Prophets

In religion, a prophet is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on that entity's behalf, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the supernatural source to other people. The message that the prophet conveys is called a prophecy.

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Prophets . Hadith al-Kisa' . Fatimah al-Zahra

Is Fatima AS greater than all prophets except Prophet Muhammad (S)? If so, is the Hadith Al-Kisa sufficient proof for this matter?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

Fatima (AS) is part of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) as he said in the authentic Hadeeth narrated in Shia and Sunni books فاطمة بضعة مني.
- (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Hadeeth number 3437 and 3483)

- Saheeh Muslim; 4482 and 4483).

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal; 15539.

Trmithi; 3802 and 3804.

al-Mustadrak ALAL-Saheehain by Al-Haakim Al-Nisabori ; 4747 and 4751. And many other Sunni main books of Hadeeth.

As the status of the Prophet Muhammad is the best and the highest among all the prophets, Fatimah who is part from him is higher in her degree from all the previous prophets. If fact no one can be compared with Fatimah after her father and her husband. She is the best human being after her father and her husband.

Wassalam.

114731

Prophets . Ahl al-Bayt

I have heard some say that the Imams and Prophets were not born biologically like normal people and that they just appeared from nowhere. Is it true?

Not true. There is no evidence whatsoever to support such claim.

Prophets and Infallible Imams were born biologically like human beings but their status with Allah (SWT) is great and they are the most pure among all human beings. The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his holy Progeny are mentioned in Quran (33:33) as The Most Purified. We believe that they are human beings and not angles, but their status is higher than all the great angles, and Allah only knows their status as our intellectual limits are less than containing their great status. The Prophetic Hadeeth says: O Ali, No one knows Allah fully but myself and you, and no one knows me fully but only Allah and you, and no one knows you fully but Allah and myself. ( Manaqib Aal Abi Talib and Mukhtasar Basaa'r al-Darajaat and Madinatul Ma'aajiz and other books).

Wassalam.

112365

Prophets . Leadership . Islam . Mujtahid . Woman . Imamah . Man

Why are there no female Prophets or Imams? Why are all the leadership positions in Islam reserved for men including the ability to be a Mujtahid?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

I have addressed this question in a series of presentations that might be useful to you, in shaa Allah.

109448

Knowledge . Future . Prophets

Did every Prophet have the knowledge of the future like Prophet Mohammad (s) and the Imams (a)?

The whole knowledge of The Unseen (Al-Ghaib) is with Allah (SWT) (Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows The (whole) Ghalib ( The Unseen) except Allah). (Sura 27, verse 65) and He grants whatever He wants to whomever He wants from His humble servants some part of that knowledge. Some prophets get more than other prophets depending the degree of knowledge, dedication and humbleness. The greatest degree is for the Best Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny Ahlul Bayt (AS). Allah (SWT) granted some prophets more degree than other prophets (We have granted some prophets more degrees than other prophets) (Sura 17, verse 55). The gift of the knowledge of unseen from Allah (SWT) will vary between prophet to another prophet.

Wassalam.

104025

Knowledge . Prophets . Imamah

Are the Imams greater in knowledge than all the Prophets except for Prophet Muhammad (saww)?

The status and knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad ( SAWA) is the greatest above all the Prophets. His Progeny are from him as Allah says in Quran ( A Progeny (of the Prophet) from him and he is from them (3:34).

The knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad is higher than the knowledge of all previous prophets. Since his Progeny inherited and got his knowledge, their knowledge is higher than all human beings except the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

Wassalam.

103592

Prophets . Surat al-Anbiya

Which Prophets are mentioned by name in Surah Anbiya?

Ulama have counted 16 names of prophets mentioned in Sura al-Anbyaa'. They are : Musa,

Haroon,

Ibraheem,

Eshaq,

Ya'qoub,

Lut,

Noah,

Dawood,

Sulaiman,

Ayyub,

Esmaeel,

Idrees,

Thul Kifaee,

Younis,

Zakaria

and Yahya.

