People have always been interested in the spiritual side of life. Since ancient times, the realization has come that everything can not be so meaningless. That's it in the search for the essence of mankind came partly to religion, philosophy and atheism. If the latter categories are more focused on understanding the role of a person, then the first is on relationships with a higher beginning.
How to understand God if no one has seen him? That's what prophets are for. These are soothsayers or mediators who are able to hear and convey the will of the Lord to ordinary people.
Prophets in different religions
Soothsayer, interpreter, "speaking forward." These synonyms show how people understood the term "prophet." This is the definition of the word, but not its deep meaning. Such people are known in all religions of the Near and Middle East. In some faiths there was only one such person (Zoroastrianism - Zatarushtra), in others there were many. But Islam most precisely defines the task of the prophets.
BThe Koran says that such people are sent to Earth to return humanity to monotheism.
Next, we will talk about traditional religions and the role assigned to the concept of "prophet" in them. The analysis of their activities will be carried out gradually.
Eliyahu (Elijah)
One of the most famous prophets of Israel, who lived in the ninth century BC. He was born and raised in the town of Theswa. His name means "my God" in Hebrew. In the Russian-speaking tradition, this name is read "Ilya" (Elijah).
As a champion of the true faith, Eliyahu opposed King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who decided to return the cult of Baal and Astarte to Israel.
In the process of fighting the rulers, he showed several miracles. For example, he stopped raining for a while, and then, at his word, it started to rain. He brought hunger and brought down fire from heaven to earth. It is also believed that he was fed by birds and angels. For his merits, Elijah was taken alive to heaven. It is this example of virtue and defense of the faith that illustrates what a "prophet" is.
He is honored not only in Christianity. In Judaism, they believe that he should anoint the Messiah, in Islam, Elijah is known as Ilyas.
Even in Orthodoxy, he is famous for his fiery chariot, the only attribute that is repeated in all religions.
Joshua
If you thoroughly study the sources about the term "prophet", the analysis will give unexpected results. Such people were not always peaceful, and often, judging by the Bible, very warlike.
Jesus,the son of Nava, originally named Hosea, received his name from Moses. Together they emerged from Egyptian slavery, and soon he was already commanding a detachment of Jews. Subsequently, Navin becomes the direct successor of Moses and leads the expansion of the Israelites to the Holy Land.
First of all, with the help of angels, he compares Jericho to the ground. This city was famous for its impregnable walls, but thanks to a certain ritual, they turned into dust.
During the conquests, he destroys the population of the captured cities to the root. He subdued the people of Israel the whole land from Gaza to Gibeon and called to worship only the Lord, and not different gods, as in Egypt.
Thus, we sorted out a little with the concept of a prophet - who is it, what did such figures do, judging by the Christian and Jewish traditions. Now let's see what Muslims think about this.
Types of prophets in Islam
This religion in the texts of sacred books and comments to them pays special attention to the prophets. Twenty-eight of them are mentioned. According to the Koran, this category of people is distinguished by the presence of five qualities at the same time.
First of all, they are always honest, even if something threatens their life.
The next feature is loy alty and commitment to the concepts of honor. That is, they will not let their followers down.
A prophet is a person who is wiser and more understanding than others and surpasses them in everything.
The fourth principle. They convey the words of Allah, regardless of difficulties such as disbelief, aggression and others.
Last quality. These messengersalways sinless in both deeds and thoughts.
So, we figured out what a prophet is in Islam. Let's now see what categories Muslim theologians divide them into.
Firstly, it is "nabi", actually a direct translation of the word "prophet" into Arabic. These people meet the five qualities listed above, but do not receive a message from Allah for everyone. Only guides in terms of personal actions. They convey to the people in the next generations what the “rasul” received.
"Rasulullah" - "the messenger of Allah." This category is honored more than the previous one, because through them covenants and laws are sent to the earth. Fourteen such individuals are mentioned in the Quran.
