THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE SENDING OF DIVINE MESSENGERS

THE PURPOSE  BEHIND  THE SENDING   OF DIVINE MESSENGERS

The fundamental  reason  for sending  prophets is explained in Ayat  No.25  of Surah Al-Hadeed (The Iron), in  the  Holy Quran.    Allah   (SWT)  in   this   ayah   says:   We   sent   Our messengers with  clear proofs,  and  revealed  with  them  the Scripture   and  the Balance  .... 
For what  purpose was  all of this  done?  
Why  were  messengers sent?   
For what  purpose were  the  books  and  the  balance   revealed?   

This  is  stated clearly   and  categorically  in  this  Ayah:   ....  in  order   that mankind    practice    Justice   and   Righteousness.  In   other words  the necessity  and purpose of sending  Prophets  with clear  signs  and  revealing   along  with  them  the  Book  and the Balance, i.e. the Shariah, is being  explained here: So that mankind    establish     Justice.     Injustice,    oppression   and despotism,  and  exploitation of all types  are  given  a death blow.   

But which  system  of justice will it be? One system  of justice  is  that  which   man  comes  up  with  using  his  own intellect  and  tries  his  level  best  to bring  into  existence  a real   system   of  social  justice.   Hence   we   find   one   such concept     of   a    system     of   social    justice    among     the communists.  Another   such  concept   is  that  found   in  the Western  nations.  Both attempt   to arrive  at a so-called  true system   of  social  justice  but   all  ideologies  conceived  by humans  are  flawed  in  one  aspect  or  the  other.   The  only true  system  of social justice  is  the  one  given by  Allah (SWT) through  His messengers (AS) to mankind which we refer to as Deen and Shari'ah. 

This Shari'ah was perfected in the  final  prophet,  Muhammad  (SAW) the  messenger  of Allah (SWT). A  system in which the rights and duties  of every  individual  have  been  defined  in correct measure. What one will be entitled to and what one is liable for has been decreed. That has determined the rights and responsibilities of every class in society, in a very balanced and natural way and has addressed  all departments  of life encompassing  social, political, business and  all aspects of collective life. It is the establishment of this system of social justice   which   has   been   the   fundamental    reason   for Prophets  being  sent  by  Allah  (SWT). This  is  what  is explained in Ayat No.25 of Surah Al-Hadeed.

Now  just  think  who  will  become  an  obstacle  to  the establishment of such a system of social justice? Obviously the oppressed would want the injustice to be quashed. The weak who have been oppressed,  whose rights have been usurped,  will  definitely  want  an  end  to  the  system  of injustice and the establishment of a just system. But would the unjust oppressors like to see an end to this exploitative and unjust system? Would those who have wrongfully put the fetters of their rule around the necks of the masses and who  have  set  up  an unfair  and  iniquitous  system  of distributing  wealth  due  to which  they have managed  to hoard  huge  amount  of wealth  whereas  the  others  can't afford  two square  meals, would  want  a change  in their vested interests? Would they like to see the establishment of a system based  on justice and equality? --- To see the Divine  Law  and  Justice  put  in  operation?  Their  vast majority would spurn a change so fundamental  in nature. 

But even  in these privileged  classes there  are people  of sound  character  whose  dormant  conscience is  activated and they realise that the current system is in reality unjust and therefore spineless. Hence it is a historical fact that as a result   of  the  invitation   to  faith  by  prophet  Musa  (AS), some  of the Pharaoh's people  had  become  believers.  There is mention  of a believer  from among  Pharaoh's   people.  The Quranic  Surah Al-Mu'min or Al-Ghafir (The Forgiving One) contains   his   entire   speech   word   by   word   made   in Pharaoh's   court,   which   starts   with   these   words:  

 'A believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had concealed his faith, said ... ' (40:28)

This gentleman  who was among the influential nobles of the Pharaoh and held a high status in the Pharaoh's  court had become a believer of the One Creator and the message sent by  Him  through  Musa  (AS). He· became a believer because his conscience was active and alive. From this we get to know  that even within  the unjust and exploitative classes   there   are   certain   people   having   an   upright character. When called to the Truth (i.e.  Allah's way) they recognize it and accept it as such. But their number  is so small  that  they  can be counted  on  fingers and  the vast majority of people remain of those who want to maintain the status quo, so that their vested interests and privileges are not threatened.  

In a feudal society the feudal landlord would never want the feudal system to come to an end.  In a  capitalist  system  the  capitalist  would  never  like  the system to change. The Brahmin in a Hindu caste-oriented society would never want the caste differences to cease to exist. Would the Brahmin, with a high status he enjoys as a birth-right,  ever  like  the  Sudra  to  be  made  his  equal? Therefore the vast majority within the privileged class join hands to defend and protect the exploitative system which they  represent   and   have   vested   interests   in.  This  is precisely the reason why Allah states in the next part of the Ayah of Surah Al-Hadeed that 'we sent down Iron in which is (material for) mighty  war'.   For such people  Allah has sent iron as a punishment  and to teach them a lesson. Iron can   be   used   in   warfare   to   manufacture    arms   and ammunition. It also contains countless other benefits  for people.  But in the context  of this Ayat  the real purpose behind  sending iron is to use it, as much  as is necessary,  to inflict  punishment  on  people  who  oppose   the  mission   of those  who  support   the  Prophets   of Allah  in  establishing Divine  Justice  and  a Just Social Order  with  all their  might. 

Therefore  such  effort and striving is referred  to by Allah  as the    'Test   of   Faith'    and    'Victory    of   Allah    and    His messengers'  in the  next  part  of this  Ayah: that  Allah  may test   who    it   is   that   will   help    unseen    Him   and    His messengers,   for Allah  is full of Strength,  Exalted  in Might. Which  means  that  Allah  wants   to make  known   His  loyal servants,   who  join Allah  and  His prophets in establishing His chosen  faith  (Islam), even when  not seen.

Most  surely  Allah  is Strong,  Able  to do all things,  Mighty and    Supreme.   In other    words    the   teaching    and   the instruction    to  utilize   the  strength  of    iron   to  strive   in Allah's  Cause,  and  to establish  justice  as per Divine  Law, is not  demanded  because,   (Allah  may  excuse  me  for saying this) Allah  is in need  of your  help, but  its purpose is to put your  loyalty  and  faith  to test. 

This Ayah of Surah Al-Hadeed is a very revolutionary Ayah and  it states  the reason  behind sending  prophets  (Peace  be  upon   them  all)  the  need   for giving   them   the  Book  and   to  establish   justice   and   the purpose of the provision  of iron.

Source:LOVE FOR THE MESSENGER (SA)

To Be Continued....