Adam, Abraham, Jesus, Mohammad

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The Prophets in the Qur'an

• General Theme:

  • God chose His Messengers mainly to make Himself known and to guide human beings.

  • All of them were tested and all of them were given blessings and guidance to draw them closer to God.

  • They were also asked to submit to God completely.

Adam (2:30–37):

God's Relationship with His Prophets

• Relevant Passage

  30. Behold, your Lord said to the angels: „I will create a vicegerent on earth.‟ They said: „Will You place there one who will make mischief there and shed blood? whilst we celebrate your praises and glorify your holy (name)?‟ He said "I know what you do not know.‟ 31. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the names of these if you are right.‟ 32 They said: "Glory to You, of knowledge we have none, save what You have taught us: In truth, it is You who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom.‟ 33. He said: "Adam! Tell them their names.‟ When he had told them, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?‟ 34. And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam‟. And they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: he was of those who reject faith. 35. We said: "Adam! You and your wife dwell in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things in it as You wish. But do not approach this tree, or you will run into harm and transgression.‟ 36. Then Satan made them slip from there, and got them out of what they had been in. We said: "Go down, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood, for a time.‟ 37. Then Adam learnt from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is often-returning, most merciful.

• God bestowed special status on Adam by making him first human and the first prophet.

• God had told the angels He would place a representative on earth, and the angels asked why, if he will only make mischief unlike the angels who only glorify God.

• When God spoke to Adam, he taught Him and gave him knowledge of things that the angels did not know.
  • God’s relationship with Adam was that of a teacher and student.
  • It shows the superiority of humans over angels due to what they know, and so it stresses the importance of gaining knowledge.
  • God gives knowledge to whom He wills.

• God required obedience from Adam and tested him by forbidding him from touching a specific tree, without explaining why – so God tested Adam from the beginning.

• Satan, who was jealous of Adam and had refused to bow to him, came to tempt Adam and his wife into eating from the tree.

• He is from the mischief makers who whisper evil into the minds/hearts of humans.

• God sent Adam and his wife to live on earth.

• Adam realised his mistake and through this event turned to God for forgiveness.

• And God, because He is the most merciful, turned towards Adam, meaning He forgave Him.
  • This passage tells Muslims about the favours God gives his prophets. He gives them knowledge for guidance, and He forgives when people turn to Him in repentance.
    • It is the nature of humans to sin and for God to forgive.

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The ways in which God gave knowledge of Himself to His Messengers.

• Adam knowledge about Himself through the things he was taught the names of, and the lessons he learnt in obedience to God.

• Adam was taught the names of all the things in creation, and because of his status near God, the angels were asked to bow to him.

• Iblis refused, and was banished.

• He vowed to lead Adam and his future generations astray.

• He did this by making Adam approach the tree he had been forbidden from.

• Adam realised his mistake and through this event turned to God for forgiveness.

• Through these events Adam learnt about God’s creation, His Knowledge and His forgiveness.

Abraham (6.75–79):

God's Relationship with His Prophets

• Revelant Passage

  75. So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, so that he might have certainty. 76. When the night covered him over, he saw a star: He said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said: "I do not love things that set.‟ 77. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord.‟ But when the moon set, he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among those who go astray.‟ 78. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest.‟ But when the sun set, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from your giving partners to Allah.‟ 79. "For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.‟

• God gave Ibrahim knowledge of Himself through the law and order of the heavens and the earth. God guided him through His signs, and Ibrahim turned towards Him.

• Through these events he turned himself to believe in God and did not associate partners with Him.

• Ibrahim used his intellect and reasoning to work out that there was one unseen God and rejected the idols.

• Their relationship is shown through the creation of God, with Ibrahim waiting to be guided by God, and in return God inspired Him through the blessings of the sun and the moon to see His order, His Unity and His control over creation.

• God does not change unlike the things He has created.

The ways in which God gave knowledge of Himself to His Messengers.

