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From: mmirza@grumpy.eng.ohio-state.edu (Muhammad Mirza)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Message of Islam (part 3)
Message-ID: <1990Dec12.022343.20667@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 12 Dec 90 02:23:43 GMT
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THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROPHETS

The work of a prophet is not limited to communication of the knowledge
alone.  He has to explain, according to what is revealed to him, the
relationship between the Creator and man as it factually is, and as it
actually should be.  He has to prescribe a moral code, enunciate the
principles of culture and civilization, lay down the mode of worship,
establish a frame-work of belief, and define the moral imperatives,
which must govern our life.  The Prophet has been given the authority
by ALLAH to determine the rules which should form the basis of social
and cultural relationship, economic, judicial, and political dealing,
matters of war and peace, and international affairs.  The Prophet does
not transmit merely a code of rituals commonly regarded as 'religion.'
He brings with him a whole system of thought and action which is
called Al-Deen (a complete way of life) in Islamic terminology.

PROPHETS AS ROLE MODELS

The mission of a prophet does not end with the announcement of this
way of life to the world at large.  He has to guide the people who
follow him, explaining to them the implications of the Islamic creed,
the moral code, the divine injunctions and commandments, and the form
of worship that sustains the whole system.  He has to demonstrate, by
practice, the faith he preaches, and his life should be a model which
people may be able to follow to organize their own lives.  He must
give training to the individuals and the Muslim society as a whole to
prepare them for practical participation in the evolution of Islamic
culture and civilization.  The believers must grow under his guidance
into an organized community engaged in establishing the Islamic system
of life so that ALLAH's words should prevail upon all other words.

SUCCESS AND FAILURE 

Not all the Prophets completely succeeded in this mission.  There were
many who failed not because of any personal fault or inadequacy, but
because of the prejudice and intolerance of the people they presented
the message or because of the circumstances were not favorable.  But
every prophet had the same mission, and it is a fact of history that
Mohammad (pbuh) succeeded in establishing the Kingdom of ALLAH on
earth, as it is in the heavens.

THE AUDIENCE OF THIS MISSION

The audience of the Quran and the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was the
whole of mankind from the very outset, and those who accepted the Word
acquired the status of believers without any distinction.  At no time
was the invitation of the Quran addressed to the people of any
particular area, race tribe, color, or language. The Quran always
calls upon the "progeny of Adam" or "the mankind" to accept Islam.
The specific instructions and injunctions are meant for those who have
come to believe in Islam, and they are always addressed as "those who
believe."  That the message of Islam was universal in character is
proved by the fact that those who accepted the message acquired equal
rights and status as believers, regardless of all differences of
origin.  The Quran says, "the believers are all like brothers."  The
Prophet (pbuh) said, "those who subscribe to our beliefs and adopt the
Islamic way of life, have the same rights and the same obligations as
we have.  The Prophet (pbuh) announced, "Listen!  you have on ALLAH as
you have one father (Adam).  There is no distinction between an Arab
and a non-Arab.  There is no preference for the black over the fair,
or the fair over the black.  There is distinction only in submission
to ALLAH.  The most virtuous among you is the most honorable in the
eyes of ALLAH.

(to be continued ..........)

Muhammad Javed Mirza

-- 
Me
The Ohio State University 
Electrical Engineering Dept.
Room 204 Dreese Labs