In answer to the video "Did Allah Really Send Prophets to the Entire World?"
This youtuber was previous shown that the HB speaks of 1 non-Israelite prophet, Balaam (the Talmud names others) who addressed them as well as his own gentile people, and 1 Israelite prophet, Jonas, who preached to the gentiles. Now he wonders, why were most prophets sent to the Israelites prior to the prophet Muhammad.
The answer is simple and found in both the HB and the Quran. The Israelites were the first nation raised above all others to be torch bearers of the truth to all of humanity. But when they failed repeatedly, as detailed in their own books, they were deposed from that title which was handed to the other Abrahamic branch, the Ishmaelites. When God promises to bless Abraham's progeny, he does so indiscriminately as reflected both in Gen12,17 and the Quran in 3:33. The promise of spiritual leadership extended to the RIGHTEOUS among the descendants of Abraham because of his pure obedience not unconditionally to any one branch, Israelite or Ishmaelite 2:123-141,37:113.
God is not bound to anyone group 2:89-90. His guidance is open to all of humanity indiscriminately 39:41,10:57,14:52. The Quran doesnt remove the Israelites from the Abrahamic promise, but restored the righteous among the Ishmaelites to their rightful place as being bearers of this same promise. The prejudiced and ethno-centred Israelites in the times of the prophet Muhammad went to great extents in trying to hide this reality.
2:159,4:54"We have given to Ibrahim's children the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them a grand kingdom".The Israelites were blessed was because of Abraham. Abraham heard the voice of the Lord and obeyed, and because of this, God promised his descendants spiritual leadership of humanity
53:37"Abraham, who to his trust was true".The purpose of mentioning this attribute of Abraham to both the Quraysh/Ishmaelites and the People of the Book/Israelites is to admonish them that the high status achieved by Abraham in this world and in the next was the result of showing complete obedience and faithfulness to God. He earned that honorary status and his descendants too would have to earn it
2:140-1"That is a nation that has passed away; theirs is that which they have earned and yours is what you earned; you shall not be questioned for what they had been doing".A nation should rely upon its own deeds, not on its past history.
"And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham".
The Quran makes it clear that the exalted status of Abraham was not something that would automatically confer a comparable status on his physical descendants, be it the Ishmaelites or the Israelites 2:123-141,37:113 and that God is not bound to anyone group 2:89-90. His guidance is open to all of humanity indiscriminately 39:41,10:57,14:52.
After they were tasked under oath to be the bearers of the truth to the nations, the descendants of Isaac were sent many prophets from among their own people, some of them distanced by 400 years such as Malachi and Jesus. The sending of many prophets isnt a blessing but a stain against them because the majority of these prophets were sent to bring them back to the right path, as stated in the HB, to remind them of the terms of the covenant. Jesus alludes to this multiple times, especially in his parable of the King, who sends his servants, and finally his son whom they murder. Jesus tells them that as a consequence their nation will be destroyed and a new nation will come forth which will establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. History bares witness that what the Israelites failed to do with multiple Prophets, the Ishmaelites did with one.
In Sura Baqara, the Israelites are thrice reminded 2:40,47,122 how Allah made them a great nation, exalted above others in terms of spiritual eminence and exemplarity through the revelation they had. But it was on account of their turning away from the clear straight path, forsaking the ways of righteousness that they proved themselves unworthy of that greatness. Where a line of the children of Ibrahim failed and were consequently deposed from their responsibilities, the other line believed, applied and held fast by what was revealed to them
4:54-5"let them know that We did bestow the Book and the Wisdom upon the descendants of Abraham and blessed them with the great kingdom. But some of them believed in it and others turned away from it" 45:16-9" And certainly We gave the Book and the wisdom and the prophecy to the children of Israel, and We gave them of the goodly things, and We made them excel the nations..Then We have made you follow a course in the affair, therefore follow it, and do not follow the low desires of those who do not know.."
Nothing symbolizes more that passing of the spiritual torch, than the change of qibla. It indicated to the Israelites they had been definately deposed from their spiritual leadership over mankind, a leadership that what was for them to honourably carry 2:63-64,3:187,28:5,32:24. This prophecied supplanting, as stated by Jesus in Matt21, meant they werent worthy of carrying the flame anymore, that the geographical center of monotheism has switched to another location, under a new established nation under God
33:45-46"We have sent you as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a warner, And as one inviting to Allah by His permission, and as a light-giving torch".
This meant that their hopes of seeing the Jerusalem Temple rebuilt for the 3rd time through Divine sanction by their messianic salvific figure was over. The era of prophethood itself has now ceased
33:40"Muhammad..is the Messenger of Allah and the khaatim of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all things".
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