2. Humanity’s need for the prophets and messengers (peace be upon them)

Al-Raghib al-Asfahani said, “The sending of the prophets to the people is something that they cannot do without.”

Ibn Taymiyah said, “The sending of the messengers was something essential for people that they could not do without, and their need for the divine message is greater than their need for anything else. For the message is the soul of the world, and is its light and life. How can the world be in a state of well-being if there is no soul, no life and no light? The world is dark and cursed except when the sun of the divine message shines on it, and the same is true of the individual, unless the sun of the divine message shines in his heart and he gains some of its life and soul, otherwise he is in darkness and is spiritually dead. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? al-An‘am 6:122.”

Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Hence we know the urgent need of people, which surpasses all other needs, to know the Messenger and what he brought, to believe what he told us and to obey what he enjoined, for there is no way to attain happiness and success, either in this world or in the hereafter, except through the guidance of the messengers; there is no way to know what is good and what is evil in detail except through their teachings; there is no way to attain the pleasure of Allah except by following their guidance. What is good in terms of deeds, words and attitudes is only what the messengers taught and brought. Their words, deeds and attitudes are the standard against which all other words, deeds and attitudes are measured. By following them, the people of guidance will become distinct from the people of misguidance. Therefore the need for them is greater than the body’s need for its soul, and the eye’s need for its light, and the soul’s need for its life. Whatever is important and urgently needed, the individual’s need for the messengers is far greater than that.”

Muhammad Rashid Rida said, “There is no way to save humanity at this time except by affirming the revelation received by Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), which promotes the unity of humanity, which showed people how to purify themselves and perfect their innate nature, and which shows the way to attain happiness in this world and the hereafter for all of them.”