Honor of Prophethood Prophet Adam (alaihi salaam) was not only the first man but also the first Muslim and prophet and first recipient of Allah’s divine revelation and guidance on earth. The process of revelation and guidance initiated with Adam (a.s) and completed with the revelation of the Quran to humankind through Allah’s final prophet and messenger Muhammad ﷺ. However, what is most important to mention here is that even though Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appeared as the final messenger in the long line of prophets, yet he was the first one to be honored with prophethood from that line and this is a special honor given only to him. The declaration of his prophethood was made while Adam (a.s) was in the process of being created. According to the Quran, the blessed words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and many from amongst his companions and salaf (early generations of Muslims) we find that his prophethood was declared by Allah ﷻ in the heavens before humankind existed on earth. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Verily I was written in Allah's Presence as the Seal of Prophets while verily Adam was still kneaded in his clay.”[1] In another prophetic hadith we are informed: “I was a Prophet while Adam was still between the spirit and the body.”[2] Allah ﷻ also confirms the declaration of his prophethood in the heavens before any prophet was sent on earth: “And (remember), when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], ‘Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.’ [Allah] said, ‘Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?’ They said, ‘We have acknowledged it.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.’”[3] This covenant was made with all the prophets in their primordial existence in the world of souls. Commenting on this verse, Prophet’s cousin and son in law Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and his cousin Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu), the two most knowledgeable ones said: “Allah never sent a Prophet but after taking his pledge that if Muhammad were sent in his lifetime, he would believe in and support him.”[4] This prophetic covenant is similar to the covenant Allah ﷻ took from souls of entire humankind about His Tawhid (Oneness) of Lordship and Divinity, which He always reminded by sending Prophets: “[remind them O Prophet], when your Lord took out the offspring from the loins of the Children of Adam and made them bear witness about themselves, He said, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ and they replied, ‘Yes, we bear witness.’ So you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘We were not aware of this,’”[5] Allah ﷻ made these two covenants, one with the entire humankind about His Tawhid (Oneness) and one with souls of all Prophets about the prophethood of his last and greatest messenger Muhammad ﷺ. This is one of the primary reasons why many holy books such as Hindu scriptures, Buddhist and Zoroastrian scriptures as well as Bible (Old and New Testament) contain traces of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ such as his characteristics and teachings, the region of his arrival and description of his family, companions and followers etc. References: [1] Narrated by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, and al-Hakim in his Mustadrak - Haddad, Various Questions Answered by Shaykh Gibril Haddad 2007 [2] Tirmidhi narrated it and said it hasan sahih, and it is authenticated by al-Hakim 2:609 as sahih, and also narrated by Ibn Abi Shayba in his Musannaf 14:292, and al-Bukhari in his Tarikh 7:374 - Haddad, Various Questions Answered by Shaykh Gibril Haddad 2007 [3] Al Quran 3:81 [4] Taking a Pledge From the Prophets to Believe in Our Prophet, Muhammad - I. i. Kathir n.d. [5] Al Quran 7:172
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