God's Messengers

The passages in the syllabus relating to God and His Messengers are: 2.30–37, 6.75–79, 5.110, 93 and 108. God chose His Messengers mainly to make Himself known and to guide human beings. All of them were tested and all of them were given blessings and guidance to draw them closer to God. They were also asked to submit to God completely.

Surah 2.30–37 – Adam

God is the creator and Prophet Adam was His first creation. God had told the angels He would place a representative on earth, and the angels asked why, if he will only make mischief unlike the angels who only glorify God.

God bestowed special status on Adam by making him first human and the first prophet. God’s relationship with Adam was that of a teacher and student. When God spoke to Adam, he taught Him and gave him knowledge of things that the angels did not know. This shows the superiority of humans over angels due to what they know.

Because of Adam’s status near God, the angels were asked to bow to him. Satan refused, and was banished. He vowed to lead Adam and his future generations astray. He is from the mischief makers who whisper evil into the minds/hearts of humans.

God required obedience from Adam and tested him by forbidding him from touching a specific tree, without explaining why – so God tested Adam from the beginning. Part of this test was when Satan, who was jealous of Adam and had refused to bow to him, came to tempt Adam and his wife into eating from the tree. Adam’s disobedience led to his expulsion from Paradise.

God sent Adam and his wife to live on earth. Adam realised his mistake and through this event turned to God in repentance for forgiveness. And God, because He is the most merciful, turned towards Adam, meaning He forgave Him. It is the nature of humans to sin and God wants them to turn to Him for forgiveness.

Surah 6.75–79 – Ibrahim

God gave Ibrahim knowledge of Himself through the law and order of the heavens and the earth. God guided him through His signs, and Abraham turned towards Him, turning away from thinking created things were his Lord.

Through these events he turned himself to believe in God and did not associate partners with Him. Ibrahim used his intellect and reasoning to work out that there was one unseen God and rejected the idols.

Their relationship is shown through the creation of God, with Ibrahim waiting to be guided by God, and in return God inspired Him through the blessings of the sun and the moon to see His order, His Unity and His control over creation. Once Ibrahim found who his creator was, he stayed firm that God does not change unlike the things He has created.

Surah 5.110 – Jesus/Isa

Jesus/Isa was given special guidance and miracles to realise God’s status as Creator and his status as a prophet. God asked Jesus to recount the blessings that God had given him and his mother (Maryam), showing that God gives his prophets favours to help them in their lives. God gave Jesus these miracles, relevant to his time, as a sign of His power over all things and to support him: the holy spirit which allowed him to speak to the people as an infant and when he was older.

Jesus was also taught the Law and the Gospel to teach the people how to live their lives in accordance to God’s laws. He was also able to give life to the dead and heal the sick, by the will of God. God helps his prophets and those close to Him, and these favours were given to help Jesus call people to God.

God also protected Jesus from the unbelievers who accused Jesus of magic and did not believe His powers were a sign of God’s majesty. God saved Jesus from execution, which showed God’s love and protection for him. This all showed Jesus the favours he was given by God which allowed him to believe in Him and follow Him.

Surah 93 & Surah 108 – The Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) faced hardships like the other prophets, but God reminds him that he gave him blessings in this life and the next, which relieved the Prophet and gave him reassurance that God was looking after him. God gave him shelter, guidance and independence, and also gave him blessings in the form of Kawthar, a river or offspring in paradise. The Prophet (pbuh) is told to believe in God and tell his people about Him so they can also turn to Him when in need. He learns about God through His generosity, mercy and guidance. The Prophet (pbuh) is asked to pray, do good and look after the poor and needy.