['Aalim Network QR] Rasool (Messengers), Number of

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@io.org>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun `Alaykum

The following question was kindly answered by Shaykh Hasnain.


Fee Amaanillah,

Akil Karim
Moderator - 'Aalim Network

---------- Forwarded message ----------

In His name, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

QUESTION:

I have a quick and simple question... how many rasools (as opposed to
anbiya) are there? I thought there were 333 but someone today said that
there were 313 - which one is the correct answer?  Please give
references, if possible. 


ANSWER:

According to a hadith from the Holy Prophet (s) and reported by his great
companion Abu Dharr there are 313 (three hundred and thirteen) Rasool.
The Hadith is found in `Allama Ibrahim Amini's DURUS MIN AL-THAQAFAT
AL-ISLAMIYYAH`, vol. 2, p.54. He has taken the hadith from Biharul Anwar
of `Allama Majlisi. 

I went through several books on Shi`ah creed and belief. Many scholars
when discussing about Nubuwwah (apostleship, prophethood) mention that
there are 124,000 Nabis according to a Hadith attributed to the Holy
Prophet(s). Then they discuss that there are five Ulul `Azm prophets
(Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, `Isa and Muhammad--peace of God be with all of
them). Sometimes they enumerate the names of the 25 Propehts mentioned in
the Qur'an. However, they do not discuss the number of Rasool. This may
indicate that the issue on the exact number of Rasool is not important to
our creed. 

God knows the best.


Hasnain Kassamali                       Jamadiul Ula 29, 1416/Oct 13, 1996.
Humble servant of the Ahlul Bayt (a).