Faith in the Prophets, Angels and Revealed Books

1. Abraham’s khulla and Moses’ direct address

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا وَكَلَّمَ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا، إِيمَانًا وَتَصْدِيقًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
Allah took Abraham as His khalil and spoke to Moses. These truths are affirmed with faith, conviction and submission.

Khulla is a special honor granted to Abraham, while taklim, being addressed by Allah, is a distinctive honor granted to Moses. Both are acknowledged as revealed facts and gifts from Allah.

2. The Qur’anic affirmation of Abraham’s khulla

وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا
Allah took Abraham as His khalil. (Al-Nisa 4:125)

Being called khalil is not merely a human title; it is a special relationship affirmed by the Qur’an. Allah’s granting of this honor establishes Abraham’s distinction. The relationship is accepted as revelation describes it.

3. The Qur’anic affirmation of speaking to Moses

وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا
Allah spoke to Moses. (Al-Nisa 4:164)

The word taklima reinforces the reality that Allah spoke to Moses. This distinction was bestowed upon him by Allah. Divine speech is affirmed without treating its manner as equivalent to speech between creatures.

4. Faith, conviction and submission

إِيمَانًا وَتَصْدِيقًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
With faith, affirmation and submission.

Affirmation accepts the truth of revealed accounts about the prophets’ distinctions. Submission receives those accounts as true. These facts are not dismissed as guesses or tales; they are accepted as matters disclosed by Allah.

5. The prophetic report concerning khalil

لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي
Were I to take a khalil, I would take Abu Bakr as my khalil; rather, he is my brother and companion. (Sahih Muslim, Virtues of Abu Bakr)

This report honors Abu Bakr’s special closeness while distinguishing the relationship of khalil from that of a dear brother and companion.

6. Khalil and the sense of need

Mulla Ali al-Qari explains khalla in the sense of need and necessity. In this sense, a khalil is the one to whom a person turns with needs, on whom one relies in difficulty, and from whom fulfillment is sought.

Human friendship and mutual assistance are real, but no human possesses the power to satisfy every need in every situation. Complete reliance in all circumstances belongs to Allah alone.

7. Abu Bakr’s companionship and the distinction from khulla

وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي
Rather, he is my brother and companion.

These words do not diminish Abu Bakr’s rank; they proclaim the greatness of his companionship with the Prophet. Brotherhood and companionship are exalted human bonds, whereas ultimate dependence on Allah for every need is distinct from them.

8. Two explanations of khulla

When khalla is explained through need, the focus is reliance on someone concerning one’s affairs and necessities.

When khulla is explained as a distinctive quality and profound love, it refers to a love that permeates the heart. This second sense also helps explain Abraham’s distinctive relationship. These explanations should be understood according to their contexts rather than carelessly conflated.

9. Khulla as a special distinction

Calling Abraham Khalil Allah also conveys special distinction and honor. It is a particular quality bestowed on him by Allah.

Khulla in this sense is not confined to ordinary friendship. It represents a special honor and relationship, affirmed for Abraham as a gift from Allah.

10. Love that permeates the heart

Another explanation of khulla is love that penetrates the heart so completely that it shapes a person’s life.

Abraham’s profound love of Allah, together with devotion and obedience, demonstrates the greatness of this honor. His being Khalil Allah indicates a depth of love far beyond an ordinary verbal claim of friendship.

11. Moses’ distinctive honor

Moses’ distinctive honor is being Kalim Allah, one addressed by Allah. The Qur’an expressly affirms that Allah spoke to him.

وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا
Allah spoke to Moses. (Al-Nisa 4:164)

This is among the great distinctions of his prophethood. It is affirmed through the explicit wording of the Qur’an.

12. The divine address at Mount Tur

Moses was granted the special honor of going to Mount Tur for the divine address and speaking with Allah.

The title Kalim Allah conveys this particular distinction. This honor is affirmed through the Qur’anic statement that Allah spoke to Moses.

13. Faith in angels, prophets and revealed scriptures

وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالْكُتُبِ الْمُنَزَّلَةِ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ
We believe in the angels, prophets and books sent down to the messengers, and testify that they were upon manifest truth.

Faith recognizes each of these according to the status Allah gave them. Angels are not made partners in divinity, prophets are not elevated to godhood, and revealed guidance is not denied.

14. The nature and status of angels

الملائكة
The angels.

Angels are creatures of Allah. Faith in them means acknowledging their existence and their proper relationship to Allah. Calling them Allah’s daughters, as the polytheists did, is rejected.

Their created status is essential to correct belief: Allah is the Creator, and angels are among His creatures.

15. Prophets as servants and messengers

النبيين
The prophets.

Prophets are servants and messengers of Allah. Their truthfulness, mission and honor are affirmed, but none is called Allah’s son or treated as a share in divinity.

Claims of divine sonship about Ezra or Jesus are rejected. Prophethood is an honor bestowed by Allah and does not negate the prophet’s servanthood.

16. Revealed books as guidance from Allah

وَالْكُتُبِ الْمُنَزَّلَةِ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ
And in the books sent down to the messengers.

Faith in heavenly scriptures includes affirming that revelation originally came from Allah and conveyed guidance through His prophets. Their divine origin is acknowledged, while the earlier books’ previous legal authority is understood to have been superseded.

17. The Qur’an as continuing guidance

Belief that the earlier scriptures were originally revealed does not conflict with following the Qur’an. The Qur’an is affirmed as the guide for action and the means of salvation until the Last Day.

Believers acknowledge the truth of earlier revelation while following the Qur’an for their religious duties. Testimony to revelation and adherence to the governing law each have their proper place.

18. Testifying to manifest truth

وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ
We testify that they were upon manifest truth.

Faith affirms the prophets’ truthfulness, the reality of angels, and the authenticity of divine revelation. Every prophet stood upon truth in his mission and conveyed guidance from Allah.

Sound belief neither grants created beings the status of the Creator nor rejects the true guidance sent down by Allah.