Surah Yusuf 12:109

All of the Prophets are Humans and Men

Allah states that He only sent Prophets and Messengers from among men and not from among women, as this Ayah clearly states. Allah did not reveal religious and legislative laws to any woman from among the daughters of Adam. This is the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan, `Ali bin Isma`il Al-Ash`ari mentioned that it is the view of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah, that there were no female Prophets, but there were truthful believers from among women. Allah mentions the most honorable of the truthful female believers, Maryam, the daughter of `Imran, when He said,

(The Messiah 'Isa, son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a Siddiqah truthful believer. They both used to eat food.) 5:75 Therefore, the best description Allah gave her is Siddiqah. Had she been a Prophet, Allah would have mentioned this fact when He was praising her qualities and honor. Therefore, Mary was a truthful believer according to the words of the Qur'an.

All Prophets were Humans not Angels

Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

(And We sent not before you (as Messengers) any but men) "They were not from among the residents of the heaven (angels), as you claimed." This statement of Ibn `Abbas is supported by Allah's statements,

(And We never sent before you any of the Messengers, but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets), 25:20

(And We did not create them with bodies that ate not food, nor were they immortals. Then We fulfilled to them the promise. So We saved them and those whom We willed, but We destroyed extravagants), 21:8-9 and,

(Say: "I am not a new thing among the Messengers.") 46:9 Allah said next,

(from among the people of townships), meaning, from among the people of cities, not that they were sent among the bedouins who are some of the harshest and roughest of all people.

Drawing Lessons from the Incidents of the Past

Allah said next,

(Have they not traveled in the land), meaning, `Have not these people who rejected you, O Muhammad, traveled in the land,'

(and seen what was the end of those who were before them) that is, the earlier nations that rejected the Messengers, and how Allah destroyed them. A similar end is awaiting all disbelievers. Allah said in another Ayah,

(Have they not traveled through the land, and have they hearts wherewith to understand) 22:46 When they hear this statement, they should realize that Allah destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers, and this is His way with His creation. This is why Allah said,

(And verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who have Taqwa.) Allah says, `Just as We saved the faithful in this life, We also wrote safety for them in the Hereafter, which is far better for them than the life of the present world.' Allah said in another Ayah,

(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth (i.e. Day of Resurrection). The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to the wrongdoers. Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode (in Hellfire).) 40:51-52)

Pada ayat ini, Allah swt menerangkan bahwa Dia tidak mengutus rasul-rasul sebelum Muhammad saw kecuali laki-laki, bukan malaikat, dan bukan perempuan, serta menurunkan kepada mereka wahyu. Para rasul berasal dari penduduk negeri itu sendiri, supaya mereka mengikutinya. Ini merupakan jawaban terhadap tuduhan-tuduhan yang dilancarkan oleh orang-orang yang mengingkari kenabian Muhammad saw, yang menghendaki supaya rasul yang diutus itu dari jenis malaikat sebagaimana dikisahkan Allah swt di dalam firman-Nya:

Dan seandainya Allah menghendaki, tentu Dia mengutus malaikat. (al-Muminun/23: 24)

Tidakkah orang-orang musyrik Quraisy yang mendustakan kenabian Muhammad saw dan mengingkari apa yang dibawanya seperti mengesakan Allah, mengikhlaskan ibadah semata-mata hanya kepada-Nya, bepergian di muka bumi dan melihat serta menyaksikan bagaimana akibat orang-orang yang mendustakan rasul-rasul dahulu. Mereka dibinasakan dan negerinya dihancurkan, seperti yang dialami kaum Nabi Hud, kaum Nabi Saleh, dan lain-lainnya. Sebaliknya orang-orang yang percaya kepada Allah dan rasul-Nya dan takut menyekutukan Allah, tidak berbuat dosa dan maksiat, akan memperoleh kesenangan nanti di negeri akhirat yang jauh lebih baik jika dibandingkan dengan apa yang didapat orang-orang musyrik di dunia ini. Apakah mereka tidak memikirkan perbedaan imbalan dan balasan antara orang-orang yang ingkar dan orang-orang yang percaya. Kesenangan yang didapat di dunia oleh orang-orang yang ingkar itu sangat terbatas. Apabila mereka meninggal dunia berakhirlah kesenangan itu, dan di negeri akhirat kelak mereka mendapat azab yang amat pedih tak henti-hentinya. Dan kesenangan yang diperoleh orang-orang yang beriman, tidak saja di dunia tetapi sampai ke akhirat nanti, karena kesenangan yang diperolehnya itu abadi selamanya.