Wassalam.

96641

Human . Prophets . Spirituality

What is the highest spiritual status that we can achieve? Is it possible for a human being to be granted a status equal or higher to that of the Prophets if one is truly devoted to Allah (swt)? Or is there a limit to how high a person's status can reach?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 2 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The highest spiritual status for an individual is not defined as a specific station, as in the higher levels of spirituality as well as a vertical progression, there is a realization of a person's individual gifts. There is no competition as all are different flowers in the same garden. The journey to God is unlimited and the highest stations have been expressed as a type of oneness, where the individual ego of the wayfarer is annihilated and they subsist in the subsistence of God. But writers in practical mysticism acknowledge that only so much can be expressed past this level. So in this sense, there is no limit to a person's status as the journey is an unlimited one and a time comes where it is no longer dependent on effort either.

As for our levels compared to the Prophet (saw) and the Infallibles (as), they are the ones who opened the ways for the rest of us to be wayfarers. All that wayfarers experience of true unveiling and station is part of the Full Muhammadan Unveiling. Their (as) status before Allah is something that is unimaginable and a person should seek to fulfill their own path by their (as) help rather than aim to equal or overtake them (as). Perhaps, an individual will be granted a place amongst their (as) most humble servants, in their never-ending journey to the Beloved.

May you always be successful

92525

Prophets . Imam Ali

Is Imam Ali (A.S) superior to all the Prophets other than Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)?

It is an established fact that the status of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is higher than the status of all the previous prophets. The status of Ameerul Mo'mineen Ali (AS) is from the status of the Prophet Muhammad, despite the fact that Imam Ali (AS) is not a prophet but he was described in Quran like the self of the Prophet but not a prophet (وأنفسنا وأنفسكم).
The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) said: Alivis from me and I am from Ali ( إنه مني وأنا منه)

Prophetic Hadeeth says: O Ali, Allah has granted you whatever He granted me except the Prophet hood.

The status of Ameerul Mo'mineen Ali (AS) is part and parcel from the status of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and obviously it is higher than the status of all the previous prophets (AS).

Wassalam.

88018

Prophets . Miracle

Is there a reason why Allah never sent Prophets during the modern era where every miracle could be easily recorded and verified and all Hadith could be preserved completely and accurately?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answer updated 2 years ago

as salam alaikum

the Qur'an is a miracle for past, present and future generations and its being in form of a book makes it reachable to every human being. Of course it must be understood and that is why knowledge has been made compulsory in Islam.

Other miracles would have been witnessed only by a group of people. Also, in modern times could have been falsified by the use of technology. On the contrary a book divinely preserved and passed down both orally and scripturally generation after generation do not present such problems.

Similarly, the crucial hadiths necessary for salvation have been passed down through divine providence and tawatur.

With prayers for your success.

86568

Imamah . Prophets . Qur'an

Where is the proof of Imamah in the Quran directly referring to the 12 Imams and not the Prophets?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answer updated 2 years ago

The speech of Imam al-Ridha (as) in Usul al-Kafi Vol. 1 helps to outline how Imama is established by the Qur'an.

This is a link to it, plus some other extracts from other volumes:

https://onlineshiastudies.com/imamateinquran/

The appointment of a successor was entirely in keeping with 'Allah's Sunna':

There are several verses in the Holy Qur’an that mention the Sunnah, or the Way of Allah, as follows:‘That was the Sunnah of Allah in the case of those who lived before and there will never be any change in the Sunnah of Allah.’ (Surah al-Ahzab, 33:62); ‘{Such was Our) Sunnah in the case of those whom We sent before you {to mankind), and you will never find change in Our Sunnah.’ (Surah BaniIsrail, 17:77); ‘Had the disbelievers fought against you, they would take to flight and would have found no guardian or helper. This is the Sunnah of Allah which existed before you, and you will never find any change in Allah's system’ (Surah al-Fath, 48:23); ‘[Due to] arrogance in the land and plotting of evil; but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await except the way of the former peoples? But you will never find in the Sunnah of Allah any change, and you will never find in the way of Allah any alteration.’ (35:43); ‘Their faith could not avail against Our punishment. Such is Allah's prevailing Sunnah (law) among His servants in the past. Thus the disbelievers are ruined.’ (Surah Mumin, 40:85).

