Risalah

How Allah guides humanity

Muslims believe that Allah does not leave humanity without guidance. He chooses prophets to communicate his message and show people how to live. Risalah refers to this communication of guidance through messengers and is commonly used for belief in prophethood. Nubuwwah means prophethood itself.

A prophet is a person chosen by Allah to convey his guidance. The disclosure of Allah’s message is called revelation. Muslims believe that messages are often delivered to prophets through angels. Some prophets, known as rasuls, are entrusted with revealed scripture. Prophets therefore connect belief in Allah with practical knowledge of what Allah asks people to do.

Prophethood is one of the Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam and one of the Five Roots of Shi’a Islam. Muslim tradition speaks of 124,000 prophets, while the Qur’an names 25. Many, including Ibrahim and Musa, are also important in Judaism and Christianity, although the religions do not always understand them in the same way.

One message, many prophets

Muslims believe that all prophets taught the same central message: worship Allah alone and live according to his guidance. Successive prophets were needed because people ignored or distorted earlier messages. Their lives also provided examples of obedience, patience and faithfulness that people could follow.

Surah 2:136 instructs believers to affirm faith in Allah and the revelations given to earlier prophets. It names Ibrahim, Isma’il, Ishaq, Ya’qub, Musa and Isa, among others, and declares:

“We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah we all submit.”

This teaches Muslims to accept all Allah’s prophets rather than recognise some and reject others. Their roles were not identical, but their authority came from the same God. Muhammad’s special position as the final prophet does not remove the obligation to believe in earlier prophets.

Prophets are respected, not worshipped: worship belongs to Allah alone. Muslims commonly say ‘peace be upon him’ after a prophet’s name as a sign of respect.

Adam: responsibility and obedience

Muslims believe that Adam was the first human and the first prophet. As Allah’s khalifah, or steward, he was entrusted with responsibility for the world Allah had created. This teaches Muslims that human beings should care for creation rather than treat it as something they may damage without concern.

The account of Adam and Hawwa, known as Eve, being tempted in the garden also teaches the importance of following Allah’s commands and resisting Satan’s temptation. Adam’s role links belief in Allah with human responsibility: people must make choices about how they treat the world and whether they obey divine guidance.

Ibrahim and Isma’il: submission and service

Ibrahim, known as Abraham, is honoured for his commitment to Allah. The Qur’an calls him Allah’s ‘friend’ in Surah 4:125. His willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il when his faith was tested demonstrates the depth of his submission: obedience to Allah took priority even over what was most precious to him.

Isma’il, known as Ishmael, was also a prophet. He is remembered for patience and kindness, qualities Muslims should develop in their own lives. Together, Ibrahim and Isma’il are believed to have rebuilt the Ka’bah in Makkah, connecting their obedience with a place central to Muslim worship today.

These examples show that faith is more than accepting an idea about God. It involves trust, personal commitment and service. Ibrahim’s prayer for a future messenger, recorded in Surah 2:129, is understood by Muslims as fulfilled through Muhammad, linking the earlier prophets with the final prophet.

Musa and Dawud: guidance, perseverance and wisdom

Musa, known as Moses, was sent to guide and warn Pharaoh and the Israelites. Muslims believe that Allah enabled Musa and the Israelites to escape Egypt through the parting of the sea. Musa’s perseverance despite opposition teaches Muslims to remain faithful during suffering and difficulty.

Musa also received the Tawrat, or Torah. His role was not simply to lead people away from danger: he had to communicate Allah’s instructions about how they should live. Surah 7:145 describes teachings inscribed on tablets and tells Musa to urge his people to hold firmly to them. This shows that prophetic guidance requires a response from the community.

Dawud, known as David, was both a prophet and a king. He defeated Jalut, or Goliath, and was given sovereignty and wisdom by Allah, as described in Surah 2:251. He also received the Zabur, or Psalms, and is remembered for prayer and fasting.

Dawud’s example connects leadership with wisdom and devotion. Having authority does not make worship unnecessary: a leader should still depend on Allah and act responsibly. Together, Musa and Dawud show that prophets guide communities through both their teachings and their conduct.

Isa: an honoured prophet, not God

Isa, known as Jesus, is one of Islam’s most honoured prophets. Muslims believe that he received the Injil, or Gospel. The Qur’an describes his extraordinary birth without a biological father and miracles such as bringing the dead back to life in Surah 3:49.

For Muslims, these signs do not make Isa divine. He remains a human prophet whose authority comes from Allah. His role demonstrates Allah’s power and continues the message of worshipping Allah alone. This is an important distinction from mainstream Christianity, which understands Jesus as the divine Son of God.

Muhammad: the final prophet and continuing example

Muslims call Muhammad the ‘Seal of the Prophets’, a title found in Surah 33:40. They believe that he is the final prophet and that the Qur’an revealed to him is Allah’s final revelation. His message is understood as universal: guidance for all humanity and for all time, rather than only one community.

Muhammad’s importance also lies in his example. Muslims seek to follow his conduct, learning about his teachings and actions through accounts preserved in the Hadith. Prophetic guidance therefore shapes everyday behaviour as well as belief.

What prophethood teaches Muslims today

The prophets’ roles show Muslims that humanity matters to Allah: he provides guidance about both worship and relationships with others. Their lives turn that guidance into concrete examples—Adam’s responsibility, Ibrahim’s submission, Isma’il’s patience, Musa’s perseverance, Dawud’s wisdom, Isa’s prophetic teaching and Muhammad’s continuing example.

Muslims can express this belief by studying prophetic teachings, following their examples and naming children after prophets. Risalah is therefore not only a belief about the past. It gives Muslims models for faithful living in the United Kingdom and throughout the world today.