those who disbelieved in God’s revelation and killed their prophets will have to suffer a painful retribution (3:21).
- The angels called Zachariah at the sanctuary and gave him a good news of a son, John to be a prophet from the righteous (3:39).
- Those who said: “God is poor and we are rich” and killed their prophets without justification will taste the retribution of the Fire (3:181).
- Those who obey God and the messenger (angel) will be with those whom God has bestowed His favor are the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the righteous being the best companion (4:69).
- God has placed seal upon them because of breaking their covenantand their disbelief in His revelations and killing of their prophets without any justification (4:155).
- What God gave to the Children of Israel was not given to other people as He raised many prophets and made kings from among them (5:20).
- Torah was a guidance and light revealed to the prophets who judged those who were Jews with a warning to fear God and not to trade with His revelations for a small price (5:44).
- If the Jews had believed in God and the prophet (Jesus), most of them would not be disobedient making allies to each other (5:81).
- God has preferred some prophets over others referring that He gave David the Psalms (17:55).
- Jesus (19:30), Abraham (19:41), Isaac and Jacob (19:49), Moses (19:51), Aaron (19:53), Ismail (19:54) and Idris (19:56), are prophets from the descendants of Adam, from those who were carried with Noah, from the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and from those who were guided and chosen (19:58).
- God gave Abraham a good news of Isaac, a prophet from the righteous (37:112).
- Many prophets were sent to the previous generations while not a prophet came to them but they made fun of him (43:6-7).
In brief, descendants of those who asked Moses to pray to God for substituting superior food with inferior ones killed their prophets, those who were given scripture did not believe the scripture given after that but killed the prophet, the Children of Israel promised to their prophets to fight in the cause of God but when a king was chosen for them they did not accept him, those who disbelieved in God’s revelation killed their prophets will have to suffer a painful retribution, the angel gave Zachariah a good news of a son, prophet John, those who killed prophet saying that they are rich but God is poor will taste the retribution of Fire, those who obey God and the messenger are the best companion from the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the righteous,God placed seal upon those who broke their covenant and killed their prophets, God raised many prophets and made kings from the Children of Israel, most of the Jews became disobedient for disbelieving in God and Jesus, God preferred some prophets over others referring to the Psalms given to David, prophets were made from the descendants of Adam, from those who were carried with Noah and from the descendants of Abraham and Israel, God gave Abraham a good news of a son, prophet Isaac, many prophets were sent to the past but their people made fun of every one.
Divine guidance
- The commandment of God not to make any distinction between any of His prophets repeated twice (2:136, 3:84).
- Righteousness is to believe in God, Last Day, angels, scripture and prophets, and to practice rites each given by God (2:177).
- The people used to be one community around the world as God sent prophets as bearers of good news and warners while He sent with them the scripture containing the truth to judge between the people of what they disputed in it. The people who were given scripture did not differ except out of jealousy while the clear proofs came to them but God guides those believed to the truth (2:213).
- It is not for any prophet to say people who believed with him to take the angels and the prophets as their lords to be disbelievers after becoming believers (3:80).
- God took a covenant of the prophets to send a messenger after the delivery of the scripture given to them, which has been revealed through the Quran sent down to Muhammad for the people to come after him, and the messenger who will confirm what was with them (3:81, 33:7).
- The enemies of every prophet – the human and the jinn devils who inspire to each other for fancy words to deceive are known to God, and He has reminded us to disregard that being their fabrications (6:112).
- God sent a prophet to a people who were afflicted with hardship and adversity so that they may become humble (7:94).
- And we did not send before you (Muhammad) any messenger nor a prophet except that when he recited, the devil had cast in his recitation. But God nullifies what the devil cast. Thus, God perfects His revelations, and God is Omniscient, Most Wise (22:52).
- God has made enemies from among the wicked for every prophet but his (Muhammad) Lord has always been a Guide and Helper (25:31).
- On the Day of Judgment the earth will shine with the light of God and the record will be declared while the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth to ensure equitable judgment for all (39:69).
