"Revelation was thus needed to enable man to rise to higher stages of life; and in accordance with this divine scheme, revelation was as much a need for one people as for another. God had endowed all men with the power to conquer nature; not one particular nation to the exclusion of others. He gave His physical sustenance to all men alike. Hence revelation which was needed for the moral and spiritual progress of man could not be given to one man or to one nation to the exclusion of others. Prophets were, therefore, sent to every nation, though it was not necessary that the names of all of them should have been mentioned in the Qur'an."(Introduction to the study of The Holy Qur'an, pg 79, Maulana Muhammad Ali)
The above quote from Islamic scholar, Maulana Muhammad Ali, gives us the divine purpose why Allah has sent down divine guidance to the human family through the ages. The greatest gift that one can receive is "Right Guidance". Imagine a man stumbling around in the dark, who cannot find his way, then suddenly you appear and give him an illuminating torchlight. This favor on your part would be a great blessing for such a person.
Within the Holy Qur'an revelation is likened to water that falls from the sky to replenish the dead Earth. Metaphorically humanity can be likened to the Dead Earth, from the lack of divine guidance, and the rain that falls from the sky is similar to Allah's message, that comes from on high.
As we know, Allah is the Creator of all life, then it would be logically sound to say that he has the best directions for the maintenance of life, especially human life. Allah has not left humanity without divine guidance. In his supreme mercy he has sent specially purified men to aid in the regeneration of a fallen humanity. These special men are called "Prophets" or "Messengers" they are given inspiration to see into the hearts and minds of the people, what others may not see. The Bible and Holy Qur'an reminds us of a few of these special men. The most popular ones are Noah, David, Moses, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad ibn Abdullah (Peace be upon these worthy servants of Allah). There are about 25 mentioned in The Holy Qur'an. Also Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah(PBUH) is reported to have said: "Allah has risen up 124,000 prophets since the beginning of time."
This statement by Muhammad teaches us the importance of "Divine Guidance" and Allah's love and divine beneficence for his creatures. In the history of The Holy Qur'an and the Bible, whenever the people got into trouble either through physical enslavement(slavery), enslavement to false ideas(Idols) or enslavement to base appetites(Fleshly-carnal passions), Allah always has sent one or more to guide the people out of their savage condition.
The Holy Qur'an bearing witness to the universality of Revelation says: "And every nation had an apostle" (10:47)
Allah promises to mercifully keep the Human Family guided: "There will come to you a guidance from me, then whoever follows my guidance, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. And as to those who disbelieve in and reject our messages, they are the inmates of the fire; in it they shall abide."(2:38-39)
The Holy Qur'an and the new revelation
The last major revelation sent into the world was through Allah's last Prophet, Muhammad ibn Abullah(PBUH). This revelation is called "The Holy Qur'an". Within the Holy Qur'an Allah's message is brought to a perfected state "This day have I perfected for you your religion"(5:3) and the final warnings against Satan's world is declared. The revelation of The Holy Qur'an, over a 23 year period, reformed, purified and transformed the Arabs. The spiritual message of The Holy Qur'an is said to have the most transforming effect upon its listener's ears.
Although, over a billion Muslims have access to The Holy Qur'an, the full understanding of it has not been fully revealed. Even the best of the scholar's "Tafsir" of The Qur'an is not complete. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: "In the latter days there will be a great number of reciters of The Qur'an, but it will not go down their throats." Meaning that they will feed on the word of God, but they wont digest it properly, therefore, they cannot receive its spiritual nutrients.
The Holy Qur'an gives divine directions on how it is to be read. If we follow these rules we can come to a correct "interpretation" of this Holy book,
"He it is Who has revealed the Book to thee: some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the book, others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity, they follow the part of it which is allegorical seeking to mislead and seeking to give it their own interpretation; but none knows its interpretation except God, and those well-grounded in knowledge: they say, 'We believe in it, it is all from our Lord'; and none do mind except those having understanding."(3:7)
Some scholars say in their Tafsir of this verse, the 'basis of book' refers to 'the fundamental principles of religion' and the 'allegorical' refers to those verses which can have multiple interpretations. But none knows the meanings but Allah, The Supreme One.