• Ibrahim was given knowledge of God through the law and order of the heavens and the earth.
  • He was searching for his Lord, and looked to the stars and the moon and the sun, which people at his time worshipped.

• God inspired him to realise that the things in creation that do not last cannot be the things to be worshipped as God does not change.

• Through these events he turned himself to believe in God and did not associate partners with Him.

• God showed Ibrahim His Unity, and His control over creation.

Jesus (5:110):

God's Relationship with His Prophets

• Relevant Passage

  Then will Allah say: ‘Jesus son of Mary! Recount my favour to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the holy spirit, so that you spoke to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by my leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by my leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by my leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by my leave. And behold! I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you showed them the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’

• Jesus/Isa was given special guidance and miracles which helped him understand God’s Power and status as Creator and his status as a prophet.

• God asked Jesus to recount the blessings that God had given him and his mother (Maryam), showing that God gives his prophets favours to help them in their lives.

• God then gives a list of the things He has given Jesus, and the benefits of those favours:
  • He was given the holy spirit which allowed him to speak to the people as a child and when he was older.
  • He was also taught the Law and the Gospel to teach the people how to live their lives in accordance to God’s laws.
  • He was also able to give life to the dead and heal the sick, by the will of God.
  • He also protected Jesus from the unbelievers who accused Jesus of magic and did not believe His powers were a sign of God’s majesty.

• This all showed Jesus the favours he was given by God which allowed him to believe in Him and follow Him.

• Gods helps his prophets and He also saved Jesus from execution, which showed God’s love and protection for him.

The ways in which God gave knowledge of Himself to His Messengers.

• Isa was given special miracles which helped him understand the power of God.
  • He was given the holy spirit which allowed him to speak to the people as a child and when he was older.
  • He was also taught the Law and the Gospel to teach to the people.
  • He was also able to give life to the dead and heal the sick, by the will of God.

• This all showed Isa the favours he was given by God which allowed him to believe in Him and follow Him.

Muhammad (93 and 108):

God's Relationship with His Prophets

• The Prophet Muhammad faced hardships like the other prophets, but God reminds him that He gave him blessings in this life and the next, which relieved the Prophet and gave him reassurance that God was looking after him.

• God gave him shelter, guidance and independence, and also gave him blessings in the form of Kawthar, a river in paradise. So he is told to believe in God and tell his people about Him so they can too turn to Him when in need.

• The Prophet (pbuh) is asked to pray, do good and look after the poor and needy.

The ways in which God gave knowledge of Himself to His Messengers.

• The Prophet Muhammad faced hardships like the other prophets, but God reminds him that He gave him blessings in this life and the next, which relieved the Prophet and gave him reassurance that God was looking after him.

• God gave him shelter, guidance and independence, and also gave him blessings in the form of Kawthar, which some say is a river in paradise, or offspring.

• He learns about God through His generosity, mercy and guidance.

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‘Undergoing hardships brings a person closer to God.’ Agree or disagree with this statement, giving reasons for your answer.

• Candidates could agree and say, e.g. that all prophets were tested which allowed them to get closer to God, likewise humankind now can get closer to their Lord through their hardships, as long as they reflect and understand that God is testing them.

• Also, by remaining patient and steadfast, and not leaving their worship, they will gain rewards and understanding.

• Prophets were tested and remained steadfast, so Muslims should also expect to be tested and they should also remain steadfast.

God’s Messengers experienced trials. How can their responses help Muslims face difficulties in their own lives?

• God sends trials to everyone, including prophets who are closest to Him. So Muslims should realise that going through hardships does not mean that they are far from God, but that being tested means they have an opportunity to become closer to Him.

• Trials are also sent to teach people, so Muslims should try to reflect upon what God is trying to teach them.

• Candidates can give examples such as being steadfast in difficulty, not turning away from God, showing patience and having hope of something good coming from their hardship.