In brief, no distinction between of any of His prophets, what to believe given in a sequential order, definition of prophet and messenger, prophets are given scripture with truth to resolve disputes, prophets could not say to people to take angels and them as their lords, a covenant of God with the prophets to send a messenger after the delivery of all the scripture, the human and jinn devils inspire each other for fancy words to deceive people that should be disregarded, prophets are sent after affliction of people with hardship and adversity to make them humble,no messenger or prophet was sent without devil’s interference, there were enemies for every prophet from the wicked but God has always been a Guide and Helper for him, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth on a Day of the Judgment for equitable judgment for all.
Mathematical confirmation
There are 12 instances of prophets in 12 verses across 8 surahs that deal with the God’s given guidelines for all generations of people to understand and follow. If the relevant sura and verse numbers are added, the total is a multiple of 19 =>1273 = 19x67 (see the details at the table below):
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof of what are stated in the relevant verses so that those who expect to receive reward from their Lord when they meet Him must follow these divine guidelines paying proper attention for leading a righteous life.
Muhammad being addressed as prophet at his lifetime
- Since God is the Protector of the believers, He will protect those who established a close relationship with Abraham and this prophet (Muhammad) (3:68).
- It is not for a prophet that he defrauds as whoever defrauds will be brought with what he had defrauded on the Day of Resurrection when every soul will be paid what it had earned (3:161).
- The scripture given to the prophets are Muhammad (referring him not by his name but to a singular second person pronoun), Noah including Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and David who came after Noah (4:163).
- God has commanded the people of the previous scripture as well as the people of the current scripture (Quran) to follow the light sent down to a messenger, the gentile prophet to be successful in the Hereafter (7:157).
- God asked the prophet to proclaim him a messenger of God for all, letting them know that to Him belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He introduced him to the believers to be His messenger, the gentile prophet who believes in Him and His words, and those who believe in God and follow him are the guided ones (7:158).
- God has been sufficient for the prophet and whoever has followed him of the believers (8:64)
- God asked the prophet to urge the believers to fight letting them know that the steadfast believers even be able to defeat the opposition army of disbelievers ten times bigger than them in number as the disbelievers are stupid (8:65).
- It is not for a prophet that he would take spoils of war unless he fought in the battle just expecting some material gain in the world while the Hereafter is the concern for all (8:67).
- God asked the prophet to say to the prisoners of war that if God finds a good in their hearts, He will give them better than what was taken away from them as well as He will forgive them (8:70).
- People used to hurt the prophet saying him “All ear” which was better for him as he believes in God and has trust for the believers. Hence, those who hurt the messenger of God will have to suffer a painful retribution (9:61)
- God asked the prophet to encounter the disbelievers and be stern on them as their destination is Hell, which is a miserable destiny (9:73, 66:9).
- It is not for the prophet and the believers that they would ask forgiveness of God for the disbelievers and the idol worshippers, even if they are their close relatives as they are the dwellers of the Hellfire (9:113).
- God have mercy for the prophet as well as for the emigrants and the supporters who followed him in the difficult time, even some of them had nearly deviated (9:117).
- God asked the prophet to fear Him and to disregard the disbelievers and the hypocrites reminding him that He is Knower, Wise (33:1).
- The believers are informed that the prophet is closer to them than they are among themselves, and his wives are like mothers to them but to take care of their own families would come first (33:6).
- Some of the believers sought prophet’s permission saying to him that their homes were exposed, which was not true except to flee from the battle (33:13).
- God asked the prophet to tell his wives that if they give priority to worldly life and its luxury, then let them go with an amicable manner (33:28).
- God warned prophet’s wives that if they commit lewdness, their punishment will be doubled (33:30).
- God warned prophet’s wives not to be like the other women, and to speak in an appropriate manner so that no one moves with desire whoever in his heart is a disease (33:32).
- There was nothing wrong for the prophet in doing something what God had decreed upon him, which is His system that came down from the past (33:38).
