Praise be to Allaah.

When Allaah sent Adam down to the earth and his descendents spread out, He did not forsake them. Rather He gave them provision and sent down to him and his descendents revelation. So some of them believed and some of them disbelieved: 

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities, i.e. do not worship Taaghoot besides Allaah).’ Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified” [al-Nahl 16:36 – interpretation of the meaning] 

There are four heavenly books which Allaah sent down. They are the Tawraat (Torah),  Injeel (Gospel), Zaboor (Psalms)and the Qur’aan: 

“It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur’aan) to you (Muhammad) with truth, confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:3 – interpretation of the meaning]  

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“and to Dawood (David) We gave the Zaboor (Psalms)” [al-Israa’ 17:55] 

The Prophets and Messengers were many, and no one knows their number except Allaah. Among them are those of whom Allaah has told us, and some of whom He has not told us: 

“And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you” [al-Nisaa’ 4:164 – interpretation of the meaning] 

It is obligatory to believe in all the Books which Allaah has revealed and in all the Prophets and Messengers whom Allaah has sent, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Believe in Allaah, and His Messenger (Muhammad), and the Book (the Qur’aan) which He has sent down to His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down to those before (him); and whosoever disbelieves in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away” [al-Nisaa’ 4:136] 

Rasool (Messenger) and Nabi (Prophet) are two names with the same meaning, which is someone whom Allaah sent to call the people to worship Allaah alone, one of the Prophets and Messengers whom Allaah chose and sent to His slaves to convey His religion: 

“Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allaah after the (coming of) Messengers” [al-Nisaa’ 4:165 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The Prophets and Messengers are many, of whom Allaah has mentioned twenty five in the Qur’aan, and we are obliged to believe in all of them. They are: Aadam, Idrees, Nooh, Hood, Saalih, Ibraaheem, Loot, Ismaa’eel, Ishaaq, Ya’qoob, Yoosuf, Shu’ayb, Ayyoob, Dhu’l-Kifl, Moosa, Haaroon, Dawood, Sulaymaan, Ilyaas, al-Yasa’, Yoonus, Zakariyya, Yahyaa, ‘Eesa and Muhammad – blessings and peace be upon them all. 

The Qur’aan is the greatest and last of the heavenly Books, and it abrogates the books which came before it and is a witness over them, so we must follow it and ignore those which came before it:

 “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). So judge among them by what Allaah has revealed” [al-Maa’idah 5:48 – interpretation of the meaning] 

Allaah chose Messengers and Prophets from among the sons of Adam, and sent them to each nation, and commanded them to call them to worship Allaah alone and to explain the ways which would bring happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, and to bring glad tidings of Paradise to those who believed and the warning of Hell to those who disbelieved: 

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities, i.e. do not worship Taaghoot besides Allaah).’ Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified” [al-Nahl 16:36 – interpretation of the meaning] 

Allaah preferred some of the Prophets and Messengers over others. The best of them are the “Messengers of strong will” who are Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosa, ‘Eesa and Muhammad; and the best of the Messengers of strong will is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). For each Prophet was sent only to his own people, until Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to all of mankind. He is the last and the best of the Prophets and Messengers, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not” [Saba’ 34:28 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The Prophets and Messengers were chosen by Allaah to be an example to their nations. He taught them, guided them and honoured them with the Message; He protected them from falling into sin and supported them with miracles. So they are the most perfect of humanity both physically and in their attitude, the best of them in knowledge, the most truthful in speech, the most exemplary in the life they lived. Allaah says of them (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and the giving of Zakaah and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers” [al-Anbiyaa’ 21:73] 

Because the Prophets and Messengers reached such a high status of obedience and good character [?], Allaah has commanded us to take them as an example. Allaah says ((interpretation of the meaning): 

“They are those whom Allaah had guided. So follow their guidance” [al-An’aam 6:90] 

