MOST DIVINE PROPHETS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

[Taqavi]

Why Did Most Divine Prophets Emerge in the Middle East?

 

The Wisdom Behind the Prophetic Missions: God's Completion of Proof for All Humanity

A long-standing question often occupies people's minds: Why did a large number of divine prophets appear in specific regions of the Earth? Does this mean other parts of the world and their inhabitants were deprived of divine guidance? To answer this, we need to explore Allah's wisdom in sending messengers and the vast scope of the prophets' invitation, as understood from the Quran and Islamic traditions.

1.    Centers of Civilization: The Starting Point of the Message

Almighty Allah commissioned His prophets in regions that, in some way, served as cultural, civilizational, or demographic centers. This strategic choice wasn't to restrict guidance to that particular area, but rather to ensure the widespread dissemination of the divine message to everyone. Therefore, before Allah would destroy a nation, He would send a prophet to its central city (Umm al-Qura) to establish His proof (hujjah) for the people:

"And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother-city a Messenger."[1]

This doesn't mean Allah sent a separate messenger for every village or community. Instead, the mission of the Ulul Azm prophets or prominent prophets from these centers would reach surrounding regions, leaving a profound impact throughout history. As the Quran states: "And if We had willed, We could have sent a warner to every town."[2]

However, the Lord of the Worlds didn't deem this necessary, as the divine purpose was best achieved by sending prophets to the centers of civilizations.

2.    Guided but Unnarrated: Prophets Whose Stories Remain Untold

The assumption that divine guidance was limited to a few specific regions is inconsistent with Islamic teachings. The truth is, human knowledge about the geographical extent of all prophets' appearances is incomplete. The Holy Quran explicitly states that the stories and names of many divine prophets have not been revealed to us:

"And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before, and messengers about whom We have not related to you."[3]

Islamic traditions also affirm this reality. Imam Baqir (AS) stated: "Between the time of Prophet Adam and Prophet Noah, there were prophets who were secretly engaged in their mission, and their names are not mentioned in the Quran."[4] Imam Ali (AS) also said: "Allah sent a Black prophet whose story He has not told us."[5]

According to Islamic sources, the total number of divine prophets was 124,000.[6] This immense number clearly indicates that the scope of divine guidance extends far beyond what written history or even the Quran detail. Many of these prophets were commissioned in regions and among peoples about whom we have no specific information, yet they fulfilled their divine duty completely.

3.    Divine justice and the completion of the argument for all

One of the most fundamental principles of divine justice is that Allah never punishes a nation without first sending a messenger and completing His proof. This principle is explicitly stated in the Quran:

"And We would not punish until We had sent a messenger." [7]

This verse guarantees that no nation throughout human history has been left without guidance or held accountable without receiving a divine message. Allah sends messengers to preclude any excuse, ensuring no one can claim on the Day of Judgment that the truth did not reach them. [8]

Conclusion: A Universal Invitation with Divine Design

Considering what has been stated, it becomes clear that the prophets' invitation was never confined to a specific geographical region. Almighty Allah, out of completing His proof (itmaam al-hujjah), sent prophets to all nations and civilizations. This doesn't mean He appointed a separate prophet for every village or family. Instead, the divine strategy was to send messengers to significant centers of civilization, culture, and human society so that the message of guidance would spread in a way that all the world would have the opportunity to hear and accept it, and no human being would remain without a guide. This demonstrates the profound wisdom and boundless justice of the Lord of the Worlds.

 

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[1] . Al-Qasas: 59..«وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا»

[2] . Al-Furqan: 51. «وَ لَوْ شِئْنَا لَبَعَثْنَا فِی كُلِّ قَرْیَةٍ نَذِیرًا»

[3] . Al-Nisa: 164. «وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ»

[4] . Al-Kafi, Sheikh Kulaini, Vol: 8, Page: 115.

[5] . Manaqib Aal Abi Talib, Ibn Shahr Ashub, Vol: 2, Page: 54.

[6] . Al-Eteqadat, Sheikh Saduq, Vol: 1, Page: 92.

[7] . Al-Isra: 15. «وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا»

[8] . Al-Tafsir Al-Mubin, Mughniyah, Sheikh Muhammad Jawad, Vol: 1, Page: 419.