In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Among His Messengers
A Great Prophecy [41:53] We will show them our proofs in the horizons, and within themselves, until they realize that this is the truth. Is your Lord not sufficient as a witness of all things?
[110:1] When triumph comes from GOD, and victory.
[110:2] You will see the people embracing GOD's religion in throngs.
The above spells out a divine promise of the advent of a time when Quran will be recognized as the valid and authentic truth from God. We know from Quran that God never breaks a promise (3:9) and that His systems are immutable and unchangeable (35:43).
For this promise to be fulfilled, God has been graciously using many ways and tools to have us witness His truth individually and as communities. His scriptures, messengers, and the precise creation of all beings and things, seen and unseen, have been divinely speaking His logic and proofs, leading us out of darkness. He has established a system that each community will receive a warner and that He will never annihilate a community without first sending a messenger. All believers readily trust in this divine justice (21:47):
[10:47] To each community, a messenger. After their messenger comes, they are judged equitably, without the least injustice.
[26:208] We never annihilate any community without sending warners.
[28:59] For your Lord never annihilates any community without sending a messenger in the midst thereof, to recite our revelations to them. We never annihilate any community, unless its people are wicked.
This reminder is to emphasize that the word messenger when used by God is not limited to the common understanding of both human and angel messengers of God (11:69,77- 19:19- 10:21- 35:1). At times, it implies a third type of a messenger which is the message contained in an existing divine scripture. Based on the word of God in its perfect, infallible Arabic, we learn from Quran that the word messenger (rasool) could also be used for the message itself (resalah). God is the One who has clearly taught us this basic, linguistic piece of information through intertwiningly using each word to describe the other (using the word messenger to describe the message of Quran, or indicating how God's scriptures perform all the human duties of the messenger). In the following verses, God's scriptures are reciting/preaching and proclaiming His truth:
[65:10] GOD has prepared for them severe retribution. Therefore, you shall reverence GOD, O you who possess intelligence and believed. GOD has sent down to you a message -
[65:11] a messenger* who recites to you GOD's revelations, clearly, to lead those who believe and work righteousness out of the darkness into the light. Anyone who believes in GOD and leads a righteous life, He will admit him into gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. GOD will generously reward him.
*65:10-11 The ``Messenger'' here is clearly the Quran. Verse 10 talks about ``sending down a message,'' and this points to the Quran as the messenger in 65:11 (Appendix 20).
[11:1] A.L.R. This is a scripture whose verses have been perfected, then elucidated.* It comes from a Most Wise, Most Cognizant.
The Quran: Messenger of God
[11:2] Proclaiming: "You shall not worship except GOD. I come to you from Him as a warner, as well as a bearer of good news.
[11:3] "You shall seek your Lord's forgiveness, then repent to Him. He will then bless you generously for a predetermined period, and bestow His grace upon those who deserve it. If you turn away, then I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day."
[14:1] A.L.R. A scripture that we revealed to you, in order to lead the people out of darkness into the light - in accordance with the will of their Lord - to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.
[27:1] T. S. These (letters) constitute proofs of the Quran; a profound scripture.
[27:2] A beacon, and good news, for the believers.
The Gospel of Jesus: Guidance and Light
[5:46] Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous.
[5:47] The people of the Gospel shall rule in accordance with GOD's revelations therein. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD's revelations are the wicked.
Quran: The Ultimate Reference
[5:48] Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD's revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you.....
It is clear from the above verses that God's scriptures perform and fulfill the same exact duties of human messengers: delivering/proclaiming, warning, giving good news, guiding, leading people out of darkness, and confirming previous scriptures. The one difference between a human or an angel messenger of God and the divine scripture as a messenger would be the physical time limitation in case of humans or angels compared to the eternal message contained in God's scriptures. In other words, human and angel messengers perform their delivery task during a very specific, limited, and predetermined physical life span, while God's scripture is His timeless messenger that will always be there for humanity until the end.
The Dead Prophets and Saints
[16:20] As for the idols they set up beside GOD, they do not create anything; they themselves were created.
[16:21] They are dead, not alive, and they have no idea how or when they will be resurrected.
Conclusion:
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It is a fact that sending a messenger/warner to each community is not limited to the human kind of messengers. With the overwhelming technology we have now, the world has become so tiny, and Quran, the eternal messenger of God, has become within reach, a click on a button away! This availability of the message of Quran, in many languages, in the midst of each community, on each spot of the globe is a divine and a valid mean of sending a messenger to purify our souls. It is becoming very unlikely in the highly advanced era we live in with the fast speed availability of the Quran to be excused for not receiving a messenger (40:49-50).
Quran's ideologies, wisdom, explanations, proofs, examples, warnings, good news, commands, and details that resolve all disputes sufficiently serve as a messenger to communities or individuals- a messenger that stays alive and never dies. In the following verses, the emphasis is on the delivery and the availability of the great wisdom, divine warnings, proofs, and examples to the different groups or communities:
[25:38] Also `Aad, Thamoud, the inhabitants of Al-Russ, and many generations between them.
[25:39] To each of these groups, we delivered sufficient examples, before we annihilated them.[54:1] The Hour has come closer, and the moon has split.
[54:2] Then they saw a miracle; but they turned away and said, "Old magic."
[54:3] They disbelieved, followed their opinions, and adhered to their old traditions.
[54:4] Sufficient warnings have been delivered to alert them.
[54:5] Great wisdom; but all the warnings have been in vain.[27:93] And say, "Praise be to GOD; He will show you His proofs, until you recognize them. Your Lord is never unaware of anything you do."
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In 42:51 we learn the three modes of the divine communication with humans - inspiration, from behind a barrier, and by sending a messenger that reveals what God wills. It is God's precise choice of words that He used the general word "messenger" without any specification. When we read this verse, we must include and count God's scriptures among the messengers and besides both human and angel ones. God communicates His message through Quran, the eternal messenger of God.
How God Communicates With Us [42:51] No human being can communicate with GOD except through inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or by sending a messenger through whom He reveals what He wills. He is the Most High, Most Wise.
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.