Rasul: Apostles to Humanity
Celebrations to the Muslims in the Blessing of Mawlid Al Nabiy
Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) loves that His creatures go not astray. He therefore chose
some among His human creations who excel all other persons for whom they are
sent to show the right path toward Himself. The Rasul sent before Nabiy Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) were sent to each nation on Earth. The word
Rasul is mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an 368 times. But the total number of
Nabiys that were sent by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) to mankind is about
124,000, according to some narrations. Nabiys and Rasul were sent to every
nation on earth to give guidance to the people. The Glorious Quran says,“And
We sent not before thee (to the Arabs, O’ Our Rasool Muhammad!) any Rasool or
Nabiy. And had We willed, We would certainly have raised up a warner in every
town. And every people
(was sent) a Rasool; and when their Rasool came, the matter between them
was decided with equity and they shall not (in the least) be dealt with
unjustly.” 22:52; 25:51
and 10:47
Nubuwwa
(Prophethood) is one of the articles of Islam. Anbiya is the plural of Nabiy;
‘nabi’ means ‘foretell’. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi
Wasalam) said,“I am not a foreteller of Allah, but the elevated one of
Allah.” Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) has honoured the children of Adam (Alayhi
AlSalam) and He speaks in the Glorious Qur’an to Nabiy Idris (Alayhi AlSalam)
in verse 70 of Al-Israa 17,“And We
have honored the Children of Adam, and We elevated them in the land and on the
sea, and We provided them with sustenance of good things, and We have exalted
them over most of those whom We have created, by (high) decree of exaltion. And
He also speaks of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa
Salam),“Muhammad is RasoolAllah.” 48:29
Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) raises or elevates His Anbiya. Nabiy Idris (Alayhi AlSalam),
for example, is mentioned two times in the Glorious Qur'an, in the content that
he was raised to a high position to be close or near to Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta'Ala).Without this status, which no one could be honored with Nubuwwa. The
Glorious Qur’an says,“And mention in the Qur’an about Idris; verily he was
a truthful one, a Nabiy. And We exalted him to a high station.” 19:56-57
All
Rasul are equally truthful, but their personal excellence is graded. Nabiy Musa
(Alayhi AlSalam) had the privilege and honor of having divine discourse with
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala). Nabiy Isa (Alayhi AlSalam) had the distinction of
being aided by the Holy Sprit, and Nabiy Ibrahim (Alayhi AlSalam) was gifted
with a Divine vision. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) had
different titles of spiritual nobility. He manifests to the maximum possible
degree perfection that can be due to any mortal on earth. His personality was
divinely designed with the essential perfection in all aspects. He occupies the
highest place in the company of all the Rasul of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala),
and he is the leader of all the Rasul of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala). The
Glory of the divinity of the Lord manifests, reflects, and radiates in him to a
degree of maximum perfection. Endowed with these qualities, he was sent to guide
mankind along the right path, and to prevent the people of the world, in all
times, from going astray. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) also spoke with him on
the occasion of M’eraj (ascension). The Glorious Qur’an, Al-Anbiyaa 21, verse 107 and Ash-Shura 42,
verse 51, and Ankabut 29, verse 69
says that “Nabiy Muhammad was sent but as Mercy unto the worlds. It is not to
any mortal (man) that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration or through
(from behind) a veil. And those who strive hard in Us, certainly will We guide
them on Our path." The Glorious Qur’an says,“Those Rasul, We have
exalted, some of them above others: of them are some unto whom Allah hath spoken
and some He hath raised to degrees.” 2:253
The
differences in the missions of the Rasul of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) depend
on the level of preparedness and the needs of the people amongst whom they were
sent, to show them what was right and what was wrong. The manner of receiving
the inspiration from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) and the nature and limitation
of their missions were determined in accordance with the ability of the people
to understand and grasp the message. According to the Glorious Qur’an, the
differences is opinions between the people of the Risalat is due to their
rebellious attitude against the clearly manifested will and command of Allah.
