Lessons from the Stories of the Prophets
In Surat Anbiya, most prophets are only mentioned briefly, but the theme common to all of them is how Allah heard their duas and answered them, or saved them from whatever difficulty they were going through.
Stories of the prophets
For example, we have the story of Ibrahim and how he confronted his people about their idol worship. They built up a huge, blazing hot fire and flung him into it to burn, but Allah saved him and made it cool for him.
قَالُواْ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓاْ ءَالِهَتَكُمۡ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ فَـٰعِلِينَ (٦٨) قُلۡنَا يَـٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرۡدً۬ا وَسَلَـٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ (٦٩) وَأَرَادُواْ بِهِۦ كَيۡدً۬ا فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمُ ٱلۡأَخۡسَرِينَ (٧٠)
They said, ‘Burn him and avenge your gods, if you are going to do the right thing.’ But We said, ‘Fire, be cool and safe for Ibrahim.’ They planned to harm him, but We made them suffer the greatest loss. [21:68-70]
We then hear about:
• Lut, the nephew of Ibrahim, whom Allah saved from the evil people of his town.
• Nuh, who called for help against his people and Allah destroyed them.
• Dawud and Sulayman, who were given great wisdom and power
• Ayyub, whose suffering Allah relieved and restored him to health and prosperity.
• Yunus, who made dua from inside the whale and was saved
• Zakariyya, whose dua for a child was answered
The final mention is of Maryam and Isa. Scholars who believe that Maryam was a prophet cite this as one of their pieces of evidence: the fact that she is mentioned in this surah among all the other prophets. However this is still a minority opinion.
Allah will save you if you ask Him
Allah’s lesson to us here is:
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
We answered him and saved him from distress: this is how We save the believers [21:88]
This type of deliverance is not exclusive to the prophets – all believers will be relieved from their stress and difficulties. But we have to seek Allah’s help with sincerity and show Him our need.
In this surah He is giving us the formula of how to be saved: have imaan, sincerity and humility, and beg Allah for help, and He will be there for you. But do the opposite, and you will not get any help or support from Him.
Our ummah is suffering many atrocities today, so we need to do our part in what we can, and then be on our knees begging for Allah’s help and support.
Allah knows everythingAllah says of Himself in this surah:
وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ
We have knowledge of all things [21:81]
Only Allah can say this, and He knows everything about everything. He knows whatever stresses or illnesses or agonies you are going through, even if no one else is aware.
This means not only does He understand our problems and can help us, but He also knows everything we do. We need to be careful, especially in these days.
Let’s improve our actions and intentions, and ask Allah to enable us to maintain goodness in our life in order to become much better and closer to Him. Ameen.
Based on the Ramadan Reflection Night 21 by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
When the believers call upon Allah
By Samia Ahmed
On the twenty first night of Ramadan, Shaykh Haytham reflected on Surah al-Anbiya, a chapter that gathers the stories of many prophets and reminds us of a powerful pattern in the lives of the believers.
Each prophet faced immense trials. Each prophet stood against oppression. Yet in every story there is the same outcome: Allah rescues His servants when they turn to Him sincerely.
Consider the story of Ibrahim عليه السلام. When his people cast him into the fire for rejecting their idols, Allah intervened.
Allah says:
قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
“We said: O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:69)
The fire that should have destroyed him became protection by the command of Allah.
Then Allah reminds us of Lut (peace be upon him), who lived among a corrupt people who rejected guidance and persisted in wrongdoing. When oppression reached its peak, Allah rescued him.
Allah says:
وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ
“And Lut, We gave him judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the town that used to commit evil deeds.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:74)
Then comes the example of Ayyub (peace be upon him), who endured severe illness and prolonged hardship. Yet even in suffering he remained patient and turned to Allah.
Allah tells us:
وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“And Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord: Indeed harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:83)
And Allah responded.
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ
“So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of harm.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:84)
Then there is the story of Yunus (peace be upon him), swallowed by the whale after leaving his people in distress. In the depths of darkness he called out to Allah.
Allah says:
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“And Dhun-Nun, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not constrain him. Then he called out within the darkness: There is no god except You. Glory be to You. Indeed I have been among the wrongdoers.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:87)
And again Allah responded.
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ
“So We responded to him and saved him from distress.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:88)
Even Maryam is mentioned in this surah among the stories of the prophets, highlighting her extraordinary faith and devotion.
Allah says:
وَالَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِن رُّوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَاهَا وَابْنَهَا آيَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
“And the one who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her from Our spirit and made her and her son a sign for the worlds.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:91)
A clear pattern appears throughout these stories.
The prophets faced oppression.
They faced hardship.
They faced isolation.
But when they turned to Allah with sincerity, Allah answered them.
The lesson for us is profound. Yet it raises an important question for us today.
When we hear the stories of the prophets, how do we engage with them?
Do we approach them as lessons and guidance for how to navigate our own trials?
Or do we treat them merely as stories that pass by our ears like entertainment?
The Quran did not reveal these narratives for storytelling alone. They are meant to guide the believer in moments of difficulty.
Allah says:
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
“Indeed in their stories there is a lesson for people of understanding.” (Surah Yusuf 12:111)
The prophets are not only examples of patience. They are examples of how to turn to Allah when trials come.
Ibrahim عليه السلام trusted Allah even when facing the fire.
Ayyub عليه السلام called upon Allah in illness.
Yunus عليه السلام turned to Allah from the depths of darkness.
Lut عليه السلام remained firm among corruption.
Their response was always the same: they called upon Allah.
Allah reminds us:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
“And when My servants ask you about Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls upon Me.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:186)
This teaches us that relief begins when the believer turns sincerely to Allah.
Sometimes the Ummah itself needs to return to this posture. A posture of humility. A posture of dependence. A posture where we recognise that no strategy or power replaces Allah’s support.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Supplication is the essence of worship.” (Tirmidhi)
Why is dua so powerful?
Because Allah knows what lies deep within the heart.
In Surah al-Anbiya Allah reminds us of His perfect knowledge.
وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَالِمِينَ
“And We are ever knowing of everything.” (Surah al-Anbiya 21:81)
Allah knows what we cannot express.
He knows the fears we hide.
He knows the struggles we cannot articulate.
This is part of the grandeur of Allah. His knowledge encompasses every detail of existence.
That is why believers worship Him alone.
He is the Almighty.
He is the One who hears every call.
He is the One who rescues when all paths seem closed.
The stories of the prophets are not distant history. They are living guidance for believers who face trials today.
May Allah grant us hearts that turn to Him as the prophets did.
May He allow us to learn from their examples and not merely listen to their stories.
And may He grant relief to the believers through sincere return to Him.
Ameen.