Prophets are both Servants and Messengers of Allah

The duty of prophethood does not prevent prophets from being a human. The fact that prophets performed miracles and received revelations from Allah, and foretold the knowledge of the unseen does not mean that they know everything or they possess the qualities of uluhiyyah. Like other people, the prophets needed food, drink, clothing, and shelter, and they worked like everyone else to meet their needs, and they left the world when the time came. This matter is mentioned in the Qur'an as follows: "And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food,  nor were they immortal [on earth]." (Anbya, 21/8) Being human is not a defect for the prophets, but rather they are better suited to communicate with people to convey the divine orders and to be accepted as guides.

When the human aspect of the prophets was left aside throughout the history, wrong conceptions and beliefs of prophets have emerged. When the connection between the miracle and the one who is given the miracle, revelation and the one who is receiving the revelation is not formed correctly, the prophets were ascribed the qualities of uluhiyyah, and were deified. 

Unlike other people, prophets are people who have received knowledge of the unseen through revelation. In the Qur'an, it is seen that the prophets foretell some knowledge of unseen about the future. For example, Isa foretold the prophet that would come after him, by mentioning his name. ( As-Saf, 61/6) Receiving the unseen information from Allah does not mean that the prophets know the unseen through their own means. The information that prophets foretold about the unseen can only be known with revelation of Allah. Knowing the unseen is not a quality or feature of the prophets. 

In order to establish a solid understanding of prophets among Muslims, the Last Prophet Muhammad (saw) had to remind those who believed in him that he was a human being from time to time. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said when a man addressed him with highly respectful remarks: "...I am Muhammad, Abdullah's son . I am the servant and Messenger of Allah. By Allah, I do not want you to give me a higher rank than Almighty Allah did!" (Ibn Hanbal, III, 154) Muhammad also warned his ummah not to deify him as Christians did to Isa: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Maryam. Indeed, I am only a servant of Allah. So, call me the servant of Allah and His Messenger." (Bukhari, Anbya, 48) After this warning, the believers should act prudently when expressing their love, commitmentfor the Messengerof Allah. 

The prophets are mortals as a requirement of being human, just like any other people. Death is mentioned in the Qur'an as a law that is general for the human beings with no exception: "Every soul will taste death." (Anbya, 21/35) , "Everyone upon the earth will perish. And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor." (Rahman, 55/26-27) As it is stated in the verses, baqaa (perpetuity) is only for Allah. Every creature is mortal and they will taste death. Almighty Allah reveals that the prophets are not immortal and eternal by saying: "Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all. But Allah will reward the grateful." (Ali 'Imran, 3/144)  The Holy Qur'an also confirms the deaths of Prophet Muhammad: "Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, will dispute." (Zumar, 39/30-31) ; "And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]. So if you die, would they be eternal?" (Anbya, 21/34)

Prophethood cannot be achieved by working, willingness, worshiping a lot and having superior morality. Almighty Allah appointed the prophets as He willed from among His servants. This is a grace and blessing of Allah for them. In this respect, the Qur'an says, "That [prophethood] is the bounty of Allah. He gives it to whom He wills..." (Jumu'ah, 62/4)"...Allah confers favor [prophethood] upon whom He wills of His servants..." (Ibrahim, 14/11). 

The fact that prophethood is bestowed by Allah shows that it is not a duty that is transferred from father to son. Although names of father-son prophets mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, it does not mean that the prophethood descends from father to son through succession. While the sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Ishaq became prophets, the son of Noah and the father of Abraham were among the deniers. (Hud, 11/42-46; Tawbah, 9/114)