Why Did Allah Send the Prophets?

Belief in the overlordship of God, correct relationship between the Creator and the created and an invitation to pay homage to him alone has always been, in every time and clime, the first and foremost object of the prophets of God.

They have always taught that God alone has the power to do any harm or good and therefore He alone deserves the prayers, supplications and oblations.

In every age they have taken the offensive against polytheistic cults surviving in the shape of idol worship or veneration of living or dead godly persons.

The people believed, during the ages of pagan past, that since God has bestowed His favours and honours on certain lesser deities, He has also given them power to intervene in some of the matters divine and to intercede on their behalf.

They thought that just as a ruler is appointed for every land by an emperor who enjoys the royal prerogatives in that area, these saintly persons have to be propitiated as guardian spirits for the benefit of the people of that region.

The Core Message of Prophethood

Anyone who has studied the Quran, which is a resume of all the previous scriptures, would know for certainty that one of the basic aims of prophethood has been to fight against polytheism and save the people from its corrupting influence.

This has been the central point of the message of the prophets of God, the fundamental aim of all their endeavours.

Sometimes the Quran referring to them says : {And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him : There is no God save Me, so worship Me.} [Al-Anbiya’ 21:25]

At others the Quran names the prophets of old individually and tells us that each one of them started his mission by inviting the people to the adoration of One God.

The first thing they said to their people was : {O my people! Serve Allah. You have no other God save Him.} [Al-A`raf 7:59]

The Prophetic Call Against Idolatry

Taking others for God, prostrating before them, deeming oneself before them, seeking their help, offering oblations and sacrifices to them are in reality different forms of idolatry and polytheism.

They also denote the paganish “Ignorance”, a universal trait which has always been present with the people like a malignant growth.

Verily, it is the most morbid ailment of human race which has survived all vicissitudes of history as well as cultural, economic and social transformations.

It invites the wrath of God and acts as a stumbling block in the spiritual, moral and cultural progress of mankind.

It debases mankind and lowers its prestige, and that is why the fight with it shall remain the focal point of all truly religious and reformatory calls to the end of time.

The Quran recalls about Abraham : {And he made it a word enduring among his seed, that haply they may return.} [Az-Zukhruf 43:28]

This has been the way of all the reformers and the righteous savants inviting the people to God.

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Taken from “A Guide For Muslims” by Abul Hasan Al-Nadwi