1.3 God's Messengers

2026 📋 Syllabus Objectives

  1. Candidates should explore the major theme or themes of the Qur'an that appear in the set passages related to this theme, and the importance of these themes in the lives of Muslims today.
  2. Candidates should study the passages in a recognised English translation, but with reference to the original Arabic text. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of the original as well as the translation.

🌟 Overview of the Theme

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One of the most important themes running through the Holy Qur'an is the relationship between Allah SWT and His chosen messengers. Allah SWT did not leave humanity without guidance. Throughout history, He selected special individuals — Prophets and Messengers — to deliver His message, demonstrate righteous living, and guide people back to the truth. The set passages we study show this relationship through the stories and situations of Prophet Adam AS, Prophet Ibrahim AS, Prophet Isa AS, and Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

Each passage reveals something unique about how Allah SWT communicates with, supports, tests, and honours His messengers — and what this relationship teaches Muslims today.

📖 Set Passages — Detailed Notes

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PASSAGE 1 — Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30–37): Prophet Adam AS

Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 30–37

🔹 Context and Background

This passage describes one of the most significant events in all of creation — the appointment of Prophet Adam AS as Allah SWT's representative on Earth, and the very first interaction between Allah SWT and one of His chosen messengers.

🔹 Key Events in the Passage

1. The Announcement of Adam's AS Creation

  • Allah SWT informed the angels that He was going to create a vicegerent (representative/leader) on Earth.
  • The angels, who only knew that humans would cause conflict and shed blood, expressed their concern.
  • Allah SWT replied with a profound statement, telling them that He knows what they do not know — meaning His wisdom goes far beyond the angels' understanding.

2. Adam's AS Superiority Through Knowledge

  • Allah SWT taught Prophet Adam AS the names of all things — a form of knowledge that no angel possessed.
  • When the angels were asked to name these things, they admitted they could not.
  • This demonstrated that Adam AS had been gifted with a special faculty of knowledge and intellect that made him uniquely qualified to be Allah's SWT representative.
  • This is one of the most powerful lessons in the Qur'an: knowledge is what elevates a person's status.

3. The Command to Prostrate

  • Allah SWT commanded all the angels to bow before Adam AS as a mark of honour.
  • All the angels obeyed — except Iblis (also referred to as Satan), who arrogantly refused.
  • Iblis's reason for refusing was pride: he believed he was better than Adam AS because he was created from fire while Adam AS was made from clay.
  • This act of disobedience led to Iblis being rejected and cursed.

Important Lesson: Arrogance and disobedience lead to the greatest of losses. Iblis was from among the jinn (Qur'an 18:50) who lived and worshipped in the company of the angels, but pride destroyed him.

4. Life in the Garden and the Temptation

  • Prophet Adam AS and his wife Hazrat Hawwa were placed in Paradise and were free to enjoy everything — except for one tree, which Allah SWT forbade them from approaching.
  • Iblis, now an enemy of humankind, tempted them and deceived them into eating from that forbidden tree.
  • Upon doing so, they realised their mistake and were overcome with shame.

5. Repentance and Allah's SWT Mercy

  • Prophet Adam AS and Hazrat Hawwa turned back to Allah SWT in sincere repentance.
  • They prayed: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If you do not forgive us and have Mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers." (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:23)
  • Allah SWT, being the Most Merciful, accepted their repentance.
  • They were then sent to Earth, but not abandoned — Allah SWT promised to send them guidance.

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