Page 82 - Faith: The Way to Happiness

FAITH: THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

lievers who believed and supported them. In the Qur'an, Allah says
that there are fine examples for believers in the lives of the prophets:
You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for
all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and re-
member Allah much. (Surat al-Ahzab: 21)
The prophets were exemplary people for all humanity. A l l a h
tells us that the sending of our Prophet (saws) was a great merc y
and favor to believers:
Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent
a Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His
Signs to them and purify them and teach them the Book
and Wisdom, even though before that they were clearly
misguided. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 164)
Throughout their lives, pious believers take the prophets, as de-
scribed by Allah in these verses of the Qur'an, as examples and in
this way try to achieve excellence of character.
Although, throughout their own lives, the prophets were strug-
gling against disbelievers, they were very contented and calm.
Because they were leaders guiding people to the path of Islam, they
were the people who experienced faith in its most intense and pro-
found form. The happiness, tranquility and security which A l l a h
made them feel in their hearts were as strong as their faith.
In the following paragraphs we will refer to some of the
p rophets mentioned by Allah in the Qur'an and to their steadfast-
ness.

Prophet Ibrahim (as)
In a number of verses of the Qur'an, Allah gives examples from
the life of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and the events which happened to
him and speaks of him with praise.

80