Pre-Muhammadan Prophets in the Muslim Tradition and Piety

Abstract

The belief in prophets before the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and in the divine books that Allah Almighty sent to humanity/books revealed to the humanity by Allah Almighty constitute two of the six/five articles of faith in Islam. The denial of any one of them would result in “apostasy” and excommunication. All textbooks on the Islamic creed as well as all other major theological sources acknowledge these beliefs which also comprise a primary component of the curriculum taught to Muslim children. However, the impact of these beliefs in Islamic thought and practice needs to be explored extensively.
 This paper attempts to highlight the role played by the previous prophets in Islamic life, especially in its devotional practices, with the hope that this type of study will contribute to/aim of increasing the awareness of other religions and developing a more inclusive approach towards them in the spirit of mutual appreciation and respect. These are –undoubtedly – some of/among the more pertinent and noble objectives that concern the modern man and the society.
 The paper begins by explaining the importance of belief in the previous prophets as set in the sources of Islam and then proceeds to highlight some aspects of its practical importance in Islamic thought and life. It concludes with a special focus on some Sufi concepts and practices that display their intrinsic connections to previous prophets.