BELIEF IN PROPHETHOOD

In the past, the need for new prophets had arisen because God’s religion, having been distorted in a number of different ways, was no longer in its pristine form. New prophets had to come to the world periodically in order to revive the true spirit of religion, and thus restore it to its original form. After the Prophet Muhammad, there was no need for another prophet, for the Book—the Quran—which he gave to the world, has been preserved intact, in its original form. The Islamic concept of prophethood is different from that of other religions. Some religions would have it that God Himself becomes incarnate in human shape, and that His prophets are in some way superhuman or other-worldly. But a prophet in the Islamic sense is no different from any other human being. His uniqueness lies simply in his being the chosen messenger of God. God’s Apostles were born into this world just like any other human beings. They led their lives just as others did, thus demonstrating to their people how God’s servants should conduct themselves on earth, and showing them clearly what path they must tread in order to avert God’s displeasure and make themselves worthy of His blessings. The prophets who brought books were called rasul, while those who did not were called nabi. o