The contribution of prophets and messengers

of God to human civilization

According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, civilization means, A
society, culture and its way of life during a particular period of time or in a
particular part of the world. It also means: A place that offers you the
comfortable way of life of a modern society.

According to Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, civilization may be used more

broadly to refer to the sum, or current extent, of human accomplishments.

The word civilization came from the Latin word for townsman or citizen. As
such, to be civilized meant being a townsman, governed by the constitution
and legal statutes of that community.

Since God Almighty created everything for us, He wouldnt have left us groping
in darkness trying to make use of them without knowledge and guidance; He
sent messengers and prophets who would direct us towards benefiting from the
resources essential for our survival on this earth. God says: O son of Adam! I
have created everything for you, and created you to serve Me. Therefore,
continue worshipping Me everything will be easy for you. (Hadidth
Qudsi, Sahih Muslim)
Work is an act of worship in Islam. God says: and say: Work
(righteousness): soon will Allah observe your work, and His messenger, and
the believers: soon will you be brought back to the Knower of what is
hidden and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all that you
do. (9:105)
Prophets and Messengers demonstrated to their respective followers that
working hard is beneficial both in this transitory life and in the hereafter. They
all had special skills by which they got their sustenance to support them and
those they were responsible for.

Prophet Saleh, for example, was sent to the tribe of Thamud. Beside urging
them to worship God, he also urged them to continue developing the living
conditions on the earth given the fact that God had blessed them abundantly
with various skills. We read in the Holy Quran: To the Thamud people (We
sent) Saleh, one of their own brethren. He said: O my people! Worship
Allah; ye have no other god but Him. It is He who has created you from the
earth and settled you therein. Then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to
Him (in repentance): for my Lord is (always) near, ready to
answer. (11:61)
The Thamud story also belongs to Arabian tradition, according to which their
eponymous ancestor Thamud was a descendant of Noah. They used to live in a
place between Medina and Syria. It included both a rocky country and a
spacious fertile valley. With the advance of material civilization, the Thamud
people became godless and arrogant. Finally, they were destroyed by an
earthquake. Their prophet Saleh came with a miracle of a she-camel, which they
hamstrung. By this, they invited Gods severe punishment.

2- Prophets and their roles and achievements:

a) Adam
* Progenitor of mankind and first prophet

* Farmer and mason

* Shepherd: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) informed his companions that all the
prophets worked as shepherds. This activity helped them acquire some virtuous
qualities such as kindness, forbearance, patience, magnanimity, etc. This is a
great indication that prophets talked the talk and walked the talk.

b) Noah
* Shepherd and carpenter: God says: So We inspired him (with this message);
Construct the Ark within Our sight and under Our guidance: then when
Our command comes, and the fountains of the earth gush forth, take on
board pairs of every species, male and female, and thy family . (23:27)
c) David
* King and blacksmith: God says: It was We (God) Who taught him (David)
the making of coats of mail for your benefit, to guard you from each others
violence; will you then be grateful? (21:80)
d) Jesus
* Physician and shepherd: God says: you make out of clay, as it were, the
figure of a bird, by My leave. And you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird
by My leave. And you heal those born blind and the lepers, by My leave.
And behold! You bring forth the dead by My leave (5:110)
e) Idris (Enoch)
* Invented the art of writing

* Sewed clothes from bark

* Conventional primitive weapons

f) Abraham and Ishmail

Masons and shepherds: God says: And remember Abraham and Ismail
raised the foundation of the house (Kaabah) with this prayer: Our Lord!
Accept (this service) from us: for You are the All-Hearing and the All-
Knowing. (2:127)
g) Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
* Shepherd in his childhood and youth

* Trader

* Historian and orator

* Military commander

* Effective leader. Many books have been written about his recommendations
regarding the treatment of various diseases.

3- Prophets and messengers built and never destroyed

Before going to war, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would admonish
his companions not to kill children, women, the elderly and monks in their
monasteries. He also advised them against mutilation of the enemys corpses,
arbitrary killing of animals except for food, and destroying vegetation.

Tolerance Encouraged
We should realize our points of difference, forego them and concentrate rather
on our commonalities, especially that all of us are brothers and sisters in
humanity. That will foster tolerance towards one another.

Conclusion:
Due to the fact that prophets and messengers did not depend on their status as
prophets for their livelihoods, but rather employed their skills for their survival,
we come to a conclusion that human civilization started with them. Therefore,
we should read about them as much as we can and put into practice whatever
they did whenever we deem it suitable. It should be clearly understood that
through the use we make of our health, of our tilth, of our pasture, of material
products of all kinds, we develop our moral, physical, spiritual and emotional
nature. We should always remember that:

1- Prophets were not like common lay men but rather had knowledge and
skills that benefited their communities, and they continued to practice them even
after being appointed prophets.

2- Prophets were constructive, not destructive. God highlighted the

achievements of prophets like Solomon, Noah, Abraham, Yousef (Joseph),
among others in the Quran rather than their spiritual superiority.

3- When work in our fields of specialization is combined with sincerity

towards God, the best results can be achieved on various levels of human
growth and development