The responsibility for wrongdoing rests with the man; and whatever good he does
is from Allah. The last message of Allah was perfect, complete, final, and
conclusive. Therefore, Muhammad RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam)
who was chosen to deliver the final message was the most superior of all the
Rasul. He was not only the last Rasool but also the seal of all the Anbiya and
foremost in total submission to the will of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala). The
Glorious Qur’an says,“And exalted for thee, thy fame.” 94:4
It
is up to each man how to receive the message of the Nubuwwa, and to obtain a
blissful life in heaven by controlling the self, refraining from low desires,
and abstaining from the forbidden. The Glorious Qur’an says,“And as for him
who feareth the standing before his Lord, and forbiddeth (his) self from his low
inclinations. Then, verily, the Garden (of Paradise), that shall be his
abode.” 79:40-41
From
Nabiy Adam (Alayhi AlSalam) to Nabiy Isa (Alayhi AlSalam) and their sincere
followers who were obedient, fearing and devout worshippers of Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala), it is said that in their posterity there were people who abandoned
His worship and followed lusts. However, those who remained true believers, on
them Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) bestowed His highest grace in Paradise. The
Glorious Qur’an says,“This is the garden which We cause to be inheritance by
those of Our servants who are pious.” 19:63
Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) guides those who follow His pleasure to the path of peace,
out of darkness into light, by His will. He has also commanded all of mankind to
follow the Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam).” Nabiy Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said,“O People, listen to me in earnest;
worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadhan,
and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. Do not
therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and
will have to answer to your deeds. So beware: do not stray from the path of
righteousness after I am gone.” The Glorious Qur’an says,“O people of the
Book! indeed Our Rasool, (Muhammad) has come unto you, manifesting unto you of
what ye conceal of the Book, and passing over much; indeed hath come unto you
from Allah, a Light and a Manifesting Book (Qur’an). Whereby Allah guideth him
who followeth His pleasure into the ways of peace, and taketh them out from darkness towards the Light by
His will, and guideth them to the path (straight that is). Wherewith Allah
guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth
them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a path that
is straight.” 5:15-16
Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala)'s revelation, through the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi
Wa Salam), was not meant for one family or tribe, one race or set of people. It
was meant for all mankind. If they turn to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala), it is a
message of glad tidings of His mercy, and if they do not turn to Him, it is a
warning against disobedience and the inevitable punishment. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) is a bearer of glad tidings as well as a warner. The
Glorious Qur’an says,“And (O’ Our Rasool Muhammad!) We sent thee not but
unto the whole mankind, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, but most of the
people know (it) not.” 34:28
In
summary, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) gave clear miracles to each Nabiy and/or
Rasool, but not every Nabiy was a Rasool unless he delivered his Risalat to his
people and applied it in words and actions. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi
Waalihi Wasalam) fulfilled the deliverance of the divine guidance Risalat in his
Farewell Pilgrimage, ten years after the Hijrah. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
says the Glorious Qur’an, Al-Maidah 5, verse 67,“(O Our Rasool Muhammad!) Deliver thou what hath been
sent unto thee from thy Lord; and if thou dost it not, you have not then (it
will be as if) thou hast not delivered His message (at all); and surely will
Allah protect thee from (the mischief) of men; Verily, Allah guideth not infidel
people.” This divine mission is the last and the final one to all
mankind. Immediately after RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam)
finished his last Sermon, the following verse of the Glorious Qur'an was
revealed to him,"This day have I perfected for you your religion and have
completed My favour on you, and chosen for you Islam (to be your religion."
5:3
In
the language of the Glorious Qur’an and the Hadiths of the beloved Nabiy
Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), Nabiy and Nubuwwa are equivalent
in English to Prophet and Prophethood, respectively, and Rasul or RasoolAllah
and Risalat respectively translate to Messangers or Apostles (Messanger/ Apostle
of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)) and scriptures.
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