The Prophets of God: The Islamic Perspective Versus the Christian Perspective
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The bible attributes despicable actions like incest (Prophet Lot), drunkenness (Prophet Noah), adultery (Prophet David) and mass murder (Prophet David) to God’s prophets but they are not true. In His final testament, the Qur’an, Allah says,
“Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 4:163 and 165)
"And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah (alms-giving); and they were worshippers of Us." (Qur’an 21:73)
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The Prophets are the best of mankind, and the most noble of creation before Allaah. Allaah chose them to convey the call of ‘There is no god but Allah’ to mankind, and Allaah has made them the intermediaries between Him and His creation in conveying His Laws.
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It is not the attitude of a Muslim to insult others, slander them and impugn their honour. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) advised us that, “The believer is not given to cursing, slandering or obscene and foul speech.” So when he is slandered and his honour is impugned we believe that he is the most worthy of having his honour defended. This is not the same as equating him to God and thereby blaspheming.
We Muslims believe that the Prophets and Messengers are infallible in conveying the commands and message of Allaah, but they are not infallible in any other regard. They may make mistakes, forget things, or commit minor sins – according to the most well-known opinion (of the scholars) – but Allaah did not approve of their mistakes; rather, He pointed out their mistakes as a Mercy to them and their nations, and He forgave their mistakes and accepted their repentance as a Grace and Mercy, for Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Before the Prophets and Messengers were given their mission, the scholars have said that it is possible that they may have committed some minor sins, but they were protected from committing major sins such as zinaa (fornication, adultery), drinking wine, etc. But after they received their mission, the correct view is that they may have committed some minor mistakes but this was not approved of and they were rebuked (as mentioned in examples in the Qur'an).
However, what we as Muslims take issue with is not the mentioning of these minor mistakes but of slander and impugning their honour as they are the most perfect of humanity both physically and in their attitude, the best of them in knowledge, the most truthful in speech, the most exemplary in the life they lived. Allaah chose them to convey the call of 'There is no god but Allah' to mankind, and Allaah has made them the intermediaries between Him and His creation in conveying His Laws.
Allaah says of them in His final testament the Qur'an (interpretation of the meaning):
“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities, i.e. do not worship Taaghoot besides Allaah).’ Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified.” [Qur'an 16:36]
“And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing Salaah (prayers), and the giving of Zakaah (alms-giving) and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers.”[Qur'an 21:73]
“And verily, you (O Muhammad blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” [Qur'an 68:4]
Also Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe.” [Qur'an 7:188]
“Say (O Muhammad): I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilaah (God) is One Ilaah (God ___i.e. Allaah).” [Qur'an 18:110]
“Their Messengers said to them: We are no more than human beings like you.” [Qur'an 14:11]
Allaah has given examples in His Book of kind treatment of parents. Allaah says of His slave Yahya ibn Zakariyya (John the Baptist):
“(It was said to his son): ‘O Yahya (John)! Hold fast the Scripture (Torah)].’ And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. And (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins [i.e. Yahya (John)] and he was righteous, And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither arrogant nor disobedient (to Allaah or to his parents). (Qur'an Chapter Mary 19:12-15]
And Allaah said of His slave ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary) (interpretation of the meaning):
“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs." (Qur'an 4:71)
“He [‘Eesa (Jesus)] said: ‘Verily, I am a slave of Allaah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salaah (prayer), and Zakaah (almsgiving), as long as I live. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest.’” [Qur'an chapter Mary 19:30-32]
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“And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord...””(Qur’an 5:116-118)
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “...Allah would send Christ, son of Mary, and he will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels. When he would lower his head, there would fall beads of perspiration from his head, and when he would raise it up, beads like pearls would scatter from it. Every non-believer who would smell the odour of his self would die and his breath would reach as far as he would be able to see. He would then search for him (Dajjal-Anti-Christ) until he would catch hold of him at the gate of Ludd (Lod in Palestine) and would kill him."
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” (Matthew 7:22-23)
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(Some extracts from IslamQA.info)
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