THE NECESSITY OF PROPHETHOOD

 

Islam tells us clearly that there is no deity to worship but Allah, who had given beginning and life to everything out of nothing. However, one may ask whether human beings could find the Almighty Allah by themselves or not, and if that was the case, why did we need prophets to deliver the message of Allah? Therefore, we will try to explain the necessity of prophethood and, hence, revelation.

 

Firstly, we have to know that humans are created with free will. That is, it is up to people to act upon the good and evil in life, even though it is obligated in Islam to act upon the good and obey Allah. Indeed, Allah bestowed upon intellect to human beings, with which we can separate good and evil. It is with the same intellect that we can deduce the existence of Allah. However, this intellect provides us limited knowledge about good and evil, and more importantly Allah. Intellect usually provides us general knowledge about things, and not the particular situations or the nature and attributes of Allah. Therefore, sending prophets to teach and guide people was a blessing from Allah since it also provides free will for humans. He could have created us with the exact knowledge of all particulars, and it would be obligatory to obey them. However, Allah provided a journey for humans through prophets in which they can learn the existence of Allah, His attributes, good and evil, and whether they are willing to act upon that knowledge or not.

 

It is said in the Quran; “He said, “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]” (Qur’an 20:50). People seek and receive guidance all through their life in various situations from people like parents, teachers and friends. Therefore, it is indeed the most logical, wise and benevolent thing to do to send messengers to the creation of His to achieve happiness both in this world and in the hereafter. Through messengers and revelation, He introduced himself and made Himself known and His blessings to humankind as well as His compassion. There is also wisdom in His choosing of prophets among people like us. Allah says “Surely there was a good example for you in the Messenger of Allah, for all those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much” (Qur’an 33:21). Prophets were ordinary people except for their high moral values and good conduct which prevented them from committing sins. That is to say, they lived like us. They were born, ate, drank, slept and died. It is important because it makes it easier for people to take example of them and their life to follow. If they were chosen among angels or God-like creatures, it would be impossible to take them, their personalities and their deeds as role models in our lives.