Earth Never without A Divine Guide
The advent of a savior who will come to fill the world with justice is a common belief among all religions and faiths. There are differences of opinion, though, about who the savior is and about some of his characteristics.
In the Holy Quran, there are two groups of verses from which one can deduce the issue of advent of the savior. The first group includes verses that describe the presence of a divine Hujjat among people as necessary. The second group includes verses that give the good news that the righteous and the downtrodden will rule the earth in the future. Here are some points about the first group:
The Holy Quran says in Verse 7 of Surah Ar-Raad: “(Muhammad), you are only a warner. For every nation there is a guide.”
It is inferred from this verse that there are two types of inviters to the truth: One who warns and one who guides. What is the different between the two? Warning is for helping the deviated on to return to the right path where is guiding is for helping those who have to the right path to move forward. So a warner is a creator and a guide is one who helps people move forward.
There is no doubt that in there verses, the Hoy Prophet (PBUH) has been described as a guide but what is understood from this verse is that guide here is someone other than the Prophet (PBUH), one who will continue his path and safeguard his religion.
God says in Verse 24 of Surah Al-Fatir: “No nation who lived before was left without a warner.”
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So according to Verse 24 of Surah Al-Fatir, there has been a divine prophet in every nation as a warner and according to Verse 7 of Surah Ar-Raad, there is a guide for every nation.
Many prominent Sunni scholars like Ibn Kathir, Tabari, Fakhr Razi, Abu Hayyan Andulusi and Neyshaburi have cited a narration from Ibn Abbas in interpretation of this sentence: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) put his hand on his chest and said: “I am the warner” and then pointed to Ali’s (AS) shoulder and said: “You are guide and after me, you will guide those who are guided!”
So it is inferred from this verse that there is always a guide in human societies that is selected by God. Throughout the history of mankind, the earth has never been and will never with without such a guide and divine Hujjat.
