The Prophets and Their Nations in the Quran

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The Prophets and Their Nations in the Quran

Muhammad Shabir Raza

(7^th year student of Markazi Jamia-tul-Madina, Faizan-e-Madina, Faisalabad)

Along with creating humans, Allah Almighty provided them with channels of guidance to direct them to the right path, so that they have no excuse on the Day of Judgement. Therefore, from time to time, He sent prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام to guide nations, giving them glad tidings and warning them. Hence, Allah Almighty states:

 رُسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِیۡنَ وَ مُنۡذِرِیۡنَ لِئَلَّا یَکُوۡنَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَی اللّٰہِ حُجَّۃٌۢ بَعۡدَ الرُّسُلِ ؕ       وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ عَزِیۡزًا  حَکِیۡمًا (۱۶۵)

“˹We sent˺ messengers giving glad tidings and giving warnings, ˹so that˺ no excuse remains for people before Allah after the ˹advent of˺ the messengers—and Allah is the Overpowering, the Wise.”^[1]

The noble prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام and messengers were sent as guides to various nations, some of whom are named in the Qurʾān, while others have been referred to by their demonyms. Some nations have been mentioned by the name of their leaders, some by their number, and others with reference to their respective prophets. Let us read about the nations and their noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام that have been referred to in the Quran:

1.   The nation of Sayyidunā Hūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ اِلٰی عَادٍ  اَخَاھُمۡ ھُوۡدًا ؕ

“And ˹We˺ sent Hūd to the people of 'Aad from their own community.”^[2]

2.   The nation of Sayyidunā Ṣāliḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ  اِلٰی ثَمُوۡدَ  اَخَاھُمۡ  صٰلِحًا ۘ

 “We sent Ṣāliḥ to the ˹people of˺ Thamūd from their own community.”^[3]

3.   The nation of Sayyidunā Shuʿayb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ اِلٰی مَدۡیَنَ اَخَاھُمۡ شُعَیۡبًا ؕ

“To Midian, We sent Shuʿayb from their community.”^[4]

4.   The nation of Sayyidunā Lūṭ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

کَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوۡطٍۭ بِالنُّذُرِ (۳۳)

“The people of Lūṭ belied the messengers.”^[5]

5.   The nation of Sayyidunā Nūḥ عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ

 “Indeed, We sent Nūḥ to his nation.”^[6]

6.   The nation of Sayyidunā Yūnus عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ اَرۡسَلۡنٰہُ  اِلٰی مِائَۃِ  اَلۡفٍ اَوۡ یَزِیۡدُوۡنَ (۱۴۷)ۚ

“We sent him towards a hundred thousand people, rather more.”^[7]

7.   The nation of Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ لَقَدۡ  اَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ  اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ

"Indeed, We sent Mūsā along with Our signs towards Pharoah and his chiefs.”^[8]

8.   The nation of Sayyidunā ʿĪsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام:

وَ اِذۡ قَالَ عِیۡسَی ابۡنُ  مَرۡیَمَ یٰبَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ  اِنِّیۡ  رَسُوۡلُ  اللّٰہِ  اِلَیۡکُمۡ

“Remember when ʿĪsā, the son of Maryam, said, 'O Children of Israel! I am Allah's messenger to you.’”^[9]

9.   The nation of the beloved Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم :

 قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ اِلَیۡکُمۡ جَمِیۡعَۨا

“Say ˹dear beloved˺, 'O people! I am the messenger of Allah for you all.’”^[10]

The other prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام were sent to specific nations or regions, but our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was sent to all of humankind. Nations were either destroyed for disobeying their prophets or attained salvation by obeying them. May Allah Almighty make us from the successful people of salvation who are honoured with the intercession of the noble Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . اٰمِیْن