Standards for a Divine as outlined in Quran
Submitted by Ikram.
Standards for a Divine as outlined in Quran
Islam is a living religion; periodic revival of the Message of Quran through persons who have and will claim to be divines is expected. Any such claimant to divine-hood and those who follow him have to meet the standards set in the Quran, which were originally outlined for Muhammad PBUH and the Umma. The following is a sampler of those standards.
La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul-ullah
“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
The above declaration is the fundamental oath for a Muslim. It identifies the source of belief (Allah) and the messenger (Muhammad PBUH). By referring to Muhammad PBUH as “The Messenger,” the oath precludes any future messengers i.e. prophets. It also prevents a Muslim from alluding to Muhammad PBUH as no more than a human, unlike other religions whose followers over period of time, out of love for their respective messenger coupled with their ancestral and inherent idolatrous traditions, attributed godliness to their messengers. Thus this oath preserves the fundamental monotheistic pristinity of Islam.
33:40. Muhammad is no father to any man among you…
Muhammad PBUH had no male lineage. Irrespective, his descendents have no inherited divine status. However, it does not prevent them from attaining spiritual elevation and leadership through self-refinement.
39:3. Beware! sincere and true obedience is due to Allâh alone. Those who choose others as a patron beside Him (say), `We serve them only that they may bring us near to Allâh in station.’ (It is absolutely wrong.)…
Thus patronizing any person, even Muhammad PBUH, cannot be used as a crutch by anyone for a spiritual uplift. Muhammad PBUH thus cannot be invoked.
2:79. It is not given to a human being that Allâh should give him the Book, the sovereignty and the prophethood and then he should say to the people, `Be servants to me beside Allâh.’ He would rather say, `Be you the sole devotees of (Allâh) the Lord, for you teach the Book and because you study (it).’
2:80. Nor would (it be possible for him that) he bid you take the angels and Prophets as your lords. Would he bid you disbelieve after you have submitted yourselves (to the will of God)?
Despite the colossal personal character of Muhammad PBUH, he is by decree barred from self-exaltation before fellow Muslims, as even an imagination of such an act would defeat the pristinity and the very purpose of the Message. Such hygiene in faith must be followed posthumously as well.
2:151. Just as (the Ka`bah is a means to your guidance so,) We have sent to you a great Messenger from among yourselves who recites to you Our Messages and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the Wisdom and teaches you what you did not know.
And that Muhammad PBUH was just not only a mail carrier of the Message, but an actual living manifestation of the Message and a teacher of the Message, both during his lifetime and afterwards as well. There is no obscurity in Muhammad’s intentions and actions.
6:20. Those whom We have given this perfect Book recognise him (-the Prophet Muhammad) as they recognise their own sons…
10:16. …I had indeed lived among you a (whole) lifetime before this (claim to Prophethood. Was not my truthfulness undisputed?). Will you not then refrain (from opposing me)?’
Muhammad PBUH is just not a stranger riding through a town in history but is a real life figure who lived a “human” life to its fullest, a life that has a very detailed historical record. He showed no disparity between professing, preaching and practicing of the faith.
17:95. Say, `Had there been angels on the earth (in place of human beings) walking about secure and sound We (too) would have invariably sent down an angel from heaven as a Messenger to them.’
46:9. Say, `I am no novel (Apostle) among the Messengers nor do I know what will be done to me (on your behalf) or to you. I simply follow what is revealed to me and I am nought but a plain Warner.’
72:20. Say, `I invoke only my Lord and I associate no one with Him (as His partner).’
72:21. Say, `I have no power to avoid either harm from you or to do some good to you.’
72:22. Say, `Surely, none can grant me shelter against Allâh if I disobey Him, nor can I find any refuge besides Him.
72:23. `(My responsibility is), only to convey what is revealed (to me) from Allâh and complete the mission of Prophethood.’…
And that Muhammad PBUH was just a humble non-super-human Messenger whose duty and burden were deliverance of the Message. Attributing to him any mythological miracles or non-human attributes would be absurd.
