Guides of Humanity

We know that the creator has not created man because he was in need of doing so, He is free from needs in every respect. He has created man for man's own evolution and perfection. He wants him to advance along the path of evolution and be worthy of a higher life both from moral and material points of view.
It is obvious that traversing this path requires guides who with their extra-ordinary knowledge and piety may guide all and may set an example for them to follow.
Human knowledge and intelligence being limited, it is quite likely that we may make a mistake in determining what is in our interest and what way leads to our eternal happiness. Hence there must be some persons, who, because of their communion with the metaphysical world. are in position to find the right path and show that to others.
That is why, we say that it is not conceivable that the All wise and Rational Allah would leave us in darkness. His limitless benevolence demands that He, through His chosen prophets, themselves human beings, puts necessary laws and programs at the disposal of mankind.
Prophets are the chosen and distinguished person who get in contact with Allah, find out the truth and communicate it to the people. This contact is called revelation. It is a special kind of contact between a prophet and Allah. A Prophet with his inner eyes sees the mysteries of the universe, and with the ears of his heart listens to divine calls and conveys them to the people.
Prophets are Infallible
Prophets must not commit any sins. errors or mistakes, otherwise they cannot be fully relied upon in the performance of their mission. They should be rendered by Allah immune from sins and mistakes, so that people may repose cent percent confidence in them. If they be liable to commit sins and mistakes, they cannot be a mode and example for others, nor can their acts. sayings and ideas become a source of a code of conduct to be followed.
This immunity from sins and mistakes is called Ismat (infallibility), and those who possess it are called Ma'asum (infallible).
Number of Prophets
Traditions tell us that for the guidance of people Allah has sent about 1,24,000 prophets, first of them being Adam and the last Muhammad (S) son of Abdullah.
Prophets are divided into two groups. Some received revelation, but were not charged with the mission of propagation. Others had such a mission. Some of the latter group did not have a distinct code of laws of their own, but spread the laws of another prophet. It has also happened that at the same time there were several prophets, carrying out their functions in different countries or different cities and towns.
The most outstanding prophets. who brought independent codes of law were five. Their names along with the names of the Books revealed to them are given below:
1. Noah (A) Epistle
2. Abraham (A) Epistle
3. Moses (A) Torah
4. Jesus (A) Evangel
5. Muhammad (S) Quran
Aims of Prophets
The program of the prophets includes :
1. To lay the foundation of justice on a firm basis.
2 .To teach and educate.
3 .To combat every form of superstition, corruption, undue discrimination and deviation from divine unity, truth and justice.
The Holy Quran says: “Surely we have sent Our messengers with clear proofs and we have sent own with them the Book and the balance (necessary Laws) so that mankind may keep justice.”
In respect of the Prophet of Islam it says: “It is he who has raised up among an unlettered people messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His verses and purifies them and teaches them the Book and the wisdom although before this they were in a clear error.”
This is the noble aim for which the prophets have been sent.
Proofs of Prophethood
Prophets must have a living and clear evidence to prove their apostolate. This evidence must be an achievement which is beyond the power of ordinary man, so that it may be proved that they are in communion with the metaphysical world and are inspired and take instructions from there.
The stories of the conversion of the rod of Moses(P) into a python and the coming to life of the dead and the recovery of the born blind through Jesus (P) re undeniable. The story of speaking of Jesus (P) in cradle has expressly been narrated in the Holy Quran.
Similarly the Prophet of Islam, though raised from amongst the most backward people, brought the book which is the masterpiece of knowledge, methods of education and secrets of creation. admittedly it is beyond human power to accomplish such a feat.
That is why we call the Holy Quran inimitable. The Holy Quran, is miraculous from several angles. It's literary style is so wonderfully striking that its enemies called it a magical act and advised people not to go near Muhammad (Peace be on him and his progeny), whose penetrating words bewitched the listeners and pulled them to his system. This shows that even the enemies were convinced of the Holy Quran's extra-ordinarily striking effect.
Apart from it's style, the contents of the Holy Quran are such that within a short time they brought about an extra-ordinary changes in the environment of the world and laid the foundation of a bright culture along with a vast scientific and intellectual revolution.
Further, the Holy Quran in several of its passages has referred to a number of scientific truths which were totally unknown in that age and centuries later attention of research scholars was drawn to them. Such reference include the question of rotation of the earth (Naml, verse 90), existence of male and female cells in plaints (Taha, verse 35), existence of two contradictory forces within all particles, i.e., composition of atoms of negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons (Zariyat verse 29) and the law of gravitation (Ra'd, verse 2). For these reasons it must be admitted that this Book, which is the eternal miracle of the 'Prophet of Islam, is not the product of any human brain. It is the word of Allah, which descended into the heart of the Holy Prophet from the metaphysical world. That is why the Holy Quran, in a number of passages, has challenged the unbelievers to produce a book similar to itself. Though the diehard opponents of the Holy Prophet (S) tried their best, they could not succeed.
The Holy Quran expressly say: "Say: Surely if all men and jinn combined to bring the like of this Holy Quran, they would not be able to do so, even if some of them were to back the others." This challenge of the Holy Quran still holds good. The Holy Quran, still throws a challenge to all the intellectuals of the world to bring a like of it, if they doubt its divinity. Their failure to accept the challenge is living evidence of the inimitability of the Holy Quran.
The Quran Is Unaltered
The Holy Quran is a book which preserves its original form and remains unaltered, because its special style and composition are such that nothing can be added to it nor anything can be deducted from it. If such an attempt is made by anyone, it would before long be detected.
Moreover, a large number of the companions of the Holy Prophet (S) from the very beginning of the descent of the Holy Quran put all its verses to writing so that they may remain immune from any alteration or change. The names of these persons are recorded in history and they are known as scribes of the revelation. Imam Ali (A) is one of the most outstanding amongst them. Further, it is historically well known fact that hundreds of persons during the Prophet's time and thousands in the following centuries learned the whole Quran by heart and recited it to the people on all occasions. Such people are called Huffaz. (memorizers of the Holy Quran).
This tradition still continues and even now a large number of persons are found in Islamic countries who know the whole Quran by heart and can easily recite it from memory. This arrangement of preservation through scribes and memorizers and the unique style of the Holy Quran are the, proofs of its originality and unaltered purity. It is evident from the above why the Holy Quran has remained unaltered and has not undergone the slightest change.
If the Muslims want prosperity and glory and want to regain their lost position and prestige they have no alternative but to follow and abide by the firm teachings of the Holy Quran. That is the only way how they can solve their apparently incurable social problems.
Reference: ImamReza.net