I read in some history books that Idrees was the first of the Messengers and that he came before Nooh. Is this correct?.
The first of the Messengers (peace and
blessings be upon them) was Nooh (peace be upon him), and the last of them was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Before
Nooh, no Messenger was sent, and from this we realize that the historians are mistaken in their view that Idrees (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) came before Nooh, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent the Revelation to
you (O Muhammad) as We sent the Revelation to Nooh (Noah) and the Prophets after him”
[al-Nisa’ 4:163]
According to the saheeh hadeeth which talks
of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection), “… the people will come to Nooh and will say to him, ‘You are the first Messenger whom Allaah sent
to the people of the earth…’” So there was no Messenger before Nooh, and there is no Messenger after Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your
men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets”
[al-Ahzaab 33:40]
With regard to the descent of ‘Eesa ibn
Maryam (peace be upon him) at the end of time, he will not come down as a Messenger with a new message, rather he will come down as a ruler who
rules according to the sharee’ah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because ‘Eesa and other Prophets are obliged to
believe in Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Allaah took the
Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allaah), and afterwards there
will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.’ Allaah said: ‘Do you agree (to
it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness; and I am with you among the
witnesses (for this)’”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:81]
This Messenger who confirmed what was with
them is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as was narrated in saheeh reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas and others.
Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn
‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), 1/315