Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Them All).77 In this letter, I will give brief accounts from the Holy Qur’an about each of these prophets except Muhammad. We will discuss him in much detail later. Understanding the identity of your prophets will help you understand your connection to your ancestors, your culture, your family, and your mandate from God.
Adam: The Chosen of God78 We said: “O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression.” —Holy Qur’an Surah 2.35 79
Adam was the first man created by God, and was also His first prophet, and therefore a Muslim. God created Adam to live with his wife on earth, but they originally lived in paradise (heaven). Paradise was the most beautiful place you can imagine. It was never too hot or cold, and Adam never got hungry or thirsty. Iblis (Satan) did not like Adam because he thought he was better than Adam. Iblis, who was made of fire, decided to trick Adam and his wife into disobeying Allah. Iblis told them to eat the fruit of a certain tree which Allah had forbidden to them. 80 At first they resisted, but Iblis was relentless. He told them that if they ate the fruit they would live forever and be like angels. At last, worn down by Iblis, Adam and his wife ate the fruit which Allah had forbidden. They soon began to fervently regret what they had done, and
77
Caner, Unveiling Islam, 145.
Caner, Unveiling Islam, 220.
79 Holy Qur’an, Surah 2.35.
80 Central Information Department, Office of the Secretary General of Pakistan, “Prophet Adam,” Jamaat-e-Islami
(JI) Media News, www.jamaat.org/islam/Angels.html#adam (accessed 23 Dec 08).
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