1.3.1 BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE PROCESS OF REVELATION

Revelation has three essential components: angels, messengers, and the scriptures. Allah sent messages to humans as revelation, wahy. These revelations were conveyed from the heavens by angels to human messengers who are prophets chosen by Allah.

1.3.2 ANGELS

Belief in the revelation necessitates belief in the existence of the angels who conveyed that message. Angels undertake the following functions: carrying the throne of Allah, being sent on missions, conveying revelations; taking away the souls of the dying, recording human actions and behavior, intervention in some human actions at Allah’s command, executing Allah’s orders on punishing humans, working in jannat, putting disbelievers into jahannam, guarding jahannam, protecting humans, helping believers to victory, seeking forgiveness for humans, and intercession.

1.3.3 MESSENGERS:

Prophets are of two types: those with messages, nabi rusul, and those without messages, nabi. Twenty-five of the messengers are special: Adam, Idris, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, Shuaib, Harun, Musa, Daud, Sulaiman, Ayub, Dhu al Kifli, Yunus, Ilyas, al Yas'a, Zakariyah, Yahya, Isa, and Muhammad. The first messenger was Nuh and the last was Muhammad. The religion of all the messengers is the same in essence and is Islam. A Muslim must believe in all messengers without any distinctions or discrimination. All messengers were human.  It is against the Islamic creed to attribute any divine attribute to any prophet. Some messengers had physical miracles as proof that they were from Allah. Muhammad (PBUH)’s major miracle is the Qur’an which is an everlasting intellectual miracle. The main function of messengers was to convey messages. Muslims believe in the concept of finality of prophethood, khatm al nubuwat. Muhammad is the last of the prophets and messengers. Islam is therefore the final religion and the Qur’an is the final revelation.

1.3.4 REVEALED BOOKS

Revealed books are an authority and tell the truth. The books are the injil revealed to Isa, the taurat revealed to Musa, the suhf of Ibrahim, the zabuur revealed to Daud, and the Qur’an revealed to Muhammad. The Qur'an contains all the previous books. A Muslim must believe in the past revelations by believing in the Qur’an because they are all embraced within the Qur’an. Rejection of any part of the Qur'an is kufr. It is enough to believe in the Qur'an; it must be out into practice. Muslims are obliged to remember the Qur'an, contemplate its meanings, and convey its message to others. The Qur'an was first revealed on the night of power. It was revealed in bits and pieces over a period of 23 years. The prophet used to dictate the Qur'an to his companions to put each verse in the right surat. The Qur’an, being the last revelation, was scrupulously protected from any distortions. It was written down during the era of the prophet on various writing materials. Thousands of Muslims learn the Qur’an by heart in so many countries that it is impossible for it to be distorted or to disappear. The Qur’an has several names and attributes. The Qur’an is the word of Allah. It is a miracle.  Muslims are obliged to read the Qur’an. The Qur'an clarifies ‘aqidat, is a spiritual guide, a source of Law, a source of information about past and future events, a basis for ummatic unity and helps resolve differences. Belief that the sunnat of the prophet is valid revelation is part of belief in the Qur’an. The sunnat is an extension and interpretation of the Qur’an.

1.3.5 SAHABAT and SALIHIIN

Sahabat or companions are defined as those who met the prophet and believed in him during his lifetime. They were just and truthful. We remember the good acts of the sahabat, talk only good of them, love all of them, and pray for them. Insulting, cursing, or despising any of the sahabat is forbidden. Hatred of the sahabat is kufr and nifaaq. We do not discuss the conflicts that occurred among the sahabat. The righteous, al salihiin, are men and women who lived exemplary lives. We believe that the salihiin or awliya have karaamaat (miracles from other than prophets). The salihiin do not deserve being worshipped in their life or after their death. Worshipping them in order to get nearer to Allah is like worshipping idols. They can be asked to make dua during their life but not after their death. It is forbidden to use the salihiin as intermediaries. It is also considered major shirk to ask them for help, to relieve hardships, or bring benefits.