One of the most important reasons for the necessity of prophets’ continuity is the changes and transitions of human beings which necessitates the continuity of prophecy. As one of the Baha’i proselytizers says: “Because man is changing, his/her facts will be changing; so religion or religious law is required to be changed.[1]”
However, does this reason consort with the religion of Islam? Does this reason necessitate the abolishment of the religion of Islam and the existence of a new religion? The answer to the two mentioned-above question is negative.
1) The religion of Islam possesses special traits such as temperance in religious law, the real criteria for commandments, the validity of wisdom alongside with narration, being comprehensive in legislation and; most importantly, the existence of guardianship and Imamate of holy imams (peace be upon them) after the holy prophet (P.H.) as the guardians of the religions. These traits cause Islam to be an immortal religion. As mentioned in the holy Quran:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا (فرقان/1)
Blessed is He who hath revealed unto His slave the Criterion (for right and wrong) that he may be a warner to the peoples (Forqan/1)
Or it is mentioned in another verse:
"... لَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ (انعام/59)
“… naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record. (Al-An’am/59)
Also a narration by Imam Sadeq (P.H.) says:
"لَمْ ینزل (القرآن) لِزَمانٍ دُونَ زَمان و لالِناسٍ دُون ناس و لذلِکَ فَفِی کُلِّ زَمان جدید و عند کل ناس غض[2]"
The holy Quran hasn’t been sent down for specified time and people; but it is used for all people in all the time. For this reason, it is always new and fresh.”
2) The human being requirement to commandments which are proportional with human transitions has been predicted. The minor points of the religion of Islam are changeable based on time and circumstances.
" فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ..." (روم/30)
“So set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright the nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah’s creation. That is the right religion… [Al-rum/30]
Consequently, considering Islam as a comprehensive religion, no new religion is needed and its legitimacy and illegitimacy will be permanent. As written in the narrations: “The Excellency Muhammad’s (P.H.) legitimacy is legitimate and his illegitimacy is illegitimate by the day of judgment.[3]”
[1] Alauddin Qods Jourabchi, Bahaullah, the promised one of the heavenly books, electronic copy, p. 21.
[2] Sheikh Tousi, Al-Amali, Bija: Darul Thafafah, 1414 A.H., pp. 580-581; Sheikh Sedouq, Oyoun Akhbar Al-Reza, (Corrected by Sheikh Hussein A’alami), Beyrout: A’alami institute, 1404 A.H., p. 239.
[3] Koleyni, Al-Kafi, (Translaetd by Seyyed Jawad Mostafawi), Tehran: Darul Kotob Al-Islamiyah, 1365 S.H., Vol. 1, p. 58