Islam critiqued questions divine motive; why obedience to prophets?

In answer to the video "Muhammad did it. Therefore it is not sinful."

Let us now set the record straight by finding guidance in the uncorrupted word of God. God does not interact directly with the people and even when He spoke to the Israelites, He did not manifest Himself physically. He bestows the light of inspiration and prophethood on an individual -human or else 6:9,130,11:69,17:95,22:75,35:1- from any nation to lead it to the straight path 3:73-4,179,6:88,17:65,28:68,40:15,42:13,14:11,16:93.

It is so because not all people are fit to receive Revelation 2:118-9,6:124,74:52 just like not any type of electrical cable can absorb high voltage directly from the energy source. In the HB we read how the Israelites made that experience when revelation descended on them collectively, and consequently requested the experience to stop, fearing they would die. They then appointed Musa as their sole intermediary with God.

His guidance is not restricted 2:89-90,142,26:28,55:17,37:5,73:9 and sends it to all indiscriminately, like water from the clouds to answer the human need for spiritual guidance.

Among the major tenets that came with every prophet was unconditional obedience to them in the sphere of the religion. God's infaillible representatives, who selflessly spend every drop of their energy, night and day, for the purpose of causing spiritual awakening in their nation, are to be obeyed

5:12,3:50,71:3,26:106-108,124-126,142-144,161-163,177-179,4:64"And We did not send any messenger but that he should be obeyed by Allah's permission".

This obedience must be without hesitation 4:65 because their qualities of wisdom and authority were granted by God

6:84-90"These are they whom Allah guided, therefore follow their guidance".

The most glaring example of retribution and evil to befall a people who are hesitant to obey their prophet is that of the Israelites who were sent to wander 40 years in the desert and prevented entry to the promised land for having shown distrust in their prophet. Obeying the prophets in the sphere of religion and divine instructions is therefore tantamount to obeying the One who sent them

3:31,4:80"Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them".

In that area, a prophet's will is one that stems from God's will 53:3-4. It is natural then that it overrules someone's own will whether public or private 33:6. We thus find that the closest followers of the prophets, the most sincere and devout, were ready to give up everything, including their lives as instructed by these messengers of God 

"Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah said, “The wealth of no one has benefited me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr.” Abu Bakr wept and he said, “My life and my wealth are only for you, O Messenger of Allah."" 

These followers understood very well that the will of a prophet stems directly from Allah's will and thus sacrificing their lives as commanded by these prophets was synonymous to laying down their lives to the One that sent them 

6:162"Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds".

As Jesus said

Jn14:6"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

This obedience to prophets is reflected in the Torah that lists among the 613 commandements revealed at Sinai, the obligation to obey the prophet's instructions, and not doubt or test his promises and warnings Deut6:16,18:15. Belief in God and His prophets are inseparable to fulfill the conditions of correct faith. Here in the words of the righteous king Jehoshaphat

2Chr20:20"Hear me, O Judeans and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be believed; believe in His prophets, and you will prosper". 

Rejecting any of God's messengers is equal to rejecting God

6:33,2:98,59:4"they acted in opposition to Allah and His Messenger, and whoever acts in opposition to Allah, then surely Allah is severe in retributing (evil)".

See the Hebrew Bible in Ps2:12 speaking of accepting David with sincerity of heart as God's anointed or incur God's anger.

Obedience is the one and only area in which God and His prophets are one in principle. It just is a practical reality, which is why we have many verses speaking in one breath of obedience to Allah and His messengers. Allah is the issuing Authority and the messenger is the means by which divine authority is implemented. There are no ambiguities between the role and position of each, just as no confusion exists when verses lump in one group God, the messenger and the believers 

63:8"And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know". 

This required obedience is why prophets and messengers, even prior to their calling, had to be unique examples of moral qualities and worthiness, virtue among their nations 3:161,164,33:21,68:4,21:51,74-90 recognized as such and chosen for that 6:87. They already possess a heightened sensitivity to spirituality.

