There is no doubt that Allah has not informed every human being—in detail and without any intermediary—of the causes of their perfection and decline, or of what brings about His satisfaction and dissatisfaction; because the unawareness of most human beings of these things is perceptible and intuitively understood. Therefore, it becomes clear that He has done this indirectly, through sending an intermediary. Based on this, one who is not in direct contact with Allah and does not, without an intermediary, become aware of the causes of his own perfection and decline, nor of what brings about Allah’s satisfaction and dissatisfaction, has no choice but to seek out someone who possesses this ability. This person is called a “Prophet,” considering that he brings messages from Allah, and he is logically known by declaring Prophethood and presenting something that is inherently exclusive to Allah and none but He can present; because only presenting such a thing proves his connection to Allah—and that thing is referred to as a “miracle.”

[Recognizing the Prophets]

Among those to whom the declaration of Prophethood and miracles have been attributed, there are some from whom nothing has remained that can indicate Allah’s satisfaction and dissatisfaction, or the causes of human perfection and decline. Therefore, examining their case is neither beneficial nor necessary. However, there are three individuals among them to whom something significant for this purpose has been attributed and remains. Therefore, examining their case can be beneficial and is necessary. These three are Musa, Isa, and Muhammad , to each of whom a book referred to as the Book of Allah has been attributed, and each has been followed by a group of people. Nonetheless, it appears that the book attributed to Musa and Isa did not originate from the two themselves, but was written by known or unknown individuals after their passing; because it is clearly the expression of someone other than them and recounts their passing and the events afterwards.