All of the characteristics of the Prophets and Messengers were combined in our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and Allaah honoured him by instilling in him the noblest characteristics. Therefore Allaah stated that his example is to be followed in all situations: 

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much [al-Ahzaab 33:21 – interpretation of the meaning]  

Belief in all the Prophets and Messengers is one of the pillars of Islamic belief (‘aqeedah), without which the faith of the Muslim cannot be complete, because they all preached the same message, which is belief in Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say (O Muslims): ‘We believe in Allaah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibraaheem (Abraham), Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), Ya‘qoob (Jacob), and to Al-Asbaat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya‘qoob (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Moosa (Moses) and ‘Isa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)’” [al-Baqarah 2:136] 

Belief in the Books implies four things: 

1 – Firm belief that all of them were revealed from Allaah, and that Allaah spoke them in a real sense. Some of them were heard from Him from behind a veil, without there being any intermediary from among the angels. Some were conveyed by an angelic Messenger to a human Messenger. Some were written by Allaah’s own Hand, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“It is not given to any human being that Allaah should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise” [al-Shoora 42:51] 

“and to Moosa (Moses) Allaah spoke directly” [al-Nisa’ 4:164] 

And Allaah said concerning the Tawraat (Torah): 

“And We wrote for him on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation for all things” [al-A’raaf 7:145] 

2 – The Books that Allaah has mentioned by name, we must believe in by name. These are the Books which Allaah has named in the Qur’aan, i.e., the Qur’aan, the Tawraat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Zaboor (Psalms), and the Scriptures of Ibraaheem and Moosa. 

Those which Allaah has mentioned in general terms, we must believe in them in general terms, so we say concerning them what Allaah and His Messenger have commanded us to say: 

“…say: “I believe in whatsoever Allaah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books…]”

[al-Shoora 42:15 – interpretation of the meaning] 

3 – Believing whatever is true of what they say, such as what is said in the Qur’aan, and whatever has not been altered or distorted in the previous Books. 

4 – Believing that Allaah revealed the Qur’aan as a witness over these Books and to confirm them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)” [al-Maa'idah 5:48] 

The mufassireen said that Muhaymin means trustworthy and a witness over the Books that came before it, and confirming them, i.e., confirming whatever is true in them and rejecting whatever alterations, distortions and changes have occurred in them, and ruling that the previous rulings have been abrogated – i.e., they are no longer applicable – and that new rulings and laws have been promulgated. Hence all those who were following previous books and who have not turned on their heels should submit to it, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And when it is recited to them, they say: We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allaah in Islam as Muslims” [al-Qasas 28:52-53] 

It is obligatory for all the ummah to follow the Qur’aan both outwardly and inwardly, and to adhere to it, and give it its due, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And this is a blessed Book (the Qur’aan) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allaah” [al-An’aam 6:155] 

What is meant by adhering to the Qur’aan and giving it its due is: regarding what it permits as permitted, regarding what it forbids as forbidden, obeying its commands, avoiding that which it prohibits, paying heed to its lessons, learning from its stories, understanding its clear and unambiguous texts, referring the exact meaning of its ambiguous texts to Allaah, not overstepping its limits and defending it, whilst memorizing it, reciting it in a proper manner, pondering the meanings of its verses, reciting it in prayer night and day, being sincere towards it in all senses, and calling others to do likewise with understanding. 

This belief will bear great fruit for a person, the most important of which is:

1-     Knowledge of Allaah’s care for His slaves, for He has revealed to each people a Book by which they may be guided.

2-     Knowledge of the wisdom of Allaah in the laws which He has set out for each people, laws which are suited to their circumstances as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way” [al-Maa’idah 5:48].

3-     Fulfilling the duty of giving thanks to Allaah for this great blessing.

4-     The importance of paying attention to the Qur’aan, by reading it, pondering its meanings, understanding its meanings and acting accordingly. 

And Allaah knows best.

See A’laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah, 90-93; Sharh al-Usool al-Thalaathah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 91-92.