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The Logic Of Selecting Prophets: Innate Purity Vs. The Human Growth Mindset
I am seeking to understand the divine logic behind how Allah chooses Prophets (Anbiya) and Messengers (Rusul). While I understand that being a Prophet is an immense responsibility and a heavy burden—rather than a “favor” in the sense of an easy life—I am curious about the criteria for this selection.
Specifically, my question is about the character of the person chosen. Was a Prophet chosen because he was already “perfect” and possessed every noble quality (not just being Sadiq and Ameen, but having a flawless character) from the start? Or was he destined to be a Prophet, and therefore Allah placed these qualities within him to ensure he would be a perfect example?
Both scenarios feel somewhat disconnected from the actual human experience. In reality, no human is born perfect. It seems more “realistic” and powerful if a Prophet were someone who had experienced moral or spiritual failures before they were chosen—someone who perhaps wasn’t always truthful or perfect in their past, but who then learned, grew, and earned their status through a growth mindset and self-correction.
To clarify, I am not talking about making mistakes after becoming a Prophet; I am asking about their life prior to the call of Prophethood. If a Prophet is “goody-goody” by nature or by divine design throughout their entire life, how can they be a relatable model for the rest of us who have to struggle with our mistakes? Why does Allah choose those who seem to have stayed pure from birth rather than those who rose from human failure to excellence? I would appreciate your guidance on how this aligns with the concept of human nature (Fitrah) and the purpose of providing a realistic role model for humanity.
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3 Replies
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The Logic Of Selecting Prophets: Innate Purity Vs. The Human Growth Mindset
updated 6 months, 3 weeks ago
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God has not told us how He chose the prophets. The prophets are human with all human traits. They possess the best character, but they are not infallible.
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I understand your point but if the Qur’an and Hadith are silent on the mechanism, how should a believer approach such questions? Should we leave them unanswered, or is it acceptable to form a reasoned understanding?If you could share your personal scholarly opinion or framework on this, it would really help clarify my confusion.
Secondly, Prophets are human beings with human traits, having the best character but not being infallible.
What still confuses me is this: in moments of extreme hardship, Prophets were often helped directly by Allah in extraordinary ways. I understand that they carried a very heavy responsibility, but doesn’t this still look a bit unfair?
If Prophets are meant to be guides and role models for humans, shouldn’t their journey reflect a more humanly relatable process?
For example, Allah’s direct intervention in the case of Prophet Yunus — a whale swallowing him and then releasing him — feels very unnatural from a human experience point of view. Whales do not normally allow humans to survive inside them. Compare this with the trial of Prophet Ayyub, which feels much closer to ordinary human suffering and endurance.
Similarly, when Prophets made mistakes, Allah often corrected them directly through revelation. Shouldn’t moral growth ideally occur through natural consequences — facing the results of a mistake, reflecting on it, and then changing course — the way it happens with ordinary humans?
I’m not questioning Prophethood or divine wisdom, but I struggle to understand how this extraordinary divine assistance aligns with the idea of Prophets being human role models. I’d appreciate your perspective on how to reconcile this.
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Since there is no way to definitively know the answer to the question of how prophets are chosen, speculation cannot produce a certain conclusion.
Prophets were entrusted with a specific duty, and they were treated in accordance with that responsibility. They were chosen to witness the unseen world, which had to remain hidden from others. Their role required them to demonstrate to people that this unseen world is real, that God exists, and that resurrection and accountability will follow. Because of the nature of their mission, they needed to be proven as truly sent by God, which is why they received special treatment and miracles from God.
In matters of religion, prophets were not permitted to persist in error; they were corrected immediately if they made a mistake. Their trials were therefore more stringent. While others will be judged in the Hereafter, prophets were held accountable immediately for any mistake.
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