Allah decided to do things in a different way

During the many centuries between Prophet Adam and Prophet Abraham, God’s Prophets focused totally on teaching the Divine truth of imageless monotheism. And for thousands of years before Prophet Abraham, the prophets who God sent to the thousands of tribes and nations on the earth spreading the Divine truth of imageless monotheism; not one of them was able to establish an ongoing imageless monotheistic community that lasted for more than a few generations. “And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah, confirming what was with them, a party of the people who were given the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs, as if they did not know it!” (Qur’an 2:101)

And: “The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamūd; and ʿAad and Pharaoh and the brothers [neighbors] of Lot; and the companions of the forest, and the people of Tubbaʿ. All denied the messengers [Allah sent to them] so My threat was justly fulfilled.” [50:12-14]

So God decided to do things in an radically different and unique way. Instead of the theology truth of imageless monotheism, God decided to make a partnership loyalty covenant with a small tribe, and send six hundred of his prophets to this small tribe; and work continually for centuries with the people of this tribe, until they were able to establish an ongoing loyal community that would always have a core of righteous and loyal believers.

Allah selected Abraham the Hebrew (Genesis 14:13) and the descendants of Prophets Ishmael, Issac, and Jacob to be the first, but not the last monotheistic community. “There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him.” [Qur’an 60:4] and “Indeed Abraham was a nation obedient to Allah, a Hanif, he was not one of the polytheists.” [Qur’an 16:120].

As Quran 2:130 states: And (everyone) who shuns the creed of Abraham (is) but a foolish soul. We chose him (Abraham the Hebrew Genesis 14:13) in the world and in the Hereafter he shall be among the righteous.”

It is narrated from Abu Dharr that one day he asked the Messenger of Allah: How many prophets are there in all? He replied: One hundred and twenty four thousand. He then asked: How many of them were messenger prophets? He replied: Three hundred thirteen from the above group. He asked: Who was the first of them? He replied: Adam…The first prophet among Bani Israel was Musa and the last of them was Isa and they were in all six hundred (Jewish) prophets.” (Biharul Anwar, Vol. 11, Pg. 32)

The success of this unique ongoing partnership covenant with Abraham’s descendants explains why the God of the Hebrews publicly and spectacularly defeated Egypt’s Pharaoh; and why Prophet Jesus only needed to performed smaller healings as signs of his faith; and why Prophet Muhammad did not need to do miracles at all.

The Hebrew Bible makes reference to several different kinds of a partnership loyalty covenants (Hebrew: בְּרִיתוֹת) with God. These include the Noahic Covenant set out in Genesis 9, which was decreed between God and all living creatures, as well as a number of more specific covenants with Prophet Abraham, the whole Israelite people, the Israelite priesthood, and the Davidic lineage of kings.

The Bible offers differing verses about how many major covenants were created between God and Israel, ranging from one to ten. The Noahic covenant mentioned in Genesis 9:9-17 applies to all of humanity and is ongoing. In this covenant with all living creatures, God promises never again to destroy all life on Earth and creates a rainbow as a sign of this ongoing “everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

The covenant in Genesis 15 is the basis for brit milah (the covenant of circumcision) for ongoing Judaism. The covenant a partnership loyalty was for Prophet Abraham and his offspring, both of natural birth, and adoption or conversion.

Two other covenants of partnership loyalty God makes with Prophet Abraham, are land and a multitude of descendants, without stipulations (ongoing and unconditional) on Prophet Abraham’s descendants for the covenant’s fulfillment: Genesis 12: And to make of Prophet Abraham a great nation and bless Abraham and make his name great so that he will be a blessing, to bless those who bless him and curse him who curses him and all peoples on earth would get an ongoing blessed through Prophet Abraham.

Prophet Isaiah said: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he [Abraham] was only one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. (Isaiah 51:1-2) and the Qur’an states: “You have an excellent example to follow in Abraham.” (60:4) and “Follow the way of Abraham as people of pure faith.” (3:95)

We know the names of some of the prophets sent to the Israelite people, but we do not know the names of many others. The Rabbis taught that 48 named male prophets and 7 named female prophets prophesied in Israel: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Queen Esther.

“You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to God and bear witness impartially: do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God. Be mindful of God: God is well aware of all that you do.” (Qur’an 5:8)

Two other covenants God makes with Prophet Abraham, are land and a multitude of descendants, without stipulations (ongoing and unconditional) on Prophet Abraham’s descendants for the covenant’s fulfillment: Genesis 12: And to make of Prophet Abraham a great nation and bless Abraham and make his name great so that he will be a blessing, to bless those who bless him and curse him who curses him and all peoples on earth would get an ongoing blessed through Prophet Abraham.

Prophet Isaiah said: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he [Abraham] was only one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. (Isaiah 51:1-2) and the Qur’an states: “You have an excellent example to follow in Abraham.” (60:4) and “Follow the way of Abraham as people of pure faith.” (3:95)

And Prophet Isaiah speaking directly for God (43:25) says “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” This is an ongoing permanent commitment of forgiveness from God, for all those who repent in words and deeds.