The Wisdom Of Sending Messengers In General
Selections from the Book Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (24)
From Allah’s wisdom in sending messengers is that creation is in need of messengers to convey to them what Allah loves and approves of, and what He is displeased with and forbids. Many sinners and deviants have wandered in the depths of misery, even with the presence of prophets (peace be upon them). So, what would the situation be if Allah had not sent messengers as bearers of glad tidings and warners?
The messengers were sent to refine the servants, to lead them out of worshipping creation to worshipping the Lord of creation, and to liberate them from the servitude of creatures to the freedom of worshipping the Lord of the worlds—He who brought them into existence from nothingness, will make them perish after existence, and will resurrect them after their perishing, so they will either be wretched or happy.
Had people been left neglected without warning and guidance, they would have lived a miserable life—in blatant ignorance, blind misguidance, corrupt customs, and immoral behavior. Life would have become like a jungle where the strong devour the weak, and the noble subjugates the lowly. Thus, Allah’s wisdom necessitated that He would not create His servants in vain or leave them neglected. Allah Almighty says: {Does man think that he will be left neglected?} [Al-Qiyamah: 36].
Out of His mercy (Glorified and Exalted be He) upon them, He bestowed upon them the favor of sending messengers as bearers of glad tidings and warners. These messengers recited to them the verses of their Lord, taught them what would benefit them, and guided them to the source of their happiness in this world and the Hereafter, while they had previously been in manifest misguidance.
A- Cutting Off Excuses In This World And The Hereafter:
Allah Almighty said: {[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers} [An-Nisa’: 165].
B- Removing heedlessness and preparing for guidance:
Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muhammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner,} [Al-Baqarah: 119].
And Allah says: {O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner (45) And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp. (46)} [Al-Ahzab: 45-46].
And He says: {Have the people been amazed that We revealed [revelation] to a man from among them, [saying], "Warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they will have a [firm] precedence of honor with their Lord"?} [Yunus: 2].
C- Resolving Differences And Returning People To Principles They Agree Upon:
Allah Almighty said: {Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed.} [Al-Baqarah: 213].
D- Establishing Justice Among People:
Allah Almighty said: {We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice.} [Al-Hadid: 25].
The goal of the messengers and all divine messages is to establish justice among people. This does not merely mean achieving balance and equality among individuals but also balancing values, virtues, and rights. No right should overshadow a duty, no man should dominate a woman, no ruler should oppress the ruled, no individual should overpower society, nor should society override the individual. Likewise, spiritual values should not overwhelm material ones, nor should material values dominate spiritual ones. It is about balance, the justice brought by all the messengers: {That you not transgress within the balance. (8) And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance. (9)} [Ar-Rahman: 8-9].
No transgression, no underestimation, no cheating, no excess, and no neglect.
E- Good example:
The mission of the messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) is to call to Allah, to truth and goodness, and to transform this call into action, behavior, and application so that people may follow their example.
Allah Almighty says: {Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so from their guidance take an example.} [Al-An’am: 90].
And He says: {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern1 for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.} [Al-Ahzab: 21].
These are the primary tasks of the messengers (peace be upon them) in guiding people to truth and goodness and warning them against falsehood and evil. Allah Almighty says: {And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners.} [Al-Kahf: 56].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud, pp. 387-391.
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Works, (8/409).
- Noah and the Great Flood, p. 81.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and the Reasons for the Destruction of the People of Thamud on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
