Understanding the Ulul Azmi Group: Allah’s Greatest Messengers

Hi everyone! In the previous article, we discussed the difference between the Prophet of Allah and the Messenger of Allah, as well as how to believe in them. In this article, I will explain the Messengers of Allah from the Ulul Azmi group. The term “Ulul Azmi” refers to people who possess extraordinary determination and patience. Therefore, we can interpret that the Messengers of Allah from the Ulul Azmi group are the envoys who demonstrate immense determination and patience when facing trials during their missions.

Information about the Messengers of Allah from the Ulul Azmi group can be found in the following verse of the Quran:

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةٗ مِّن نَّهَارِۢۚ بَلَٰغٞۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٣٥

Therefore, bear up patiently as did the messengers endowed with constancy, and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day they shall see what they are promised, they shall feel as if they had tarried no more than an hour of the day. A sufficient exposition! Shall any be destroyed except the transgressing people? (Al-Ahqaaf [46]; 35).

Read Also: Top 6 Methods for Burying a Cat in Islam

There are differing opinions among Muslim scholars regarding the number of Allah’s Messengers from the Ulul Azmi group. Ibn Zaid stated that all of Allah’s Messengers fall into the Ulul Azmi category because they all possess extraordinary determination, patience, wisdom, and perfection of reason. However, some scholars, including Ibn Abbas, hold the view that there are specifically five Messengers in the Ulul Azmi category: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. The names of these five Messengers are also mentioned in the following verse of the Quran:

وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّ‍ۧنَ مِيثَٰقَهُمۡ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٖ وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَأَخَذۡنَا

مِنۡهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظٗا ٧

And when We made a covenant with the prophets and with you, and with Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa, son of Marium, and We made with them a strong covenant. (Al-Ahzaab [33]; 7).

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحٗا وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَا وَصَّيۡنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓۖ أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مَا تَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ ١٣

He has made plain to you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nuh, and that which We have revealed to you, and that which We enjoined upon Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa: that you should keep to obedience and not be divided therein. Hard is that which you call them to, O unbelievers; Allah chooses for Himself whom He pleases and guides to Himself whom He wills. (Asy-Syuraa [42]; 13).

I personally agree that the number of Allah’s Messengers from the Ulul Azmi group is five. This is because their names are mentioned in both verses of the Quran above, and there is also an opinion (the opinion of Abu Hurairah) stating that there are only five people from the descendants of Adam who fall into the category of chosen individuals. These five are none other than Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him. Among these five, the most noble is the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him. We can find this information in the following hadith:

انا سيد ولد أدم يوم القيامة وأول من ينشق عنه القبر وأول شافع وأول مشفع

I am the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Judgment, the first to rise from the grave, the first to give intercession, and the first to be granted the right to give intercession.

I believe many of us are already aware of why these five Messengers of Allah are included in the Ulul Azmi category. However, to refresh our memories, I will explain briefly.

Prophet Noah

Prophet Noah is categorized among Allah's Messengers who belong to the Ulul Azmi group due to his unwavering patience in spreading the true teachings of religion. Historical accounts indicate that throughout his nearly one-thousand-year lifespan, he devoted himself to guiding his people back to the authentic path of faith. However, the number of people who believed in him was no more than two hundred. The rest opposed him and rejected the truth of his teachings. Worse still, among those who opposed him were his wife and child. Just imagine: for almost a thousand years, he had followers numbering no more than two hundred, and even his own family turned against him!

Prophet Abraham

From childhood, Prophet Abraham faced trials. As a baby, he was placed in a cave because King Nimrod ordered his troops to kill all male infants. Upon reaching adulthood, he confronted a king and a society steeped in idolatry. He endured severe torture and was even thrown into a fire for being accused of destroying their idols.

Prophet Abraham also underwent a significant test from Allah Ta'ala in the form of an order to sacrifice his own young son, Ismail. He fulfilled Allah's command with all his heart, although in the end, a ram was sacrificed instead. There are many more reasons why he is included in the Ulul Azmi category.

Prophet Moses

Prophet Moses was born during the reign of King Pharaoh. Before his birth, Pharaoh commanded his troops to kill every baby boy from the Children of Israel. In such dire circumstances, Allah Ta'ala inspired his mother to place him in a basket and set it afloat on the Nile. After drifting along the river, he was eventually discovered by Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. Thus, from infancy, he was separated from his mother.

While living in the palace, young Prophet Moses refused to drink milk from any woman other than his own mother. By Allah's will, his biological mother was chosen to nurse him.

After reaching adulthood, Prophet Moses received knowledge from Allah, who appointed him as a Prophet and Messenger. He later learned that Pharaoh intended to commit heinous acts, which came to pass after he reconciled two individuals—one from the Israelites and the other from the Qibthi nation, one of whom was killed.

Moses fled the Pharaoh's palace, unsure of where to go. During his escape, he met Prophet Shu'aib and married one of his two daughters. After years on the run, he eventually returned to confront Pharaoh, inviting him to the right path. Pharaoh became furious at the invitation, and he and his army pursued Moses, only to be drowned by Allah in the depths of the Red Sea while Prophet Moses and his followers survived.

Prophet Isa

Many factors contribute to Prophet Isa's inclusion in the Ulul Azmi group. Among them is his ability to endure poverty. A significant factor is the betrayal by his disciple, Judas Iscariot, as well as the slander and rejection he faced from his people, the Children of Israel. In fact, he was almost killed and crucified, but ultimately, it was his betrayer who met this fate. Allah Ta'ala raised him up to heaven.

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam

The life of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam is filled with sorrowful events. His father passed away while he was still in his mother's womb, and shortly after his birth, his mother also died. Not long after, his grandfather passed away. Upon reaching adulthood, he had to engage in trade to support his family.

However, the greatest challenge that Prophet Muhammad faced was his appointment as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah. He had to endure rejection and opposition from many, including his own uncle, Abu Lahab. Many leaders of the Quraysh boycotted Banu Hashim due to his invitation to embrace Islam. This boycott included breaking trade relations and severing social ties. Moreover, he faced numerous other hardships while delivering the message of Islam.

Dear readers, that is a brief overview of Allah's Messengers from the Ulul Azmi group. May we strive to emulate their patience in our own lives. Amen!

I believe that is enough for this article. May it be beneficial! Amen!

See you again in the next article!