by A. Abdul Aziz (Source: Al Hakam, London)

A prophet is successful!

An essential characteristic of a true prophet is success. Consider the example of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). In his early life, he was a humble merchant, widely respected for his honesty and trustworthiness. Although involved in his community, the Prophet (PBUH) would often spend time in solitude and deep reflection. He led an extremely modest life, with little wealth, no power, or authority. Yet, from this humble state, Allah granted him both spiritual and worldly success. Allah said about The Prophet of Islam (PBUH):

Did He not find thee an orphan and give (thee) shelter? And He found thee wandering in search (for Him) and guided thee (unto Himself). And He found thee in want and enriched (thee.)” (Surah Ad-Duha, Ch.93: V.7-9)

Further, Allah says: 

And remember (the time) when you were few (and) deemed weak in the land, (and) were in fear lest people should snatch you away, but He sheltered you and strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things that you might be thankful.” (Surah al-Anfal, Ch.8: V.27)

These verses clearly illustrate the support that Allah gives a true messenger of His. Without the support of Allah, their missions would not succeed. Had the Holy Prophet (PBUH) (God forbid) been a false prophet, Allah says the results would have been thus: 

And if he had forged (and attributed) any saying to Us, We would have surely have seized him by the right hand, And then surely We would have severed his life-artery, and not one of you could have held (Us) off from him.” (Surah al-Haqqah, Ch.69: V.45-48)

This verse expresses the fate of any false prophet, that their message, work and mission would meet the fate of failure.

Allah says: 

Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or he who treats His Signs as lies? Surely, the guilty shall never prosper.” (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.18)

The Five Volume Commentary of this verse states:

This verse brings to light two eternal truths. The first of these is that both those who fabricate lies against God and those who reject and oppose His Messengers are highly unjust and can never escape God’s punishment. The second is that impostors and false prophets cannot succeed in fulfilling the object of their mission. It is indeed possible that a false prophet may temporarily succeed in securing a number of followers or in amassing wealth. But even in this case he will not be regarded as having succeeded in fulfilling his mission, because the amassing of wealth or the securing of a number of followers has never been the mission of a Prophet of God.

The true mission of a Divine Messenger is either to introduce and establish a new Law or to strengthen the old one, and unless he succeeds in achieving this object, he cannot be said to have been successful in his mission. This is a criterion the truth of which cannot legitimately be disputed or denied. The apparent failure of a true Prophet like John the Baptist or the apparent success of a claimant like Baha’ullah can be fully explained with the help of this touchstone.

John came with the mission of announcing the coming of the Messiah, which was in the nature of strengthening the old Law, and he was successful in that mission. On the other hand, Baha’ullah, even if he be taken to have come only as a Divine Messenger and not as God’s incarnation as he declared himself to be, claimed to have brought a new law that was to replace the Quranic Dispensation and therein he utterly failed, for his law has not been truly established even in a single household, not to speak of a whole people or country.” (The Five Volume Commentary [2018], Vol. 3, p. 1235-1236).

The role of a prophet

In Islam, a prophet is a person chosen by Allah who has the moral and spiritual capability to deliver unto their people the message of Allah. 

Allah says: 

On the Messenger lies only the conveying of the Message. And Allah knows what you reveal and what you hide.” (Surah Al Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.100)

The role of the prophet is to simply deliver the message of Allah. Furthermore, a prophet acts as a role model for their people. They are the manifestation of Allah’s commands and would be free of sin. This sinlessness of prophets is explained by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be on him, (The Promised Messiah and Mahdi) in the following words:

The word jurm or sin is always used for such an offence which is deserving of punishment. However, dhanb is applicable also to human frailty. Hence, the word dhanb applies to Prophets due to their human weakness, but the word jurm is never applicable to them. No Prophet has ever been referred to as a sinner in the Book of God.” (The Honour of Prophets, p. 31)

To be sinless and exhibit high moral qualities is what makes a prophet honourable amongst their people, and it is proof to the people that the human being is capable of reaching such a level of morality and piety. As prophets are merely human, they are the perfect role model that people can relate to. They eat, drink, suffer, prosper, and pass away like any other human being – but their qualities are of such refinement that they are selected by Allah to show to their people that the true path to Allah is attainable. 

Each role and job of a prophet will differ depending on the time and context. For example, Prophet Adam, peace be on him, was sent as the first prophet for mankind and was a guide and example for his people. Prophet Nuh, (Noah), peace be on him, was sent to bring his people out of the severe idolatry they had fallen into and to warn them of incoming disasters unless they turned back to monotheistic beliefs. 

Prophet Musa(Moses), peace be on him, was sent to liberate the Israelites from the oppression of Pharaoh, call people to worship of one God, deliver God’s message and establish the Torah. Prophet Salih, peace be on him, was sent to guide the tribe of Thamud and turn them back to the worship of God and warn them of punishment.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was then sent as the final law-bearing prophet for all mankind and provided the final guidance through the Holy Quran. So, as it is made clear to us, prophets have been sent for different reasons and different people.

Allah affirms in the Holy Quran that prophethood and the message of Allah is not bound to one nation or one tribe of people. It is a grave misunderstanding for someone to assume that the Creator of the universe would only send revelation and blessings upon one group of people.

Allah says: 

And We did raise among every people a Messenger, (preaching): ‘Worship Allah and shun the Evil One.’ Then among them were (some) whom Allah guided and among them were (some) who became deserving of ruin. So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who treated (the Prophets) as liars!” (Surah an-Nahl, Ch.16: V.37)

Again, Allah says: 

And there is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent.” (Surah Fatir, Ch 35: V.25)

It is the Holy Quran that accepts all prophets of old and makes it imperative for Muslims to respect and revere all of them.

All prophets up until the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were sent for their specific tribe and people.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the final law-bearing prophet who was to being the final and best law: 

Say, ‘O mankind! truly I am a Messenger to you all from Allah to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no God but He. He gives life, and He causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet, the Immaculate one, who believes in Allah and His words; and follow him that you may be rightly guided.’” (Surah al-A’raf, Ch.7: V.159)