Prophets of Allah – One Religion, Various Laws

Aqida, Fiqh, Madhabs, Methodology 7 Minutes

Allah Most High created human beings and sent Prophets and Messengers to them in order that they be guided. All Prophets received revelation from Allah and conveyed this revelation to their communities. There is no difference whatsoever in the core messages that each Prophet was sent with. It is therefore said that every Prophet was a Muslim and that they were all upon the religion of Islam.

Allah Most High says regarding Ibrahim (a.s):

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian but he was a Muslim, true in faith. And he was not one of the polytheists.

Surah Aali Imran: 67

We know however that different Prophets were sent with different Laws. In order to understand this then, we must distinguish between Aqidah (belief) and Sharia (Law).1

The Aqidah of all Prophets is one

Every Prophet had the same Aqidah (beliefs). It is impossible and inconceivable that any Prophet could have preached beliefs which were different to a Prophet who came before him or one who would come after. So when we say that every Prophet of Allah was a Muslim and upon the religion of Islam, what is intended is that they all preached the same beliefs.

Therefore, each Prophet from Adam (a.s) to the final Prophet ﷺ, came to teach their communities about certain core beliefs, such as:

  • Belief in Allah
  • His Oneness
  • His being transcendent from all imperfections
  • Belief in the angels
  • Belief in the other Prophets and heavenly books
  • Belief in the day of judgment, heaven, and hell

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ

We never sent a messenger before you (O Muhammad) without revealing to him: “There is no god except Me, so worship Me.”

Surah al-Anbiya: 25

So as we see, all Prophets preached the same beliefs (Aqidah), not differing in this even slightly. This is because Law can change from time to time and place to place, but beliefs can never change. Can you imagine one Prophet contradicting another when describing the attributes of Allah? Is it conceivable that a Prophet could warn his people about the day of judgement whilst another Prophet would say that there is no day of judgement? Or that one Prophet could inform his community about the existence of angels whilst another would deny that there are any angels? This is all undoubtedly impossible. This is because, as must be emphasised again, all Prophets were sent by Allah with the same beliefs.

The Laws that each Prophet was given by Allah Most High however, as we will see below, would differ.

Prophets may come with different Laws (Sharia)

As for the Law (Sharia) of each Prophet, then this would vary. The Sacred Law deals with the rules each of us are governed by and are required to follow. It tells us what is permissible and impermissible (halal and haram), the rules of worship, the rules of transactions with others, etc. Allah Most High sent each Prophet with a Law which was suitable for that time and people. This is because all Prophets were sent only to specific communities except the final Prophet, our Master Muhammad ﷺ, who was unique in being sent to all people. So, Nuh (a.s) was sent with a specific Law to his community, Ibrahim (a.s) was sent with a unique Law to his community, and likewise Shuayb (a.s), Salih (a.s) and other Prophets.

The Law of Musa (a.s) was known to be strict whereas the Law of Isa (a.s) was easier. Both Prophets were sent to the Bani Israeel but at different times. The Holy Quran quotes Isa (a.s), saying:

وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَلِأُحِلَّ لَكُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ

And (I come) confirming that which was before me in the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was (previously) forbidden for you.

Surah Aali Imran: 50

Isa (a.s) was telling his community that he was sent to confirm the same beliefs found in the Torah (which was previously revealed to Musa) but with a new Law. This is the meaning of ‘making lawful that which was previously forbidden for you’. In other words, certain things were haram in the Law of Musa (a.s) but are now halal in my Law. Our beliefs however, are one and the same.

The Law of Our Master Muhammad ﷺ compared to previous Laws

Allah Most High reserved the most perfect law for his final and most perfect Prophet, our Master Muhammad ﷺ. Since all previous Prophets were sent only to specific communities, their Laws would be suited to them specifically. However the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent to all people of the world, so for that reason, his Law is suitable for all people, regardless of location, and all times, even if they live many years after his passing.

Also, one of the many blessings of being from the nation (Ummah) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is that his Law in comparison to previous Laws is very vast and easy to follow.

