Islam: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » Prophets in Islam and Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets

Prophets: Allah's guidance for humanity

Muslims believe Allah did not create people and leave them alone. He guided them by sending prophets. The Arabic word for this guidance, and for the work of prophets, is risalah. You already met the idea in Muslim Nurture, the Qur'an and the Sunnah, where the Qur'an says a messenger was sent to every community (Qur'an 16:36).

Key terms:

• Risalah: Allah's way of guiding humanity by sending prophets with his message.
• Rasul: a messenger. Muhammad is called Rasul Allah, the Messenger of Allah.
• Seal of the Prophets: the title given to Muhammad, because Muslims believe he was the last prophet.
• Mawlid: the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, celebrated by many Muslims.

Muslims believe all the prophets brought the same basic message: there is one God, so worship him alone and live a good life. This is Tawhid again, taught in every age. The Qur'an names 25 prophets. Many of them are also known to Jews and Christians, which is why Muslims see Islam as the final stage of one long chain of guidance.

The chain of prophets

Some prophets were given books. The Qur'an speaks of the Tawrat given to Musa, the Zabur given to Dawud (David), and the Injil given to Isa. Muslims believe the Qur'an, given to Muhammad, is the final book.

Belief in the prophets is a core belief for Sunni and Shi'a Muslims alike. Sunni Muslims list it among the six articles of faith that you met in Al-Qadr: Free Will and Predestination in Islam. The Qur'an says believers make no distinction between any of Allah's messengers (Qur'an 2:285), so Muslims respect every prophet.

The nature of Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad is the central figure of Islam, but Muslims are very clear about what he was and was not.

• A human being. Muslims believe Muhammad was an ordinary man. The Qur'an tells him to say, 'I am only a man like you, to whom it has been revealed that your God is one God' (Qur'an 18:110).
• Never worshipped. Worshipping a person would be shirk, the sin you studied earlier. Muslims love and respect Muhammad, but they pray to Allah alone.
• The messenger of the Qur'an. Muslims believe the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad. He did not write it. He passed on the words of Allah.
• The best example. The Qur'an says that in the Messenger of Allah there is 'an excellent example' (Qur'an 33:21). Muslims try to copy his honesty, kindness and patience.

The Seal of the Prophets

The Qur'an calls Muhammad 'the Seal of the Prophets' (Qur'an 33:40). A seal closes and finishes a document. Muslims therefore believe:

• Muhammad was the last prophet. No prophet comes after him.
• The message he brought completes the guidance given to earlier prophets.
• This message is for all people and for all time, not for one tribe or age.

This belief matters because it means Muslims look to the Qur'an and the example of Muhammad for guidance today, not to a new prophet.

Why Muhammad matters to Muslims today

Most Muslims also show respect by not making pictures of Muhammad. They want to avoid any risk that people treat him as more than a human being, which would slip into shirk. Instead his name appears in beautiful calligraphy in mosques and books.

His example still guides daily life. Muslims try to follow the way he prayed, treated neighbours and spoke to others. In Muslim Nurture, the Qur'an and the Sunnah you met the sunnah, which is this example.

Different Muslim views: the Mawlid

Muslims agree on how important Muhammad is, but they differ over how to mark his birthday, the Mawlid. Many remember it in the Islamic month of Rabi' al-awwal: many Sunni Muslims mark it on the 12th and many Shi'a Muslims on the 17th.

• Many Muslims celebrate it. They hold gatherings, recite poems and stories about his life, and give food to the poor. They see it as a way to show love for him and learn from his life.
• Other Muslims do not. They say the first Muslims did not hold such a celebration, so it is a new practice added to Islam. They prefer to show love by following his sunnah every day.

Both groups believe he was the final messenger. They disagree only about this way of honouring him.

Exam-style question

(a) Outline two reasons why prophets are important in Islam. [4 marks] (Paper 2, AO1)

(b) Explain why Prophet Muhammad is important for Muslims today. [6 marks] (Paper 2, AO1 and AO2)

(c) 'Muslims should celebrate the Prophet's birthday.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other (divergent) points of view and your own opinion. [10 marks] (Paper 2, AO1 and AO2)