The work and responsibilities of Prophets and Saints

This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.

The Role and Responsibility of Prophets and Saints​

The work of the Prophets and Saints is the worship of Allah and the invitation to religion, not to interfere in the affairs of Allah, especially after their death. The Prophets, peace be upon them, have passed away, and their mission was to convey the religion of Islam and the divine commands to the people. They did not neglect this duty. The same was the goal of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. It is stated about him:
إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
Your responsibility is only to convey the message.

Reference: (42-Al-Shura:48)

”وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ“
The Messenger's responsibility is nothing more than to clearly convey the command.

Reference: (24-An-Nur:54)

Allah Almighty has guaranteed help and support to every person who obeys the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and whoever disobeys him and opposes the Shariah will deserve punishment. And then no one can save him from the punishment of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said clearly:
”يا عباس يا عم رسول الله لا أغني عنك من الله شيئا يا صفية عمة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا أغني عنك من الله شيئا يا فاطمة بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا أغني عنك من الله شيئا“
"O my uncle Abbas! I will not be able to avail you before Allah in any way. O my aunt Safiyyah! I will not be able to avail you before Allah in any way. O my beloved Fatimah! I will not be able to avail you before Allah in any way."

Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir: Surah Ash-Shu'ara, Hadith: 4772; Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith: Chapter on the verse (And warn your closest kindred) (Hadith: 204-206))[ /ref]
When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, appointed any companion to a position or office, he would advise them thus:
”لا ألفين أحدكم يأتى يوم القيامة على رقبته بعير له رغاء يقول: يا رسول الله أغثني فأقول: لا أملك لك من الله شيئا قد بلغتك“
"I do not want to see any one of you on the Day of Resurrection with a camel (representing Zakat money or stolen property) crying out on his neck, and the person pleading, 'O Messenger of Allah! Help me.' And I respond, 'I taught you all the dealings in this world on a Shariah basis. Now I cannot help you before Allah.'"

Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Jihad: Chapter on Ghulul (Hadith: 3073); Sahih Muslim, Book of Leadership: Chapter on the strict prohibition of Ghulul (Hadith: 1831)

During the caliphates of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq and Umar Farooq, and the early period of Sayyiduna Uthman’s caliphate, the people of Medina were the best and leaders of the world in matters of this world and the hereafter. The only reason was that they had made obedience to the Messenger their goal. But after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman, such changes occurred that the caliphate slipped from their hands and they became subjects. Even after that, conditions worsened. The result was that killing, plundering, and calamities engulfed Medina. Such serious incidents occurred that the people of Medina could not even imagine.
The treatment that the people of Medina received from the person who dealt with them, although he was oppressive and rebellious, was not more cruel-hearted than those people (the disbelievers of Quraysh) who had caused hardships to the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, and his companions. The Lord of Glory says:
أَوَلَمَّا أَصَابَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ‎﴿١٦٥﴾‏
"And what is wrong with you that when adversity touches you, you say, 'From where is this?' Say, 'It is from yourselves.'"

Reference: (3-Al Imran:165)

The aforementioned calamities befell the people of Medina while the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and the early emigrants (Al-Sabiqun Al-Awwalun) were present in Medina.