As Dr Ibrahim Ayati explains in regard to these verses, ‘Whenever the word Sunnah has been used in the Holy Qur'an it has been used in this very literal meaning i.e. the manner in which Allah has treated the past nations. And whenever Allah says that His Sunnah is unalterable it means that there is a path for attaining to dignity and honor and He does not change it, and there is also a path and ground which leads to adversity and helplessness and that, too, is unalterable.’

The path for attaining dignity and honour is that revealed by the prophets and supported and explained by the Imams of the prophets. This Sunnah, the sending of prophets accompanied by their supporters and successors, can be seen going all the way back to Adam [whose supporter and successor would have been Habil/Abel]. If we take a look at the prophetic lineage, we can see this.
Scholars provide an approximate outline of this lineage: ‘Adam [and his wasiy] Seth/Abel/Hibat Allah; then Noah and [his wasiy] Shem; Solomon and [his wasiy] Asaf ibn Barakhiya; Ibrahim and his succeeding awsiya Isma’il and Ishaq; Moses and his awsiya Harun and Joshua; Isa and his awsiya Simon; John and the apostles; Prophet Muhammad and his awsiya Imam 'Ali (as) and the other eleven Imams.’ (Amir-Moezzi, Shi‘ i Spirituality, p. 289).

At no time in prophetic history has a prophet not clearly stipulated his successor, and the appointment of a successor is an unchanging part of the prophetic sunnah and the Sunnah of Allah (swt).

Seth means "placed; appointed". In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, he was the third son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel. According to Genesis 4:25, Seth was born after Abel's murder, and Eve believed God had appointed him as a replacement for Abel.]

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Prophets . God (Allah)

Is it appropriate for us to pray that Allah (swt) make higher the status of Imam Hussain (as) or the Prophets?

Salawaat (ALLAHUMMA SALLI 'ALA MUHAMMAD WA AALI MUHAMMAD) which is the most recommended supplication is seeking from Allah (SWT) higher degree for them.
We also get higher degrees more we recite Salawaat.

Wassalam.

81615

Scholars . Ummah . Prophets . Hadith

Is there an authentic narration in which the Prophet (SAW) says that the scholars of the Ummah are superior to the earlier Prophets?

Seyed Saied Alavi, Seyed Saied Alavi is a researcher based in Qom who has studied from the Howzah of Qom and also completed a Pastoral studies program. He is currently a university lecturer in the fields of Shia... Answered 2 years ago

In the name of Allah

Such Hadith is not narrated in major Shia sources.
However, there is a similar Hadith in the more recent Shia books (like Bihar al-Anwar), narrated (without a chain) from the Prophet -peace be upon him and his Ahlul Bayt- that conveys a different meaning:

عُلَمَاءُ أُمَّتِي كَأَنْبِيَاءِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
The Scholars of My Ummah are like the prophets of Bani-Israel.

This hadith does not state superiority, but similarity. There are different interpretations as to the meaning of this analogy and to whom the prophet is referring when he says "Scholars".

Some experts believe that "scholars" is only referring to the Infallible Imams, and the hadith means that the Imams are Hujjah (Proofs of Allah) to the people, just as those prophets were Hujjah to the people of their time.
Other experts expand the meaning to non-infallible scholars and belive the hadith is stating that just as those prophets were guardians of their people's faith and beliefs, Islamic scholars will guard and preserve the religiosity and beliefs of the Muslim community.

The abovementioned Hadith is narrated in:
Bihar al-Anwar - v2, p22
Mustadrak ul-Wasail - v17, p320

WasSalaam.