Prophethood

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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Prophethood . Employment . Imamah

I read in a book that Imam Ali (AS) shares all the work of the Prophet (S) with the exception of Prophethood. So what is the difference between Prophethood and Imamate? What is the work of an Imam that is not the work of a Prophet and vice versa?

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 3 years ago

The authentic Prophetic Hadeeth states that Allah (SWT) Has Granted Ali (AS) all the tributes and virtues which He Granted the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) except the prophethood. Ali (AS) was gifted everything the Prophet (SAWA) was gifted but Ali (AS) is not a prophet because Muhammad (SAWA) is the last and final prophet and no phrophet after him.

‘The Prophet gets the message from Allah (SWT) to convey it to people. Imam preserves the religion and the message of the Prophet and protects the religion from deviation and teach people the real Islam. Imam continues and preserves and protects the religion.

‘Imam Ali (AS) was taught by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) every matter in Islam, that is why, no one can know the real Islam after the Prophet but only by taking the knowledge from Imam Ali (AS). The famous authentic Hadeeth from the Prophet say: I am the city of the knowledge and Ali is it’s gate.( Mustadrak Al-Haakim; Hadeeth number 4693 and 4612 and 4613 and 4614).

Wassalam.

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Nabi . Prophethood

What is the difference between a Rasool and a Nabi?

The prophets are 124000, while the Rasools (Messengers) are 313 only out of all the prophets. Every messenger is a prophet but no vice versa.

Rasool (messenger) is higher in degree than Nabi, because Nabi gets revelations and teachings from Allah (SWT) to guide him with out a message to convey, while Rasool gets revelations and message to convey to others.

Wassalam.

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Mysticism . Prophethood . God (Allah) . Prophet Muhammad

Did Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) practice any kind of mysticism which culminated into Allah (SWT) bestowing prophethood on him?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 4 years ago

A literal reading of Twelver Shi'a hadith indicates that Allah created and appointed the prophet as a Prophet prior to his existence in this world. So it was not due to activities that he chose to do, such as mysticism, that he became a prophet.

Of course, he had some practices which can be called "mystical" such as spending time alone in the cave of Hira for worship. It is natural that someone who is very close to God would want to choose to do those activities.

My understanding is that the time "before" this world is outside of chronological time, and therefore Allah did this with full knowledge of what was before and after. So therefore Allah knew the Prophet's merits over all people, rather than just only pre-designing him as the Prophet. That is, it is a combination of the individual merit of the Prophet and the creational will of Allah. This was why he was born with 'ismah; otherwise, it might be unfair for Allah to grant some poeple 'ismah and not others. Other people may have different understandings. But in any case it was not solely due to the Prophet "earning" the prophethood through ascetic or mystical practices.

However, some other people, including some people who are not Muslims but who feel the Prophet was close to God, might see it this way and might agree with your view.

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Prophethood . God (Allah)

Can you refer me to some books that discuss the evidence of God's existence as well as the prophethood of Muhammad (s)?

Although the fact of the existence of God is very clear for any one who thinks properly, those who need more detailed evidence can read thousands of books written by leading scholars and thinkers. You can read many books on this website al-Islam.org discussing the evidence of God's existence and the prophethood of Muhammad (SAWA).

hundreds of websites which are easily accessible on the internet have hundreds of books on these subjects.

Wassalam.

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Prophethood . Sunni-Shi'a

Is there any basis to the accusation that some Shia claim that Jibreel (a) betrayed the trust and the prophethood belonged to Ali rather than the Prophet Muhammad (s)?

To add to the answer:

The Qur'anic discussion of angels emphasizes that they are obedient to the command of Allah and "do what they are told". (16:50)

They are also directly aware of the existence of Allah in a way that is more veiled for most humans, and don't experience the animal desires that humans do (which lead to things like greed, jealousy, etc), so they would have no reason to disobey Allah especially in something big like this.

According to some Shi'i narrations, both the Prophet (S) and Imam Ali (A) instructed some of the angels in worship before the time of the earthly realm, so they would have been acquainted with both of them and not had a reason to prefer one over the other. Many narrations about this beforetime also indicate the angels' acknowledgment of the Prophet (S) along with the rest of the Ahl al-Bayt (A) and not prioritizing one over another.

Prophethood . Sunni-Shi'a

Is there any basis to the accusation that some Shia claim that Jibreel (a) betrayed the trust and the prophethood belonged to Ali rather than the Prophet Muhammad (s)?

This accusation is against our faith and it is never found in any of our books. On the contrary, we believe that any doubt in the Prophet Muhammad's prophet hood makes the person a non Muslim.

It is nothing but a false allegation like hundreds of false allegations fabricated against Shia Islam by their enemies who don't have any evidence against Shia Islam, so they fabricate false allegations to mislead lay persons who don't research nor verify. Same situation is with the allegations of enemies of Islam and Quran against all Muslims to prevent non Muslims from understanding Islam.

These allegations against us have no value for those who follow evidence but they prove that our opponents are helpless and unable to counter our concrete evidence, so they try mislead people by creating and spreading false allegations.

Wassalam.

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Prophethood . God (Allah)

Can you refer me to some books that discuss the evidence of God's existence as well as the Prophethood of Muhammad (s)?

You can find many useful information in this website www.al-Islam.org

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Sunni-Shi'a . Imamah . Prophethood

Do the Shi’a believe that the 12 Imams are better than all the Prophets except Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? If so, what is the proof and did the Imams ever make this claim themselves?

1. We and all our Muslim brothers and sisters , believe that the best human being and best of all the creatures of Allah is the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him and His Progeny). Allah he Glorious told the Prophet in Quran (We did not send you but as a Mercy for All the worlds) Sura 21, Verse 107. The status of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is the Highest among all the prophets and great angles. This fact is mentioned in Hadeeths in Sunni and Shia books like Saheeh Muslim, number 4223, Al-Mussannaf by Abdul Razzaq 2/419,and other books.

2. Allah The Glorious mentioned in Quran about the Progeny of the Prophet (Offspring (of the Prophet), one from the other) (Aal Imran, 34). Which means that the Progeny of the Prophet is from him and he is from them.

3. This fact has been mentioned in many authentic Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) stating that ( Ali is from me and I am from him)

- (Al-Bukhari, 2699),

- (Musnad Ahmad Bin Manbal 33/154),

- Al-Tirmithi, 3712

- Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan 15/374,

- Al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheeha 2223.

4. The Prophetic Hadeeth states : Husain is from me and I am from him, may Allah like any one who likes Husain.

- Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mofrad, 364.

- Al-Tirmithi, Number 2775.

- Ibn Maajah 144.

-Al-Haakin in Al-Mustadrak 3/194

- Al-Tabaraani in Almajma' al-Kabeer, number 2486

- Al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami' , number 3146

5. Reading and understanding the Quran and authentic prophetic statements guide us to the fact that the status of the Infallible Ahlul Bayt AS) is from the status of the Prophet (SAWA) himself. When the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is the highest above all the prophets, his Infallible Ahlul Bayt AS) who are from him according to him, are next to him and higher than all others but him.

Wassalam.

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Prophet Muhammad . Prophethood . Old Testament . Monk . Bahira

How did the monks, such as Bahira, at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) know about the sign of the prophethood between his shoulders? And is there any reference about it in the currently available Old Testament?

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... Answered 6 years ago

The story of the monk called Bahira is not considered authentic in the Imami school.