Author: Mohajer Azizi
Scientology; Its Origins and Beliefs (Part 12)
Prophethood from the Perspective of Scientology (Continued)
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The Innate Proof of Prophethood
Human nature instinctively inclines a person toward truth and guidance. Within every human being lies a deep yearning for sincerity, a trustworthy model, and a truthful guide. By his innate disposition, a human seeks answers to fundamental questions: Where did I come from? Why was I created? Where am I heading? In this search, he naturally looks for someone who possesses knowledge from God—one who can address these existential concerns. In other words, he seeks a prophet and messenger who informs humanity about the true nature of existence, the unseen world, and the Hereafter.
God Almighty has created human beings with a nature that recognizes the truth and is naturally drawn toward God and His Messenger. As He says: “فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا” Translation: “This is the natural disposition upon which God has created mankind.” [1]
Regarding this concept of fitrah, scholars of Qur’anic exegesis have offered various interpretations, two of which are particularly prominent:
1. Fitrah means Islam.
According to this view, every human being is born naturally inclined toward Islam. If no external influences corrupt this nature, every newborn is inherently a Muslim. It is the non-Muslim parents who later instill other beliefs, causing the child to deviate from this pure, original state. As the Prophet (PBUH) said: “ما من مولودٍ إلا يُولَدُ على الفِطرة، فأبواه يُهوِّدانه أو يُنصِّرانه أو يُمجِّسانه، كما تُنْتَجُ البهيمةُ بهيمةً جمعاءَ، هل تُحِسُّون فيها من جدعاء” Translation: “Every newborn is born upon the fitrah. It is his parents who make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian…” [2]
2. Fitrah means innate readiness and capacity.
According to this interpretation, God has endowed every human being with the natural ability to recognize Him, submit to Him, and acknowledge the message of His prophets (MABH). Acceptance of Islam arises from this God-given potential—provided that the individual nurtures and activates it. [3]
3. Scriptural (Textual) Proof of Prophethood
The Qur’an, in numerous verses, affirms the sending of prophets (MABH) to guide humanity, the obligation to obey them, and the necessity of believing in their divine mission.
Allah (SWT) says: “رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ” Translation: “[We sent] messengers as bearers of glad tidings and warners, so that mankind would have no argument against God after the coming of the messengers.” [4]
This verse unmistakably establishes that prophethood is a true and undeniable reality.
Belief in the prophets, angels, and all pillars of faith forms the foundation of Islam. Without these beliefs, a person cannot be considered a believer. Allah (SWT) says: آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ” Translation: “The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him, and so do the believers…” [5]
He also says: وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ. Translation: “True righteousness is to believe in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Scriptures, and the prophets.” [6]
And further: وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا Translation: “Whoever disbelieves in God, His angels, His Scriptures, His messengers, and the Last Day has gone far astray.” [7]
The Qur’an repeatedly affirms the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH), such as in the verses
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ [8]
“مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ” [9]
“وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ…” [10]
“إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ” [11]
“قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا” [13]
The Sunnah likewise affirms this truth. In the hadith of Jibrīl, the Prophet (PBUH) explained the essence of faith as belief in Allah, His angels, His Scriptures, His messengers, and destiny—its good and bad. [14]
In another well-known narration, he (PBUH) described his relation to previous prophets using the parable of a house missing one final brick, declaring: “فأنا اللبنة، وأنا خاتم النبيين” Translation: “I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets.” [15]
4. Proof of Prophethood in the Words of Western Scholars
Dr. Michael Hart, an American scholar with doctorates in mathematics, law, physics, and astronomy, ranked the most influential figures in history. He placed Prophet Jesus (MABH) third and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) first, explaining:
“Readers should not be surprised that I, a Christian, have placed Muhammad first; for he is the only man in history who achieved supreme success in both religious and worldly affairs.” [16]
Likewise, the Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle dedicated a full chapter to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), writing: “One of the great disgraces of modern civilization is that falsehood has been attributed to Muhammad and Islam. His mission shines like a beacon that has guided hundreds of millions for twelve centuries.
I say with certainty: It is impossible that Muhammad lied, for the foundation of all his actions was sincerity.” [17]
Continues…
Previous Part
References:
[1]. Al Rum 30.
[2]. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no. 1358.
[3]. Muḥammad Shafī‘ ‘Uthmānī; translated by Muḥammad Yūsuf Ḥusayn-pūr. Ma‘ārif al-Qur’ān, vol. 6, p. 357.
[4]. Sūrat al-Nisā’, verse 165.
[5]. Sūrat al-Baqarah, verse 285.
[6]. Sūrat al-Baqarah, verse 177.
[7]. Sūrat al-Nisā’, verse 136.
[8]. Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān, verse 144.
[9]. Sūrat al-Fatḥ, verse 29.
[10]. Sūrat Muḥammad, verse 2.
[11]. Sūrat Yā Sīn, verses 2–4.
[12]. Sūrat al-‘Ankabūt, verse 51.
[13]. Sūrat al-A‘rāf, verse 158.
[14]. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth no. 11.
[15]. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth no. 3342.
[16]. Hasan Zamani, Orientalists and the Qur’an, p. 110.
[17]. Ibid., p. 109.