The last category is "steadfast in spirit". This includes both Nabis and Rasul, who during their lifetime underwent very difficult tests of faith.
Idris
According to the researchers of the Holy Scriptures, he is identified with the biblical prophet Enoch. This is a descendant of the third son of Adam and Eve Seth. According to the Koran, he lived for about 350 years, according to the Bible - 365.
It is believed that Idris gave people knowledge of the alphabet, astronomy, taught how to make clothes. In addition, for merit, he was taken to heaven alive.
The hadith says that during his miraj Muhammad met him in the fourth heaven. He is said to appear with Eliyahu before the Second Coming.
Nuh
Probably the most famous prophet is Noah or Nuh in the Arabic tradition. His name is familiar even to the mostoutspoken atheists. Still, judging by the Holy Scriptures, it was he who built the ark and saved the representatives of mankind, as well as a pair of each type of animal. In other words, we owe our existence to him. Let's see what Islam says about this.
Muslims consider Noah to be the messenger who received instructions directly from Allah and passed them on to people. Judging by the Koran, Nuh, at the age of fifty, goes to the "infidels" in order to direct them to the true path. But all his attempts were unsuccessful. Even his son turned away and joined the pagans.
Then the prophet asks Allah to send misfortunes to the offenders, in response, it stops raining over the fields of the infidels. But it did not help. Then Nuh prays for the destruction of all infidels. An angel comes to him with the news that his request has been heard. It is necessary to plant date seeds and start building the ark. When these trees bear fruit, there will be a great flood. Only those on the ship will be saved.
After the disaster, about 80 people and many different birds and animals survived. Nuh is often referred to as the "second Adam". It is believed that the modern races descended from his sons.
Ibrahim
In the Middle East, the most revered prophet is Abraham, or Ibrahim. He is called the ancestor of the Jews and Arabs. From his son Ismail came the Arabs, and from Yitzhak the Israelites.
Ibrahim is recognized as a Rasul and the first person who began to preach monotheism. The verses of the Qur'an say that he became disillusioned with the representatives of his people who worshiped idols, and beganurge them to change their faith. They wanted to burn Abraham for damaging the temple, but the angels transferred him with his relative Lut to Palestine.
Here Ibrahim builds the Kaaba, from a barren wife, thanks to prayers, he has a son. He passes the test of faith when Allah asked him to sacrifice his child.
In principle, Muslims consider this prophet a Hanif. This word means that he was respectable and orthodox, but did not preach Islam, since this religion did not exist then.
Yusuf
According to the Scriptures, this man had a very beautiful appearance and the gift of correctly interpreting dreams. For these virtues, his older brothers hated him and threw him into a well so that the caravaners would find him and sell him into slavery.
The father, Yakub, was told that the younger son was torn to pieces by a wolf. But the prophet Yusuf was able not only to survive, but also to succeed significantly. At first, he became the favorite of all the Egyptians in the capital, but because of his refusal to share a bed with the pharaoh's wife, he ended up in prison. They released him from there only after he correctly interpreted the dream to the pharaoh and saved the Egyptian people from starvation.
Subsequently, the prophet Yusuf becomes a government official, the custodian of food and takes his relatives to him from hungry Palestine.
Mohammed
Without a doubt, the Prophet Muhammad is the most revered historical figure in the entire Arab world. He is considered a messenger, and after mentioning his name, devout Muslims always add "peace and blessings from Allah be upon him."According to research, this man lived only sixty-one years, but the legacy that has remained through the centuries still plays an important role.
Sharia (religious and moral and ethical norms), which the Prophet Muhammad brought to people, is considered the only true one in Islam. Arab scholars say that each messenger of God came to earth with a set of rules for his era, and so Mohammed was the last of a series of prophets. The next apparition will mark the beginning of the Day of Judgment.
Thus, in this article we figured out who the prophets are and got to know some of them.
Good luck, dear readers!