During their mission, their high morality became a means by which their addressees were purified

3:164"Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His communications and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the wisdom, although before that they were surely in manifest error".

This is reflected in the rabbinical writings on Prov13:17 which they believe is in reference to Moses

"A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful emissary brings healing". 

Muhammad for example was notoriously known as al-amin (the trustworthy). He carried that principle so firmly in his life that later on during prophethood someone asked him,

‘Is it possible that a Muslim may be a coward?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ They asked, ‘Is it possible that a Muslim may commit adultery?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ They asked him, ‘What is it that a Muslim cannot possibly do?’ He replied, ‘A Muslim cannot tell a lie".

When the Meccan pagans were busy renovating the Kaaba, the black stone had to be removed from its socle and when the work was finished each tribe and clan wanted the exclusive privilege of placing it back on its socle. The verbal dispute almost turned to a civil war until Muhammad, prior to his prophetic call, intervened and was directly accepted as mediator and was unanimously given the much sought after responsibility to place the black stone in its place.

His integrity was such that when he migrated from Mecca, and because even at that advanced stage of antagonism between him and the polytheists he was still trusted with his own persecutors’ belongings with him for safekeeping, he instructed Ali to stay behind in Mecca, in order to return all these people's trusts. Ali stayed back for three days and three nights to complete his task and then migrated in turn. Contrast this behavior with the supposed divine order to the Israelites, according to the Biblical narrative, to take all of their previous masters' belongings in their escape. The prophet Muhammad had a pattern of high conduct which he maintained throughout his life, especially in regards to trusts. When he was asked about the picking up of a "Luqata" (fallen lost thing) he replied,

 "Recognize and remember its tying material and its container, and make public announcement (about it) for one year, then utilize it but give it to its owner if he comes".

 The Quran, which the messenger embodied, stresses the importance of maintaining justice indiscriminately, upholding covenants and trusts, respecting one's word.

Prophets such as Noah, Salih and Shuayb are also given as examples of refined souls 11:28,63,88. This particularity put aside, they remain human beings, open to comitting mistakes outside the religious sphere in which they are divinely protected, as amply reminded in the Quran.

All these qualities do no bring on prophecy but make one worthy to be its recipient. Once selected, they are granted wisdom to be able to judge rationally between the people and apply God's laws revealed to them as well as the instinctive knowledge of good and evil 28:14,12:22,2:213. The granting of revelation is in fact a continuous reward that they experience 6:154. The prophets in the Quran are treated as the embodiment of God's Mercy to His creatures 21:107, they can never be cursed, loathful sinners as slandered in other writings. That is why they are to be obeyed, unflinchingly by those who come to believe in them.

It is important to distinguish, that blind obedience isnt required from the get go, but only once one has been reasonably convinced of the truth they are carrying, through pondering on all the signs and arguments presented in their message. Also, that blind obedience isnt required in everyday affairs, areas in which the prophets werent divinely protected, could and did commit mistakes, but in matters of religion. By the message they are worthy of carrying and their sublime morality, prophets are distinguishers of truth and falsehood, bearers of good tidings and warners; they bring the good news of paradise to the righteous believers, and warn of Allah's chastisment to those who reject the truth and commit sins, disrupting the natural law of justice in this world whether on a spiritual or social, human level 57:25.

The parallel is made in that verse with iron which Allah has sent down in order to emphasize the firmness and strength of this divine justice that, if needs be, should forcefully be applied

"Truly we sent our prophets with clear proofs and with them we sent the Book and true measure, so that the people rise in justice, and we sent iron in which there is great firmness and benefits for people, surely Allah is Strong, Mighty".

By these functions, and their successful completion of their tasks, the prophets in themselves will be a proof which shall be presented on the day of gathering and judgement against those seeking vain excuses 7:164,77:5-6. Each prophet, or a rightly-guided person from among the followers of the prophets who had performed the duty of preaching the Truth in the community, or any means through which the message of the Truth had reached the community, will testify that the warning was duly transmitted to its respective nation 28:75.