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Who is a Messenger?

(Quranic criteria)

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The Quran sets a number of requirements that all messengers must have.  These requirements are set by God and given in the Quran so that the people would be able to distinguish between genuine messengers and false ones.

A-   The first trait of a genuine messenger is that he will always preach the worship of God alone. This is the principal message of any of God's messengers:

"We have sent a messenger to every community, saying, "YOU SHALL WORSHIP GOD, and avoid idolatry." 16:36

"We did not send any messenger before you except with the inspiration: "There is no god except Me; YOU SHALL WORSHIP ME ALONE."  21:25

In Sura 11, we read a number of examples of messengers who went to their people with this message:

25:   "We sent Noah to his people, saying, "I come to you as a clear warner."

26:   "YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP EXCEPT GOD.  I fear for you the retribution of a painful day."

We also read in the same Sura (11) the example of Hud:

50:   "To `Ad we sent their brother Hud.  He said, "O my people, WORSHIP GOD; YOU HAVE NO OTHER GOD BESIDES HIM. You are inventing."

also the messenger Saleh:

61:   "To Thamud we sent their brother Saleh. He said, "O my people, WORSHIP GOD; YOU HAVE NO GOD BESIDE HIM."

This principal message is indeed inspired to all God's messengers, they are all commanded to preach to their people the worship of God alone and the abolition of all forms of idolatry.

Due to the importance of this prime message, it is considered the first pillar of Islam.  The testimony of "Laa Elaaha Ellaa Allah" (there is no god but GOD) is uttered by God Himself, and also His angels and all those endowed with knowledge:

"God bears witness that there is no other god besides Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge."3:18

B-   The second condition that God sets for His messengers and by which we are able to distinguish between genuine messengers and false ones is the fact that a genuine messenger will never ask for a wage/return for himself.

This command was given to Muhammad and all the other messengers of God:

"Say, "I DO NOT ASK FOR ANY WAGE, and I am not an imposter."  38:86

"We have sent you as a deliverer of good news, as well as a warner.  Say, "I DO NOT ASK YOU FOR ANY MONEY. All I seek is to help you find the right path to your Lord, if this is what you choose."  25:56-57 (also see 6:90, 42:23,  

In Sura 11 we read about the words of Noah to his people:

"O my people, I DO NOT ASK YOU FOR ANY MONEY; my wage comes only from GOD." 11:29 (also 10:72).

The same words are spoken of other messengers (Hud 11:51, Saleh 26:145, Lot 26:164, Shu'aib 26:180)

As a result, anyone who preaches or uses religion to make any financial gains is not a genuine messenger. 

C-    The third condition that God decrees to His messengers is the fact that they are always given divine, incontrovertible proof of their messengership.

This point is vital in distinguishing between righteous servants of God who preach the worship of God alone and who do not expect a return or reward for their work, and thus satisfy the first two conditions, but who do not satisfy the third requirement.

While as these may be called preachers, warners or sevants of God, only the messengers of God are given divine proof of their messengership.  The following Quranic verses confirm this truth:

"WE SENT OUR MESSENGERS SUPPORTED BY CLEAR PROOFS, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice."  57:25

"Many a generation we have annihilated before you when they transgressed.  THEIR MESSENGERS WENT TO THEM WITH CLEAR PROOFS, but they refused to believe.  We thus requite the guilty people."  10:13

"That is because THEIR MESSENGERS WENT TO THEM WITH CLEAR PROOFS, but they disbelieved. Consequently, GOD punished them. He is Mighty, strict in enforcing retribution." 40:22

Consequently, all those who claim messengership and are not able to produce incontrovertible proof of their messengership are false messengers.

Once again it must be emphasised that there are many righteous believers who preach the worship of God alone and many of them do not expect to be paid for their sincere work for God. However, they are not messengers.  Messengers receive divine inspiration from God (21:25), and they are always given proof of their messengership from God (above verses).

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