Discover why Allah sent the Prophet through 10 divine purposes in the Quran, from establishing justice to elevating noble morals. Read the full analysis.
Beginning of the Messengership at the Age of 40: The First Verse
The Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) would spend hours thinking and studying about the skies, mountains, and deserts of Makkah which were whispering the infinity of the creator in a thousand tongues. He was tormented by the stone and wood deities of his people and searched deeply into the skies to find a solution for this. In one of these times of worship when he was forty years old, Gabriel appeared to him and revealed to him the first few verses of the chapter of al-Alaq of the Quran.
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ١
Read in the Name of your Lord who created;
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ٢
Created man from a clinging mass.
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ٣
Read, and your Lord is the most generous,
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ٤
Who taught by the pen,
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ٥
Taught man what he did not know.
What Were Allah’s Goals in Sending the Prophet?
After the Prophet was in the Cave of Hira and the initial verses were revealed to him by Gabriel, the subsequent verses of the Quran were gradually revealed to him in Mecca and then in Medina, and the goals of his mission were explained to all the people of the world by Allah. By analyzing the verses and narrations, one can indicate 10 purposes for the appointment of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) to prophethood. These are as follows:
1. Completion of Argument
In verse 165 of the chapter al-Nisa we read:
رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّـهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Apostles, as bearers of good news and warners, so that mankind may not have any argument against Allah, after the [sending of the] apostles; and Allah is all-mighty, all-wise [4:165]
2. Resolving Disputes
Verse 213 of al-Baqarah states:
كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّـهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ ۚ…
Mankind were a single community; then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth, that it may judge between the people concerning that about which they differed… [2:213]
3. Establishing Justice
As it is stated in verse 25 of al-Hadid:
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ…
Certainly We sent Our apostles with manifest proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice… [57:25]
4. Freedom and Liberty from Futile Things and Superstitions
This can be seen in verse 157 of al-Aʿraaf:
الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ… وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ…
Those who follow the Apostle, the untaught prophet, … and relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them… [7:157]
5. Guidance, Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Freedom from Darkness and Pulling People towards Light:
As we read in verse one and five of chapter Ibrahim, 16 of al-Maʾida and 175 of al-Aʿraaf. For example, in verse one of surah Ibrahim it has been stated:
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ…
Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book We have sent down to you that you may bring mankind out from darkness into light… [14:1]
6. and 7. Teaching the Book and Wisdom and Purification
In verse two of the chapter al-Jumuʿah, it has been stated:
هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ…
It is He who sent to the unlettered [people] an apostle from among themselves, to recite to them His signs, to purify them, and to teach them the Book and wisdom… [62:2]
8. Freeing People from the Dominion of Arrogant Powers and Idol Worship
For example in verse 36 of al-Nahl:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ ۖ…
Certainly We raised an apostle in every nation [to preach:] ‘Worship Allah, and shun fake deities.’… [16:36]
9. Strengthening and Adding Goodness
Based on Surah Al-Qasas, Verses 77:
وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
Rather, seek the reward of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has granted you, without forgetting your share of this world. And be good to others as Allah has been good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for Allah certainly does not like the corruptors. [28:77]
10. Perfecting and Elevating Moral Values
The Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) has stated:
إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاقِ.
Verily, I have been appointed to perfect the noble morals. (Book 14, Hadith 273)
Frequently Asked Questions
1- How does the Quran explain the role of prophets in resolving human disputes?
According to verse 213 of Surah al-Baqarah, mankind was originally a single community before differing among themselves. Allah sent prophets as bearers of glad tidings and warnings, accompanied by divine scripture, to serve as an impartial truth. This scripture judges between people and justly resolves their ideological and social disputes.
2- How does the mission of the Prophet establish justice and liberate society?
The Quran notes in Surah al-Hadid that apostles were sent with clear proofs, the Book, and the Balance so humanity could maintain societal justice. Additionally, as shown in Surah al-A'raaf, the Prophet was appointed to relieve people of superstitious burdens, futile customs, and spiritual shackles that hindered their freedom.
3- What is the purpose of prophetic teachings regarding wisdom and purification?
As stated in Surah al-Jumu'ah, Allah appointed the Messenger to recite divine signs, purify souls from corruption, and teach the Book and wisdom. Furthermore, this spiritual training is designed to guide humanity out of darkness into light while perfecting noble moral values, ethical conduct, and righteous character within the community.
4- Why was the completion of divine argument necessary through appointing messengers?
Verse 165 of Surah al-Nisa explains that messengers were sent as bearers of good news and warning so humanity would have no plea or argument against Allah. By delivering clear guidance and calling people to worship Allah while shunning false deities, the prophets fully established divine accountability for all.