The prophets and messengers who were sent by Allah to mankind must be given proofs and evidences to make the sincerity of their claims clear, something which confirms they are Allah’s messengers. This is the case to prevent people from having any argument against them, and having any excuse for disbelieving and disobeying them. Allah says: }Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs{(Al-Hadîd :25)
The proofs that confirm the truthfulness of the messengers are many, of which the most important are:
That Allah supports His prophets and messengers with marvels and miracles. This is what Allah enables His messengers and prophets to perform supernatural actions that are against normal cosmic rules and which no other group of humans is capable of doing. An example of this is Prophet Moses’s miracle (pbuh) when his stick transformed into a serpent. Allah says: }17. “And what is that in your right hand, O Mûsa (Moses)?” 18. He said: “This is my stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.” 19. (Allâh) said: “Cast it down, O Mûsa (Moses)!” 20. He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.21. Allâh said: “Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, 22. “And press your (right) hand to your (left) side, it will come forth white (and shining), without any disease as another sign, 23. “That We may show you (some) of Our Greater Signs.{(Tâ¬-Hâ 17-23)
There are also Prophet Jesus’s miracles (pbuh) when he healed the blind and the leper, by Allah’s will. Allah said the following in the words of Angel Gabriel (pbuh) when he was giving the virgin Mary the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus: }47. She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.” He said: “So (it will be) for Allâh creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” and it is. 48. And He (Allâh) will teach him [‘Iesa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom, etc.), (and) the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel). 49. And will make him [‘Iesa (Jesus)] a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe. 50. And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Taurât (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear Allâh and obey me. 51. Truly! Allâh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.{(Âl-’Imrân:47-51)
Also there is Muhammad’s (pbuh) greatest of all miracles, namely the Glorious Qur’an, despite the fact the he was illiterate. Allah says: }88. Say: “If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of this Qur’ân, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.” 89. And indeed We have fully explained to mankind, in this Qur’ân, every kind of similitude, but most mankind refuse (the truth and accept nothing) but disbelief.{(Al-Isrâ’:88-89) }O Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam])! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allâh will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allâh guides not the people who disbelieve.{(al-Maa.idah:67)
But these three things: knowledge, power and riches, to which miracles belong, should not be perfect, for perfection is due only to Allah.
Signs of sincerity of prophet-hood include the glad tidings given by former prophets about the coming of subsequent prophets. Allah took the covenant from each and every prophet that, should Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) be sent in that prophet’s life-time, he would believe in him. Allah says: }And (remember) when Allâh took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allâh), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allâh said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).{(Âl-’Imrân:81)
Prophets and messengers used to intermix and interact with their people. Consequently, people were able to become closely acquainted with them and realize their sincerity. When they accused chaste Mary (may Allah be pleased with her) of committing adultery and accused prophet Jesus (pbuh) of being an illegitimate child, Allah made their truthfulness manifest. Allah says: }27. Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: “O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariya (an unheard mighty thing).” 28. “O sister (i.e. the like) of Hârûn (Aaron) [not the brother of Mûsa (Moses), but he was another pious man at the time of Maryam (Mary)]! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman.” 29. Then she pointed to him. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” 30. He [‘Iesa (Jesus)] said: “Verily! I am a slave of Allâh, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;” 31. “And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salât (prayer), and Zakât, as long as I live.” 32. “And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest.” 33. “And Salâm (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!”{( Maryam:27-33)
Accordingly, Jesus (pbuh) spoke in the cradle. Before his mission, the tribe of the Quraish called Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) As-Sadiqul‘Ameen (the trustworthy and truthful one), because of his truthfulness and honesty. The Qur’an has indicated this, so as to serve as evidence of the truthfulness of the Prophet (pbuh), because his person, life and biography are the greatest evidence of this. Allah says: }Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]): “If Allâh had so willed, I should not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, Verily, I have stayed amongst you a lifetime before this. Have you then no sense?”{(Yoonus:16)
Of the many signs of prophet-hood is that the call that all the prophets and messengers made, as well as its fundamentals, was the same. Each prophet called his people to believe in the Oneness of Allah Almighty; since this is the purpose for which Allah originated the creation and sent the messengers. Allah says: }And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).{(al-Anbiyaa:25)
He also says: }And ask (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: “Did We ever appoint âlihah (gods) to be worshipped besides the Most Beneficent (Allâh)? {(az-Zukhruf:45)
The Almighty also says: }And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities, i.e. do not worship anything besides Allâh).” Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).{(an-Nahl:36)
To this Muhammad (pbuh) called. A messenger is merely a human being, like other people who have been favored and honored by Allah’s revelation. Allah says: }Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]): “I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God – i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.”{(al-Kahf:110)
He does not call the people to gain any kingship or leadership. The Almighty says: }Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]): “I don’t tell you that with me are the treasures of Allâh, nor (that) I know the Unseen; nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me.” Say: “Are the blind and the one who sees equal? Will you not then take thought?”{(Al-An’âm:50)
He does not ask people for any payment for his calling unto them. Allah informs us about His prophets Noah, Hud, Saleh, Lot and Shuoaib, who all said the following to their people: }“No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).{ (Ash-Shu’arâ’:109; 127;145; 164; 180)
Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]): “No wage do I ask of you for this (the Qur’ân), nor am I one of the Mutakallifûn (those who pretend and fabricate things which do not exist).(Saad:86)
Of the many proofs of the prophets and messengers’ truthfulness is the victory and protection granted to them by Allah. For how could it be possible that someone who is a liar, claiming to be a prophet or a messenger, be granted victory by Allah and be saved and supported by Him? Why would Allah help spread such a person’s call, instead of inflicting him with punishment and torment for lying?! Allah says: }And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allâh. Verily, those who invent lies against Allâh, will never prosper.{( an-Nahl:116)
He (Glorified be He) says: }44. And if he (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allâh swt), 45. We surely should have seized him by his right hand (or with power and might), 46. And then certainly should have cut off his life artery (Aorta){(Al-Hâqqah: 44-46)
