1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

67 Questions

Were there any Prophets or Messengers between Isa (as) and Muhammad (saw)? Can we consider Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, as a messenger as his teachings are similar to Islamic teachings such as Wudu before daily prayers and bowing down?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Mani was never a Prophet because he claimed two gods; light and darkness. Such claim is against the teachings of Islam and all the prophets. Mani was a Christian who mixed with the Majoos (Zoroastrian) and took from them. He claimed to follow Prophet Easa ( Jesus) but did not believe in the Prophet Muses (AS). Similarity in some teachings has reasons but main faith of Islam and all the Prophets is Tawheed (Monotheism). This is the most important faith in Islam and it can not be compared with acts like Wudhu or bowing down etc.

Manichaeism was existing during the Abbasid government and their books were translated to Arabic by some enemies of Islam like Ibn Al-Moqaffa'. Ahlul Bayt (AS) refuted their claims as they refuted the claims of different un-Islamic groups of that time.

'Wassalam.
Biology aside, why did Allah grant infallibility to 124 thousand male Prophets and 12 male Imams while only granting 4 women infallibility in all of history? Does this mean more men are closer and more beloved to Allah than women?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

In our Shi'i belief, there is only one female who has 'ismah (infallibility), and that is Seyyidah Fatimah al-Zahraa (a.s.).

There are different dimensions to your question and answer, and I have covered it in a presentation which in shaa Allah could assist in answering your question:
Besides the Holy Prophet (saw) nominating Imam Ali (as) as his successor on the 18th day of Zul Hijjah, were there any other Prophets (as) who also nominated their successors on this same blessed day?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The day of Al-Ghadeer (18th Thil-Hajjah) was the day on which Allah Has saved Prophet Ibraheem from the fire,

and the day if the victory of Prophet Musa on the magicians of Firaon ,

Land the day of the appointment of Yosha' ibn Noon as the successor of Prophet Musa,

and thecday if the appointment of Sham'oon as successor of Prophet Easa,

and the day if the appointment of Aasif ibn Barkhia as the successor of Prophet Sulaiman.

Wassalam.
In Qur'an 2:136 Allah SWT says He does not make any distinction between any of the Prophets and revelations, but in 2:253 Allah SWT clearly makes distinctions between the Prophets. What is the way to understand both of these verses?
Amina Inloes

There is a similarity and difference between the prophets/messengers. The similarity is that they are all equal in being appointed as divine messengers and authorities. The difference is with respect to the nature of their position with Allah, and their own circumstances. 

So, these two verses reflect those two things.

2:136 is a statement of belief for us to profess. That is, WE must accept all the prophets/messengers as being equal in their validity. We must accept them all as having correct messages from Allah that are consistent with the messages of the other prophets. We are not allowed to accept some and reject others. This verse is in the context of criticizing the Jews and Christians for accepting some and rejecting others.

However, this does not mean that all the prophets and messengers were identical, as indicated in 2:253 and elsewhere. The prophets and messengers each had their unique circumstances and positions with Allah. For instance, Jesus was born in a unique way, Solomon had a unique kingdom, and the Prophet Muhammad (S) is considered to be the highest of the messengers.