Below are a few examples of the differences between the Law we follow and the Laws of previous nations:

  • Previous nations had to perform their prayers inside churches and synagogues (i.e. their places of worship). In the law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ however, we may perform our prayers anywhere in the world.
  • Performing tayammum (substitute dry ablution) instead of wudu (in the absence of water) is allowed for the followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ but was not allowed for previous nations.
  • The form of the prayer of previous nations was different to the prayer of the followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One of the differences is that we have the bowing posture (ruku). There was no ruku in the prayers of previous nations. Also, they did not begin their prayers with the takbir (when we raise the hands to the ears and say Allahu Akbar). The opening takbir was only given to the nation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
  • Previous nations were allowed to speak during their prayers but they were not allowed to speak during their fasts. In the Law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we cannot speak during prayer but we can speak whilst fasting.
  • It is incumbent for the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to fast the month of Ramadan. In some previous Laws they would fast for fifty days and some would fast longer. Also the nature of the fasting would differ. This Ummah has been given the pre-dawn meal (suhur) whereas previously they were not allowed to eat after falling asleep.
  • In previous laws, if any najasa (filth) got onto one’s clothing, they would have to cut off that piece of clothing with scissors. In the law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ we can just wash the soiled area.
  • The followers of some previous Prophets would perform their prayers facing Masjid al-Aqsa, however Muslims from the nation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ face the Ka’ba in Makkah.
  • In previous nations there was no option for paying blood money (diya) in the case of a murder. There was only Qisaas (retribution), meaning the murderer would have the death penalty. In the law of the Prophet Muhammad, blood money (diya) is an option.
  • Taking the spoils of war is permissible for the nation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ but was not allowed for previous nations.
  • In the laws of some previous Prophets, drinking alcohol was permissible. In the law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, alcohol is forbidden.
  • Previous nations would have to pay a quarter of their wealth (25%) as Zakat whereas followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ pay 2.5%.
  • The Bani Israeel were not permitted to work on their special day (Saturday) whereas followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ can work on their special day (Friday).
  • Male followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are not allowed to wear gold jewellery or silk clothing whereas men from previous nations could.

So as we can see, Prophets would be sent to their nations with different laws. The law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the best, most complete law, and is suitable for all people until the end of time.2

The vastness of the Law of Our Master Muhammad ﷺ

One of the unique features of the Law of this Ummah is that some differences of opinion within it are permitted. The Sharia of this nation has been preserved via the four Sunni schools of Law (Madhabs). These are:

  1. The Hanafi school (named after Imam Abu Hanifa)
  2. The Maliki school (named after Imam Malik bin Anas)
  3. The Shafi’i school (named after Imam Muhammad bin Idrees al-Shafi)
  4. The Hanbali school (named after Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal)

A Madhab is not a sect but rather a school of Law. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ permitted ijtihad (legal reasoning of a scholar) and differences of opinion in his Law are permitted. In fact, differences of opinion in Islamic Law are considered a mercy. In the early years of Islam there were many Madhabs, since the Sahaba themselves differed in some matters regarding Law. Eventually the only schools of Law which remained were the four mentioned above. These schools exist till this day and are all valid interpretations of the Quran and Sunnah, hence why any of them can be followed.3

The number of Prophets sent

Some narrations say there were 124,000 Prophets, and whilst many Imams accepted this number, these narrations are weak so cannot be a source of definitive beliefs. The most correct thing is to say that only Allah knows the true number4. He Most High, tells us:

وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ

There are Messengers whose stories We have told you already and others We have not.

Surah al-Nisa: 164

There are twenty-five Prophets mentioned in the Quran:

  1. Adam
  2. Idris
  3. Nuh
  4. Hud
  5. Salih
  6. Ibrahim
  7. Lut
  8. Ismail
  9. Ishaq
  10. Yaqub
  11. Yusuf
  12. Ayyub
  13. Shuayb
  14. Musa
  15. Harun
  16. Dhu al-Kifl
  17. Dawud
  18. Sulayman
  19. Ilyas
  20. Al-Yasa
  21. Yunus
  22. Zakariya
  23. Yahya
  24. Isa
  25. The seal of all Prophets and Messengers, Our Master, Muhammad ﷺ

Peace be upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ and upon all of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah

Footnotes

  1. As well as Sharia we can also say Fiqh. Both can refer to the Sacred Law.
  2. For more examples, see Khasa’is al-Kubra and Khasa’is al-Sughra of Imam al-Suyuti.
  3. All four Madhabs come under the banner of the Law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, since they are all valid interpretations of it. The vast majority of the rulings in the Madhabs are the same and they only differ in a minority of matters. The differences occur due to the different methodologies (usul) of the Imams in deriving rulings which inevitably lead to different conclusions in those things which are open to interpretation.
  4. Imam al-Bajuri says “And what is most correct regarding the Prophets and Messengers is to abstain from limiting their total number. This is because it is possible that Prophethood and Messengership will be confirmed for someone who is not (a Prophet or Messenger) in reality. And likewise it may be claimed that someone is not a Prophet or Messenger when in fact they are.” Jala al-Afham Sharh Aqidah al-Awam, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Alawi al-Maliki, page 54.
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