-4-  

The selection of a Messenger

.

God selects His messengers according to His infinite Wisdom.  God knows who among his servants is best qualified to deliver the message entrusted to him:

"When a powerful proof comes to them, they say, "We will not believe, unless we are given what is given to GOD's messengers!" GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHO IS QUALIFIED TO DELIVER HIS MESSAGE."  6:124

From the information we have about the life of many previous messengers, we know that such issues as education, wealth, or social status were never factors by which God selects the ones to become His messengers.

According to all historical accounts, we know that such messengers as Moses, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad and others were men of slender means. They had no notable claim to social status or power and had no material aspirations.

However, we do know that these prophets have all been men highly honored and regarded for their integrity and the purity of their lives even by those who later, on the announcement of their claims, became their enemies.

Moreover, almost all of God's prophets, were not known to be learned men or scholars in the arts and culture of their times, yet, God chose each of them to deliver His revelations.

Sadly, the human being is not always able to comprehend the wisdom and purpose of the divine plan.  We read in the Quran how every messenger sent by God was ridiculed by his people:

"Every time a messenger went to them, they ridiculed him."  15:11

"When they saw you, they always ridiculed you: "Is this the one chosen by God to be a messenger?" 25:41

We read in the Quran a case of man's worldly and short sighted view, in Sura 43 we read how the community of Muhammad ridiculed him during the early days of the revelation because they expected that if a messenger would come to them he would be one of the prominent elite of Mecca or Yathrib (Medina): 

"They said, "If only this Quran was sent down through another man from the two communities (Mecca or Yathrib) who is prominent!"  43:31

Yes, it is true that Muhammad had no notable claim to social status or power and had no material aspirations, yet little did his enemies know that as a result of the revelation he delivered in accordance to God's Will, he was a key factor in bringing about everlasting changes in the history and civilization of the world. The same argument applies to other prophets of God.

.

Back to 'MESSENGERS' main page

.