IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS THE MOST MERCIFUL
Salam.
31/3/17
We primarily get the stories of prophets either from Quran or Sunnahs of Prophet Mohammad saw.
Muslim Footsteps (Source):
The Messengers and Prophets were sent down to corrupt and disbelieving communities, they were tasked with the duty of guiding nations who were essentially hostile against Allah. Despite the environment in which they were placed and the provocation they had to face, Messengers and Prophets consistently emulated peaceful and patient behaviour. Many of them suffered hardship in their attempts to establish the Word of God, with opposition coming from all quarters, and often, from their own close family members.
These were men who underwent extraordinary experiences in the course of spreading the Message and establishing justice on earth.
As for the Message, it has been the same from time immemorial – La ilaha illallah – There is no God but Allah. This is the core Message that all the Messengers and Prophets establish, remind and emphasise to their people.
Prophets of Islam – Prophet Yahya (AS)
He refrained from any form of wrongdoing and his behaviour was so spotless that no one in the community could gossip or even speculate about him. Of him, Allah says:
And (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins [i.e. Yahya] and he was righteous. (Al Qur’an 19:13)
He was also a dutiful son, and never once disobeyed his parents. He served and honoured them, being kind, patient and generous even as they became extremely old. In short, his character was flawless, never once transgressing, or showing even any signs of arrogance or disobedience.
And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allah or to his parents) . (Al Qur’an 19:14)
Imagine such a person, and also the blessed surroundings he grew up in: son of a Prophet Zakaria AS and his wife a pious woman, grandson of ‘Imran (who was one of the best families in the eyes of Allah of all time), the cousin of Maryam AS and the uncle of Isa AS.
So honourable was his character that Allah gave him, or will give him salam, on each of the three stages of his life: his birth, his death and his resurrection:
So Peace on him the day he was born the day that he dies and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! (Al Qur’an 19:15)
THE MESSAGE OF YAHYA AS
The people of Bani Israel loved and respected Yahya AS greatly and his words used to touch their hearts.
Imam Ahmad reported that Allah commanded Yahya AS with five duties which he was asked to command Bani Israel with. In response, Yahya AS gathered the Israelites in Jerusalem and delivered the five commandments, which were to worship none other than Allah without associating Him with any partner, because the similitude is like the one who has bought a slave with the best of his wealth, silver or gold, but the slave started working for others.
The second was to offer prayers to Allah, and not to allow themselves to be distracted towards other things.
The third is of the commandment to fast, as its similitude was that of a man who has a bag of musk among a multitude of people, of whom everyone enjoys its fragrance.
The fourth was to give in charity, because the parable is like the one who was captured by an enemy, and they tied his hand up with his neck, and then wanted to beheead him. The man at this point would ask his enemy: “Is it possible that I pay ransom and free myself? ” After his captors agreed, the man would pay his ransom with everything he had, until he was freed.
The fifth was the frequent remembrance (zikr) of Allah, the similitude being that of a man whom his enemy had chased out, but he had found a fortified castle and entered it. The man is more protected from his enemy (Shaitan) when he is in Allah’s remembrance.
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