Most of the prophets and messengers sent in past times were also not recognized and rejected by their communities. For example, the fact that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saas) was a holy messenger sent to lead all mankind to the true path was denied by the majority of people, during the early stage of his prophethood. The majority of Jews and Christians in particular denied the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (saas), despite having considerable information in their possession. Despite there being enormous evidence that our Prophet (saas) had been sent to confirm the scriptures revealed before him, to do away with the disputes among people and to impart glad tidings and warn them, these people still did not follow him. Yet the scriptures revealed prior to the Qur’an said that a messenger would come after those prophets, and that when he appeared everyone should obey him. This fact is stated in the Qur’an:
Those who follow the Messenger, the Unlettered, whom they find written down with them in the Torah and the Gospel... (Surat al-A‘raf, 157)
In another verse, it is revealed that some of those to whom a Book had previously been given, some Jews and Christians in other words, would conceal the truth, despite being well acquainted with our Prophet (saas) and knowing that he was the true prophet:
Those We have given the Book recognize him [the Prophet] as they recognize their own sons. Yet a group of them knowingly conceal the truth. (Surat al-Baqara, 146)
In another verse it is stated that the people in question also knew that the Noble Qur’an was the True Scripture:
“Am I to desire someone other than Allah as a judge when it is He Who has sent down the Book to you clarifying everything?” Those We have given the Book know it has been sent down from your Lord with truth, so on no account be among the doubters. (Surat al-An‘am, 114)
However, true believers of good conscience from the Jewish and Christian communities immediately recognized and joined our Prophet (saas) when he appeared. Allah informs us in verses that:
... You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. When they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they recognize of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we believe! So write us down among the witnesses. How could we not believe in Allah, and the truth that has come to us, when we long for our Lord to include us among the righteous?” (Surat al-Ma’ida, 82-84)
Nonetheless, some Jews and Christians still did not believe that our Prophet (saas) was the last true prophet and that the Qur’an was the true Divine scripture, and refused to obey the Prophet (saas) despite all the portents and evidence. It is also revealed in verses of the Qur’an that many prophets, including the Prophet Abraham (as), were not recognized by their own communities (Surat al-‘Ankabut, 16-25). The way that the Prophet Joseph (as) was not recognized by his own brothers is described in another verse “… he knew them but they did not know him.” (Surah Yusuf, 58) Similarly, when the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) appear some people will pretend not to recognize these blessed personages, out of concern for their own interests and despite seeing all the evidence, and will conceal the true facts from others.
