The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 111
4. THE NEED FOR PROPHETS. God Almighty has bound up belief in His own existence with belief in His Messengers. The reason for this is that man is invested with the capacity of believing in the. Unity of God as stone is invested with the capacity of flaring up; and a Messenger is like the flint which elicits the spark from the stone by striking it. It is, therefore, not possible that without the flint, that is to say without a Divine Messenger, the spark of the Unity of God may be ignited in a human heart. It is only a Divine Messenger who brings down Tauḥīd [belief in the Unity of God] upon the earth and it is achieved only through him. God is hidden and displays His countenance only though a. Messenger. [Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 22, p. 131]. Prophets are a Manifestation of Divine Unity. The misconception that belief in the Unity of God is enough for the salvation of man, and that it is not necessary to believe in a Prophet, is utterly absurd. People who entertain such a belief seek to separate the soul from the body. Belief in the Unity of God can only be established through a Prophet, and is not possible without believing in him. If a Prophet, who is the source of belief in God's. Unity, is excluded, Divine Unity cannot be upheld. A. Prophet alone is the cause and source and father and fountain and perfect manifestation of the belief in the. Unity of God. Through him alone can one behold the hidden countenance of God and realize His existence. On