Preaching Obligation of Prophets

ياَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًامُّنِيرًا (33: 45-46)

O Prophet! We have sent you forth as a witness, a bearer of good tidings, and a warner and as one who shall call men to God by His leave and as a shining lamp for the guidance [of mankind.] (33:45-46)

The above verses refer to the preaching responsibility of the Prophet Muhammad (sws). It is evident from the Qur’an that all prophets of God were sent to call people to God and to warn and to give glad tidings to them. The Qur’anic words: =1= كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ (213:2) also mention this very fact. From among these anbiya’ (prophets), those who were given the status of rusul(messengers), their indhar (warning) culminated in shahadah. In the terminology of the Qur’an, shahadah means that the truth is communicated to people in such a manner that no one is left with an excuse to deny it. The Qur’anic words used are: لِأَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُل (4:165) (so that mankind after the coming of these messengers is left with no excuse against the Almighty, (4:165)). The way this shahadah is established is that the Almighty selects these rusul and then, before the actual Day of reward and punishment, rewards and punishes in this very world people to whom the rusul are sent. People are told that if they honour their covenant with God, they will be rewarded in this world and if they dishonour it, they will be punished here. The result of this is that these rusul become signs of God, and it is as if people see God walking along with the rusul who deliver His verdicts. Moreover, these rusul are directed to propagate the truth and deliver to people the exact guidance of God they have received. This is shahadah, and when it is established on this earth, it becomes a basis for God to deliver His Judgement both in this world and in that to come. Consequently, the Almighty grants dominance to these rusul and punishes those who reject them. The word شَاهِدًا (shahidan) used in the above quoted verses of Surah Ahzab delineates this very status of the Prophet Muhammad (sws).

Delivering of warnings and glad tidings by anbiya’ (prophets) does not require any explanation. However, when rusul =2= (messengers) deliver these warnings and glad tidings, then this requires some elaboration because these rusul must also fulfil the responsibility of shahadah. As a result of this responsibility, there are certain phases of their preaching endeavour. And there are certain consequences of these phases which are peculiar to the rusul only. This preaching is not related to any other person except the rusul.

In the following paragraphs, these phases are elaborated upon.