How will we know the full interpretation of The Holy Qur"an, unless Allah rises up one, and teaches that one the inner meaning of his Divine Revelation?
The Holy Qur'an teaches that Allah's message will be delivered through a man, who will be his Messenger:
"The knower of the unseen, so he makes his secrets known to none, Except a Messenger whom he chooses. For surely he makes a guard go before him and after him. That he may know that they have truly delivered the messages of their lord; and he encompasses what is with them, and he keeps account of all things."(72:26-28)
Allah, to whom praises are due forever, didn't say he makes his secrets known to a Prophet, Scholar, or Teacher. Instead, he said he would make his 'Secrets' known through a Messenger. And that 'Chosen' Messenger will have divine protection against the wicked.
In the history of Prophets and Messengers, whenever a new Prophet or Messenger appears his message is opposed by those who claim belief in a prophet or Messenger that came before. This point is perfectly illustrated in the Holy Qur'an concerning Prophet Joseph. The Qur'an Says:
"And to you there came Joseph in times gone by, with clear signs, but ye ceased not to doubt Of the (mission) for which he had come: at length, When he died, ye said: 'No Messenger will Allah send After him.' Thus doth Allah leave to stray such as transgress and live in doubt."(40:34)
This has happened to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad of 1400 years ago. The people seem to get comfortable in their set of beliefs and do not desire to rise to a new standard, that the new revelation brings.
In the, Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur'an, footnote to Sura 21:2, the commentator gives insight to this mentality that rejects contemporary men of God, based on faith in previous men of God. It says:
"In each age, when the Message of Allah is renewed, the very people who should have known better and welcomed the renewal and the sweeping away of of human cobwebs, either receive it with amused self-superiority, which later turns to active hostility, or with careless indifference." (Footnote 2663)
We who believe in and follow the teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad believe that some 'new' revelation has been revealed by Allah Subhana Wa' Ta' Ala' to The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, in America. As was with those before him The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was scorned, mocked and called a liar. He was considered a religious heretic by the major religions of the world Christianity, Judaism and particularly Orthodox Islam, which they refer to as 'True Islam". The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad has brought to us the greatest knowledge of all times 'The knowledge of God, Self and the Devil'. He also reveals the inner meanings behind the Ayats of The Holy Qur'an. You may say as an Orthodox/Sunni Muslim I already know Allah, Self and The Devil through Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah. I agree that Prophet Muhammad brought great Tafsir(understanding) through his 'Sunnah,' but Allah says of this Qur'an: "none knows its interpretation but God." How can we say that Allah's Knowledge is infinite and treat his book like full understanding came 1400 years ago and no more understanding can be revealed?
Minister Louis Farrakhan in his recent lecture series, speaking on new revelation, said:
"What is revelation? when you say something is being revealed, that means you can't go to the library and get it because it's not there. I don't care how many books you have the command of; there is a knowledge that is not in the library. We are living in a universe of plenty of knowledge. But when God chooses to reveal knowledge, it means He's disclosing or opening up truth that has not been known in the world. If it has not been known in the world. If it has not yet been known in the world, then the people that run the world, the people that rule the world, don't know this." (The knowledge of God and Self delivered at Mosque Maryam 3-11-01)
The typical Orthodox/traditional Muslim response may be, "Muhammad ibn Abdullah(PBUH) Is the last Prophet and The Holy Qur'an is the Final Revelation." I agree with you 100%, but I will add The Honorable Elijah Muhammad is not a Prophet. I also agree The Holy Qur'an is the final revelation, yet you do not have the final understanding of this marvelous book.
The darkness of the world and Allah's intercessors
To understand, fully, the function of a prophet more clearly lets examine the world in which we live. According to The Honorable Elijah Muhammad's teachings, this world meaning systems of belief, philosophies, religions, economics etc, are ruled by Satan. This world is very contrary to original way of Almighty God Allah.
