The
Consequences of Prophethood (1)
The way to which the prophets lead people is based
on the human nature and because people's movement in that way is a natural one, it is
carried out more easily and faster.
Since despotic and ignorant
governments, who keep people away from this way, commit actions contrary to man's nature,
they are impermanent and are condemned to annihilation.
This shows the consequences of
the prophets' mission and their prophethood. Contrary to the superficial ideas, the
prophets' movement has been a successful one and it were the divine prophets who succeeded
in guiding people on the whole to the straight path they wanted. And this will continue
until doom's day.
Each of these true messengers of
God in a special career of history has facilitated man's way towards exaltation and social
evolution, which is the very aim of man's creation.
After constant struggle, these
prophets have died, but at the end of their mission, they have trusted the divine
responsibility of man's guidance to the prophet or authority after them. Due to this fact,
man in the course of history, has always been optimistic to the prophets' invitation and
the way they proposed. This natural view will continue in this manner till the last divine
authority takes the final step in the way of man's education and guidance. At that time,
man, without any hindrance, will travel in the infinite highway of exaltation and
evolution more easily and faster than ever.
This is the consequence of all
the prophets and their ways.
An important point is that
successes depend on two important factors: Faith and Patience. Failures amidst the way are
due to the lack of these two factors, but the proper use of them brings about outstanding
victories. The following hopeful verses are a part of the evangelical verses of the Qur'an
about this subject:
"Say: 'God is the Creator
of everything, and He is the One, the Omnipotent.' He sends down out of heaven water, and
the wadis flow each in its measure, and the torrent carries a swelling scum; and out of
that over which they kindle fire, beings desirous of ornament of ware, out of that rises a
scum the like of it. So God strikes both the true and the false. As for the scum, it
vanishes as jetsam, and what profits men abides in the earth. Even so God strikes His
similitudes. For those who answer their Lord, the reward most fair, and those who answer
Him not-if they possessed all that is in the earth, and the like of it with it, they would
offer it for their ransom. Those-theirs shall be the evil reckoning, and their refuge
shall be Gehena-an evil cradling" (13:16-18)
"Already Our Word has
preceded to Our servants, the Envoys; assuredly they shall be helped, and Our host-they
are the victors. So turn thou from them for a while, and see them; soon they shall see!
What, do they seek to hasten Our chastisement. When it lights in their courtyard, how evil
will be the morning of them that are warned! So turn thou from them for a while, and see,
soon they shall see. Glory be to thy Lord, the Lord of Glory, above that they
describe." (37:171-180)
The Consequences of Prophethood (2)
History shows that whenever the
prophets' invitation has been accompanied by faith and patience, they have been successful
in establishing a divine system and in throwing out the despotic system. Taking the
general aim of prophethood into consideration, it is understood that all prophets, even
those who have apparently failed to fulfill their mission in a special phase, have
succeeded in achieving their ultimate aim which is the exaltation of thought and man's
spirit in such a way that enables him for the acceptance of the next phase.
The Qur'an has clearly mentioned
this fact either through reporting the adventures of the prophets or through telling the
great Prophet (S) and other Muslims some facts about all the prophets:
"Surely We shall help our
Messengers and those who have believed, in the present life, and upon the day when the
witnesses arise, upon the day when their excuses shall not profit the evildoers, and
theirs shall be the curse, and theirs the evil abode. We also gave Moses the guidance, and
We bequeathed upon the Children of Israel the Book for a guidance and for a reminder to
men possessed of minds. So be thou patient; surely God's promise is true. And ask
forgiveness for thy sin, and proclaim the praise of thy Lord at evening and dawn."
(40:51-55)
"How many a city that was
evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people. Then, when they perceived
Our might, behold, they ran heading out of it. 'Run not! Return you unto the luxury that
you exulted in, and your dwelling-places; haply you shall be questioned.'"
(21:11-13)
"We said, 'O fire, be
coolness and safety for Abraham!' They desired to outwit him; so We made them the worse
losers, and We delivered him, and Lut, unto the land that We had blessed for all beings.
And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in superfluity, and everyone and made Them righteous and
appointed them to be leaders guiding by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of
good deeds, and to perform the prayer, and to pay the alms, and Us they served."
(21:69-73)
Faith in Prophethood and its Obligations
One of the most practical points
of prophethood is that with regard to the philosophy of prophethood, its spirit and its
contents, the acceptance of the prophet's invitation is accompanied by the acceptance of
certain obligations. In other words, the person who has accepted the prophet's invitation
should pursue the very way of the prophet and should also help him in fulfilling his
responsibility. This, in fact demonstrates his faith in the prophethood of the prophet.
Prophethood brings about a new
dominion of thought and proposes new thoughts, ways and aims. The faithful is the one who
accepts these thoughts, searches for these aims and examines these ways. Being an opponent
is not necessarily dependent on opposition; just not to agree or assist is sufficient. In
making ranks between the prophet and his opponents those who stand amidst are not of the
prophet as well. Anyone who is not 'for' him is 'against' him. This fact is clearly
announced in several verses of the Qur'an:
"Those who believe, and
have emigrated and struggled with their possessions and their selves in the way of God,
and those who have given refuge and help-those are friends one of another. And those who
believe, but have not emigrated-you have no duty of friendship towards them till they
emigrate; yet if they ask you for help, for religion's sake, it is your duty to help them,
except against a people between whom and you there is a compact; and God sees the things
you do. As for the unbelievers, they are friends one of another. Unless you do this, there
will be persecution in the land and great corruption. And those who believe, and have
emigrated and struggled in the way of God Those who have given refuge and help those in
truth are the believers, and theirs shall be forgiveness and generous provision. And those
who have believed afterwards and emigrated, and struggled with you-they belong to
you." (8:72-75)
"And when God took
compact with the Prophets: 'That I have given you of Book and Wisdom; then there shall
come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you-you shall believe in him and you shall
help him; do you agree.' He said: 'And do you take My load on you on that condition?' They
said, 'We do agree.' God said, 'Bear witness so, and I shall be with you among the
witnesses.' Then whosoever turns his back after that-they are ungodly." (3:81-82)
"The likeness of those
who have been loaded with the Torah. Then they have not carried it, is as the likeness of
an ass carrying books. Evil is the likeness of the people who have cried lies to God's
signs. God guides never the people of the evildoers." (6:2-5)
References:
THE GENERAL PATTERN OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT IN THE QUR'AN
By: SAYYED ALI KHAMENEI
Translated by: Alireza Anoushiravani
Published by: Counceil for Ten Days Dawn Celebration P.O. Box 2782, Tehran The Islamic
Republic of Iran |