- Muhammad was not given son but what has been given him is a messenger of God and a seal of the prophets; thus, he was neither the final prophet nor the final messenger, and the prophethood but
not the messengership ended with what was revealed to him being the final edition of God’s scripture. However, Muhammad was a prophet as well as a messenger while every prophet is a messenger but every messenger is not a prophet (33:40). - God informed the prophet that He has sent him a witness, a bearer of good news, a warner, a caller to Him and an illuminating light (33:45-46).
- God informed the prophet that his wives were made lawful for him to whom he gave the bridal due and those whom he rightfully possessed given by God and he was also permitted to marry any woman from the women who were daughters of his father’s brothers, daughters of his father’s sisters, daughters of mother’s brothers and daughters of mother’s sisters emigrated with him, even any believing woman who gave herself to the prophet, which was only for him but not for the believers while the believers were made obligatory for them their wives and what they used to rightfully possess, and this concession for the prophet would not be a discomfort for him (33:50).
- God asked the believers not to enter prophet’s home except for an invitation for meal without awaiting its preparation and to leave his home after finishing the meal, and to speak to his wives behind a barrier if they had anything to ask them, which was purer for the believers as well as for the prophet’s wives (33:53).
- God and His angels helped the prophet, and He asked the believers to help him and to respect him as he should be respected (33:56).
- God asked the prophet to tell his wives and daughters as well as the wives of the believers to cover them appropriately with their garments so that they can be recognized and are not harmed (33:59).
- God commanded the believers not to raise their voices above the voice of the prophet lest they nullified their all works that they might not perceive (49:2).
- God asked the prophet to ask of His forgiveness for the believing women when they came to him pledging that they will not associate with God and will not commit any other gross sins (60:12).
- God asked the prophet that you people shall divorce your wives keeping in mind their waiting period and shall not evict them from their houses or shall not compel them to leave from their own unless they have committed any proven adultery, which will be exceeding God’s limits (65:1).
- God reminded the prophet not to forbid what He made lawful for him just to please his wives (66:1).
- When the prophet shared a statement to one of his wives but he disregarded a part of it. Then she asked him who informed this. He said that the Omniscient and the Most Gracious had informed him (66:3).
- God has commanded the believers to repent a sincere repentance, then He will forgive and remit their sins, and will admit them into Gardens on the day when He will not disappoint the prophet and those who believed with him, while their light will run in front of them and to their right (66:8).
In brief, God will protect those who were close to Abraham and this prophet, it is not for a prophet that he would defraud, scripture was given to Muhammad and other prophets who came after Noah, Muhammad was a gentile messenger prophet and all the people will follow the light sent with him, those who followed the gentile messenger prophet would be the guided ones, God is sufficient for the prophet and the believers, the steadfast believers to be able to defeat the opposition army ten times bigger than them, it was not for a prophet to take spoils of war without participating in the battle, prophet was asked to tell the prisoners of war that if God finds any good in their hearts, He will give them better than what they lost and will forgive them, those who hurt the prophet saying him “All ear” will have to suffer a painful retribution, prophet was asked to encounter the disbelievers and to be stern on them, prophet and the believers would not ask forgiveness of God for the disbelievers and the idol worshipers, God had mercy for the prophet and the emigrants well as the supporters who followed him at the difficult time, God reminded the prophet to fear Him and to disregard the disbelievers and the hypocrites, the believers were closer to the prophet than they were among themselves, some of the believers raised a plea to the prophet just to flee from the battle, God asked the prophet to let go of his wives amicably if they gave priority to the worldly life, if the prophet’s wives had committed lewdness, their punishment would be doubled, prophet’s wives were warned to speak to the believers in an appropriate manner so that no one moved with desire whoever had a disease in his heart, nothing wrong with the prophet to do what God had decreed upon him, the prophet hood for humanity ended with the revelation of Quran through Muhammad being the last prophet, the prophet has been sent as a witness, a bearer of a good news and a warner, the prophet was permitted to marry from any believing women emigrated with him in addition to his existing, which was not permitted for the believers, the believers were asked not to enter prophet’s home without invitation and to speak to his wives behind a barrier, the believers were asked to help and support the prophet and to respect him as he should be respected, the prophet was asked to tell his wives and daughters as well as the wives of the believers to dress appropriately, the believers were warned not to raise their voices above the voice of the prophet to nullify their works unknowingly, the prophet was told to ask God’s forgiveness for the women who came to him pledging of not committing any gross sins, the prophet was asked to divorce their wives keeping in mind of their waiting periods and they should not be evicted from their homes unless they committed a proven adultery, it was not for the prophet to forbid what God made lawful for him just to please his wives, the prophet let his wife know that he had been informed by the Most Gracious when he was asked by her at the time of sharing a part of a statement with her, and God will not disappoint the prophet and those who believed with him on the Day of Judgment but will enter either Lower or Higher Heaven.
