Verses Regarding the Purpose of Sending Messengers
Allah, the Exalted, has sent Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide humanity towards the worship of Him alone, steering them away from idolatry and encouraging them to engage in righteous deeds. The fundamental aim has been to lead individuals from darkness to light, and from the worship of created beings to the worship of the Creator of all. This mission has been the core concern of all Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them).
The Qur’an articulates the objectives behind the sending of Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) in various verses, some of which include:
- Allah, the Exalted, states:
“Indeed, We sent to every nation a Messenger, saying: ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods.’ Among them were those whom Allah guided, and others for whom error was inevitable. So traverse the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.”
- Allah, the Exalted, also mentions:
“And We did not send any Messenger before you except that We revealed to him: ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’”
- Allah, the Exalted, asserts:
“We do not send the Messengers except as givers of good news and as warners.”
- Additionally, Allah, the Exalted, states:
“Mankind was one nation, and Allah sent Prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and with them He sent down the Scripture in truth, to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed.”
- Allah, the Exalted, also says:
“Just as We sent you a Messenger from among yourselves to recite to you Our verses and to purify you and to teach you the Scripture and wisdom, and to teach you that which you did not know.”
- In another verse, Allah, the Exalted, says:
“Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there has not been a nation except that there has passed within it a warner.”
- Allah, the Exalted, has also stated:
“Indeed, We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [therein] justice.”
- Furthermore, Allah, the Exalted, commands:
“You shall not worship except Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bearer of good tidings.”
- Lastly, Allah, the Exalted, praises Himself:
“All praise is due to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance, [It is] straight to warn of a severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward.”
The Wisdom Behind Sending Prophets and Messengers
The sending of Prophets and Messengers carries tremendous wisdom and profound meanings, among which are:
- Establishing a proof against the people.
This serves to prevent anyone from claiming that he was not sent a Messenger to convey the verses of Allah. As stated in the verse:
“Were it not that You sent us a Messenger so we could follow Your verses before we are humiliated and disgraced,”
thus Allah, the Exalted, has paved the way for the sending of Prophets and Messengers to establish evidence against mankind.
- Guiding and directing the people.
This is towards the path of truth, righteousness, and goodness in both their religious and worldly affairs. Regardless of the extent of people’s knowledge, understanding, or intelligence, they still require a Messenger from Allah who receives divine revelation, to inform them of what is in their best interest and to steer them away from what is harmful. The Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) safeguard individuals from detrimental matters and invite them towards beneficial ones.
The Number of Prophets and Messengers (Peace Be Upon Them)
Allah, the Exalted, has sent Prophets and Messengers to all communities, as indicated by His statement:
“And there is no nation except that there has passed within it a warner.”
In the Qur’an, twenty-five Prophets and Messengers are explicitly mentioned, with eighteen listed in Surah Al-An’am and the remaining in other chapters. According to a narration from Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari, the total number of Prophets is said to be one hundred thousand, while the number of Messengers is three hundred and fifteen.