7:188. Say, `I have no power over (bringing) any gain or (avoiding) any harm to myself save to the extent that Allâh will. And had I known the unseen I would surely have secured a great deal of good (for myself) and no harm would ever have come to me. I am only a Warner (to the wicked) and a Bearer of good tidings (to the people who believe)
And Muhammad PBUH, despite having succeeded in a momentous and almost a non-human task within his own lifetime, is no more than a mere mortal.
108:1. Verily, We have bestowed upon you (O Muhammad!) abundance of good (both of this life and of the Hereafter).
108:2. Therefore observe Prayer for the sake of your Lord and offer sacrifice (to Him).
108:3. Surely, it is your enemy who is cut off entirely (from all good and prosperity and is deprived of Spiritual issues).
And history is witness to the success of Muhammad PBUH, both during his lifetime and afterwards, and to the failure of his opposition, of both individuals and institutions. And what a success! (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_100&oldid=291047691)
7:157. `Those who follow this perfect Messenger, the Arab Prophet whom they find described in the Torah and the Evangel which are with them, who enjoins upon them that which is right and forbids them that which is wrong, and who makes lawful for them all the pure and good things, and makes unlawful all the impure and bad things, and who relieves them of their heavy burden and shackles that weigh them down. Indeed those who believe in him and honour him and serve him and follow the light that has been sent down with him, it is these who will attain their goal.’
In summary, the purpose of Muhammad (PBUH) and his entrusted Message is simply to unburden the mankind from the idols that are still rampant physically, socially and in the minds.
[The Holy Quran – Translation by Allamah Nooruddin]
From A:
I feel that this verse has deeper significance
33:40 Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the prophets. And Allah is ever Knower of all things.
I have been thinking about this verse and I feel that I do not understand this argument “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men”.
Allah will not withheld His blessing i.e son from prophet Muhammad (pbuh) cos ppl might take him for prophet. This can’t address the weakminded ppl’s tendency of ‘personality worship” – if it does then there would not have been shia issue or taking of prophet more than a mortal by his emotional followers.
I wonder what is the great wisdom behind these words “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men”
He is the spiritual father for all of his followers but not a biological one. why? I can’t take this argument that it is done to establish the seal of prophets because prophets have appeared in all nations and one’s biological relationship is not a criteria – there seem to be an opnion that there were female prophets too (an article by ruqiya waris) – prophet had daughters.
I’ll be thinking about it but if anyone has an understanding – pls share. Thanks!
From A:
33:40 Muhammad is not the father of any of your men …
its explanation is given in ch. 108:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Surely We have given thee abundance of good.
So pray to thy Lord and sacrifice.
Surely thy enemy is cut off (from good).
Abtar refers to a person who has no descendant, and so remembrance of him is cut off from the world. The unbelievers thought that as the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had no male offspring, as soon as he died, he would be completely forgotten. They were told that it was their remembrance that would be obliterated and that they should know that Allah, Most High, had made the Holy Prophet (pbuh) the inheritor of an abundance of good things – that he would be blessed with progeny and faithful followers, and physical and spiritual favour to a degree unprecedented in the history of the world; the chain of his spiritual progeny would extend to the Day of Resurrection, but no trace of his enemies names would remain.
http://aaiil.org/text/hq/comm/bash/ch108.shtml
From A:
33:40 Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, [b]but[/b] he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the prophets. And Allah is ever Knower of all things
In the light of this verse it is clear that spiritual excellence, which Allah gives to whom He pleases, is not bestowed on anyone for his biological relation with a prophet or saint.
Unfortunately we have many families in Pakistan which, due to their relation with a saint, appoints a heir from his biological family only. rabwa jamaat and fazl-ur-rehman, who has taken his father’s seat, if i am wrong and the so called pirs of today.
how can their claim to represent Quran be accepted if they make such a fatal error in naming a rightful heir of the spiritual legacy of saints (prophet’s heirs)?