Mathematical confirmation
There are 36 instances of prophets in 33 verses across 10 surahs that are directly associated with Muhammad addressing him as prophet at his lifetime’s events and activities involving him with his contemporaries. If the relevant sura and verse numbers are added, the total is a multiple of 19 => 2148 = 19x112 (see the details at the table below):
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof of what are stated in the verses associated with the prophet’s lifetime events and activities to avoid any misinterpretation of the message coded in the relevant verses as well as many misconceptions found around him when he is not any more among the believers down the generations.
Conclusion
God cited as a lesson for us the examples of the wicked people who asked their prophet to replace superior food with the inferior one, did not believe the scripture that came after what they had with them, broke their promise, said “God is poor and we are rich”, many prophets were raised from among them but most of them became disbelievers and disobedient, made fun of every prophet and killed their prophets, and thus, they will have to suffer a painful retribution. God has blessed some of the righteous fulfilling their wishes while those who obeyed God and the messenger were the best companion from the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the righteous.
Divine guidelines are very crucial for us being basic principles that need to instill in our hearts to stay and lead a righteous life. No distinction between of any of His prophets, believing what to believe in a sequential order, definition of prophet and messenger, prophets are given scripture with truth to resolve disputes among different generations of people, no prophet said to people to take angels and him as lords, a covenant of God with the prophets to send a messenger after the delivery of all the scripture, the fancy words of the human and jinn devils to deceive people by the enemies of each prophet should be disregarded, prophets are sent after affliction of people with hardship and adversity to make them humble, no messenger nor a prophet was sent without devil’s interference, every prophet had enemies from the wicked but God serves as a Guide and Helper, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth on the Day of Judgment for equitable judgment.
Addressing Muhammad as a prophet associating him at his lifetime events and activities are not possible now but has a significant teaching for the generation of people to come after him to avoid many misconceptions found now around him. It was not for a prophet that he would defraud or take spoils of war without participating in the battle or forbid what God made lawful for him just to please his wives, those who hurt the prophet saying him “All ear” will suffer a painful retribution, prophet and the believers would not ask forgiveness of God for the disbelievers and the idol worshippers, the believers were closer to the prophet than they were among themselves, some of the believers raised a plea to the prophet just to flee from the battle, the prophet was asked to let go of his wives amicably who had priority to the worldly life, nothing wrong with the prophet to do what God had decreed upon him, the prophethood for humanity ended with the revelation of Quran being Muhammad the last prophet, the prophet has been sent as a witness, a bearer of a good news and a warner, the prophet was permitted to marry from any believing women emigrated with him, which was not permitted for the married believers, the believers were not to enter prophet’s home without invitation and to speak to his wives except behind a barrier, the believers were asked to help and support the prophet and to respect him as he should be respected, the prophet was asked to tell his wives and daughters as well as the wives of the believers to dress appropriately, the believers were not to raise their voices above the voice of the prophet to nullify their works unknowingly, the prophet was asked to divorce their wives keeping in mind of their waiting periods, the prophet let his wife know what he had been informed by the Most Gracious when he shared a statement with her, and God will not disappoint the prophet and those who believed with him on the Day of Judgment.
Prophethood ended with the revelation of the Quran but the communication of God with humanity had not ended. He promised to send a messenger to humanity to confirm the delivery of all scripture with a reminder of the mathematical coding of Quran for its deviation that we know now to bring people back to the light sent down to the gentile prophet to be successful in the Hereafter.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (1/26/2018)