Level 3 – Lesson 5

The Fourth Pillar of Faith: Belief in the Messengers

Peace be upon you, dear brothers. I hope you are in good health.

Today, Allah willing, we will talk about the fourth of the six pillars of faith: belief in the Messengers.

The Fourth Pillar of Faith: Belief in the Messengers

A messenger is a person whom Allah chose from among mankind and to whom He revealed a message so that he could convey it to his people.

The Messengers are the best of mankind. Allah chose them to convey His message as it was revealed to them, without alteration or distortion.

Allah sent Messengers to their peoples at different times and in different ages.

Out of Allah’s mercy toward His servants, He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established against them and the path of truth has been made known to them through Allah’s prophets and Messengers.

Allah sent all the prophets and Messengers for the same purpose: to call people to worship Allah and guide them to the straight path.

Belief in the Messengers includes five main points:

1- To believe that Allah sent them.

2- To believe in all the Messengers. We believe by name in those whose names we know, such as Muhammad, Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa), and Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be upon them, and we also believe in the Messengers whose names we do not know.

3- To believe in all authentic reports about them.

4- To accept and follow the teachings and law of the Messenger whom Allah sent to us, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

5- To believe that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers and the best of them.

The Duties of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

These duties are mentioned in the following verse. Allah Almighty says:

﴿لَقَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ بَعَثَ فِيهِمۡ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ﴾

“Certainly Allah conferred a great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although before that they had been in clear error.”

[Aal ‘Imran: 164]

1- The first duty: Reciting Allah’s verses

﴿يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ﴾

This means conveying to them the revelation that he received from his Lord, which is the speech of Allah Almighty.

2- The second duty: Teaching the Book

﴿وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ﴾

This means teaching them the Noble Quran and explaining its meanings to them.

3- The third duty: Teaching wisdom

﴿وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ﴾

The wisdom mentioned here includes the Prophetic Sunnah: the sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), which explain and clarify the Quran and contain rulings and teachings established by the Sunnah.

4- The fourth duty: Purifying the people

﴿وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ﴾

This means educating them in faith and the actions of the heart, such as fear of Allah, hope in Him, and reflection, as well as teaching them good morals and purifying their souls.

All praise is due to Allah. The lesson is complete.

Answer today’s question:

Are Allah’s Messengers human beings?