Further, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches during these last 6000 years the Caucasian people were given power and dominion over the heavens and earth as a acting god in the absence of the spirit-mind- way of Allah and that they would, in their dominion, fill the earth with a grafted teaching from the original knowledge of Allah,Wa Ta Ala. In the Holy Qur'an it says of these people that they mix truth and falsehood and they make evil fair seeming.
In this kind of world, Allah would not be remembered much or worshipped in spirit and truth, as a consequence, man would not have the direct access to his Lord. Due to this condition specially purified men become necessary. The Arabic word for prophet is Nabi, which comes from a word Naba that means an announcement of great utility, which is one of the functions of the prophets, which is, to announce to a dark world the light of Allah. And a further function of the prophets is to serve as intermediaries to bring man back to the will of Allah. Thus the function of the prophets in this world under the ruler ship of Satan is to announce the will of Allah and reflect the light of Allah into a world that has gone dark. The prophets of Allah are considered moonlight in a symbolic sense, because, of their act of reflecting the light of Allah, which is symbolically likened to the Sun.
We are living in a time of great darkness. Murder, rape and a host of other evils plague this world. This is indeed a time of great stillness. In connection with the night the moon must come out to show us direction in the absence of the brightness of the day (Sun). The prophets were raised up from time to time to be that guiding light in this dark world. Although Allah in his infinite mercy raised up guides for the human family, Satan always got the best of that prophet's religious community, when the prophet left, because, the people were not connected to the light of God- within themselves.
Speaking on this great time of darkness, The Holy Qur'an says:
"By the brightness of the day! And the night when it is still! Thy lord has not forsaken you nor is he displeased. And surely the latter state is better for thee then the former."(93:1-4)
When each prophet passed the people went back into filth, indecency and other degenerative acts. The reason for this falling away is that moonlight no matter how great its light , is only a reflection of the Sun. In other words, the prophets of Allah are at their best still limited in their power, because they only reflect Allah's will and announce his commands.
This situation would call for the full light of the sun to fully restore humanity and destroy the, world of Satan. Thus all religions preach and believe in a man coming at the end of time to redeem man and reconcile man back to the divinity of himself and expose Satan's dark world to the full light of truth, thus destroying it. This man is called many names Jesus, son of Mary, Son of man, God himself, Mahdi, Messiah, and The spirit of truth
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said: "The Prophets of the past were true and their inspiration was true." However, you must bear witness man and woman are in a very low degraded condition. This world seems so dark, it seems like no man of God ever stood on the Earth. This time [period] is similar to the 600 year time period between Jesus and Muhammad ibn Abdullah(PBUT). This world needs a guide to lead it to the straight path of Allah(God). The religious institutions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all divided and vying among each other, instead of working for solutions to solve the problems that affect the world.
" I am not advocating another Prophet to come onto the scene, but I believe that I am correct to say: 'Someone must come to redeem, reform and correct man and woman.' This person cannot be a Scholar or everyday teacher. It will take one anointed by Allah to make war on a world, which has made War on Allah and humanity."
If there are no more Prophets and Messengers to come as you[Traditional religious believers] say. Then humanity is in bad shape, because from my vantage point there is no guidance in the world coming from the religious schools of thought. As the Holy Qur'an says: "They became divided into sects each party rejoicing in that which was with them. So leave them in their ignorance till a time."(23:53-54)
Thank you for reading these few words
Mustafaa Muhammad is an "African American" who is a follower of the Islamic faith. Through independent religious studies developed an ecumenical view of the world's religions and the people of God. And while he is devoted to Islam as his faith he is at home in the Church (or other religious institutions) as he is in the Mosque.
He has been featured on the Radio, Newspapers, public speaking events and at Mosques/Churches telling his story and offering his understanding of Almighty God's plan for salvation.
Mustafaa is involved in community activity. He believes that our faith must inspire us to greater service to humanity or we may be making a mockery of the purpose of faith. Contact him @ [http://brothermustafaa.com]