Five Differences between a Prophet and a Magician/Soothsayer

1) Prophets are known for their trustworthiness, integrity, honesty, generosity, and great akhlaaq when dealing with others. While the latter are known for their lies, betrayal, greediness, poor akhlaaq, inscrutability and darkness, and lack of composure when dealing with people.

2) Prophets command others to exhibit the best of akhlaaq. They promote that which is virtuous and forbid that which is evil. They command that which results in the benefit of people. They call for cooperation in that which is good and virtuous, and they forbid sins and enmity and cooperation in evil. As for the latter, when they encourage something, it is usually in the negation of all that (i.e., the aforementioned positive things).

3) Prophets praise each other. Each prophet reaffirms the veracity of the major message his predecessor relayed and claims to abide by it as well. As for the latter, they usually belie each other and display enmity toward one another and create divisions amongst themselves.

4) Prophets do not obtain their status of prophethood via learning about it, seeking it, and obtaining it. No Prophet has ever sought and worked toward attaining the status of prophethood. There are no rituals that people perform to attain the status of prophethood. Rather, it is an appointment and selection by Allah. As for the latter, they learn, train, and seek the status they wish to obtain. Depending on how much they have learned and trained to obtain, they also vary in their skill set.

5) The major signs that the Prophets have come with are outside the capacity of all human beings and jinn alike. As for the latter, their tricks may be imitated by other human beings and jinn.

– by Dr. Sultan al-‘Umayri

وَلَا بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Nor the word of a soothsayer; little do you remember. [69:42]