Messenger: Miracle & Message (Part IV)

As we saw in the previous article, God provides miracles to messengers to be revealed at a precise predetermined time. The primary role of a miracle is to act as a testament to the divine authority bestowed upon a messenger. However, the essence of a messenger’s role transcends the mere display of miraculous signs. Fundamentally, a messenger is commissioned with a task of paramount importance: delivering a message from God, Lord of the universe. This dual responsibility defines their mission (1) to provide proof of their divine commission in the form of a miracle and (2) to bear a message of great significance. This combination of authenticating signs and substantive instructions characterizes a messenger’s role as both a bearer of good news and a warner.

Recognize the Miracle Yet Reject the Messenger

It’s a curious yet recurrent theme in the narratives of messengers that the people to whom they are sent may, at first, recognize the miracles performed. Yet, in a rather paradoxical turn, they often end up rejecting the message these miracles are meant to authenticate. This change in sentiment is rooted in the fact that if they acknowledge the miracle inherently, it will validate the truth and authority of the messenger’s message, a commitment that demands profound changes in beliefs, values, and lifestyle. This is not merely theoretical; it’s vividly illustrated in historical accounts, such as those of Pharaoh’s people and the people of Thamud. Their initial recognition of the miraculous signs was ultimately overshadowed by their refusal to accept the implications of these signs. This pattern reveals a deeper truth about human nature: our capacity to recognize truth is often at odds with our willingness to accept and act upon the ramifications of the truth.

We see this occurred with the people of Pharoah at the time of Moses. On the one hand, they wanted their plagues to end, acknowledging the miraculous nature of what was occurring, but on the other hand, they didn’t want to concede to the demands imposed on them by Moses’s message.

[7:134] Whenever a plague afflicted them, they said, “O Moses, implore your Lord—you are close to Him. If you relieve this plague, we will believe with you, and will send the Children of Israel with you.”
[7:135] Yet, when we relieved the plague for any length of time, they violated their pledge.

 وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّجْزُ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ لَئِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا ٱلرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ

 فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ هُم بَـٰلِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ

In the example of the people of Thamud, they were able to witness for themselves the miraculous nature of Saleh’s camel, yet it was the message that convinced the believers to accept Saleh and the disbelievers of his community to reject him.

[7:73] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Proof has been provided for you from your Lord: here is GOD’s camel, to serve as a sign for you. Let her eat from GOD’s land, and do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur a painful retribution.
[7:74] “Recall that He made you inheritors after ‘Ãd, and established you on earth, building mansions in its valleys, and carving homes from its mountains. You shall remember GOD’s blessings, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.”
[7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the common people who believed, “How do you know that Sãleh is sent by his Lord?” They said, “The message he brought has made us believers.”
[7:76] The arrogant ones said, “We disbelieve in what you believe in.”

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

 قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِمَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـٰلِحًا مُّرْسَلٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلَ بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ

 قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ

While the dual mandate of the messenger strengthens the faith of the believers. The dissonance causes the disbelievers to want to eradicate the miracle, and this is precisely what the leaders of Thamud decided to do regarding Saleh’s camel.

[7:77] Subsequently, they slaughtered the camel, rebelled against their Lord’s command, and said, “O Sãleh, bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are really a messenger.”
[7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.
[7:79] He turned away from them, saying, “O my people, I have delivered my Lord’s message to you, and advised you, but you do not like any advisers.”

 فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰصَـٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

 فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ

 فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ

In another example from Sura 36, Y.S. (YãSîn), we see the example of people who acknowledge God yet reject the messengers that came to them. When the people tell their messengers that they consider them bad omens, the messengers responded that their omen is determined by their response.

[36:13] Cite for them the example of people in a community that received the messengers.
[36:14] When we sent to them two (messengers), they disbelieved them. We then supported them by a third. They said, “We are (God’s) messengers to you.”
[36:15] They said, “You are no more than human beings like us. The Most Gracious did not send down anything. You are liars.”
[36:16] They said, “Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. [36:17] “Our sole mission is to deliver the message.”
[36:18] They said, “We consider you bad omens. Unless you refrain, we will surely stone you, or afflict you with painful retribution.”
[36:19] They said, “Your omen depends on your response, now that you have been reminded. Indeed, you are transgressing people.”

 وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَآءَهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ
 إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ
 قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ
 قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ
 وَمَا عَلَيْنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
 قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا۟ لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
 قَالُوا۟ طَـٰٓئِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ

Therefore, miracles are given to messengers to serve as divine authorization for the message they are commissioned to deliver. How people respond to a messenger’s proof and their message will determine if they accept or reject their messenger.

Rejectors of Code 19

We see a similar phenomenon has played out in regards to Code 19. When Code 19 was first revealed to the world, the Muslim masses embraced it wholeheartedly. Prominent individuals like Ahamad Deedat dedicated books and speaking tours to share the findings with the world. But when the implications of the miracle became known, most notably that Hadith and Sunnah were satanic innovations, the people turned against the miracle. Ahmad Deedat denounced Dr. Rashad Khalifa as a liar. While the idol worshiping leaders of Saudi Arabia allocated vast sums of money to fight God and His miracle. For example, the famous Lebanese publisher Dr Al-`Ilm Lil-Malyn (Knowledge for the Millions) published the Arabic version of “The Miracle of the Quran” in March 1983, only to have the Saudis buy and destroy all the copies.

Don’t Reject The Messenger’s Proofs

The Quran informs us that if a person rejects the messenger’s proof, all their works will be nullified.

[7:146] I will divert from My revelations those who are arrogant on earth, without justification. Consequently, when they see every kind of proof they will not believe. And when they see the path of guidance they will not adopt it as their path, but when they see the path of straying they will adopt it as their path. This is the consequence of their rejecting our proofs, and being totally heedless thereof.
[7:147] Those who reject our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, their works are nullified. Are they requited only for what they committed?

سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلْغَىِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ

 وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Don’t Reject the Messenger’s Message

As we saw above, if a person rejects the messenger’s proof, their works will be nullified. Similarly, the next set of verses informs us that if a person rejects a messenger’s message, it will also cause their works to be nullified. Therefore, if someone wants to be counted among the guided, they must accept both the messenger’s proof as well as their message.

[47:32] Those who disbelieve and repel from the path of GOD, and oppose the messenger after the guidance has been manifested for them, will never hurt GOD in the least. Instead, He nullifies their works.
[47:33] O you who believe, you shall obey GOD, and obey the messenger. Otherwise, all your works will be in vain.

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَشَآقُّوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ لَن يَضُرُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا وَسَيُحْبِطُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ

 يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ

Don’t Reject ANY Messengers

The Quran imparts a vital directive regarding our perception and treatment of God’s messengers: it counsels against making distinctions among them or dismissing any. This teaching is profound in its implications. It suggests that each messenger, regardless of the specific context or message, is an integral part of a larger, divinely orchestrated narrative. To reject even one of these messengers is, in essence, to turn away from the broader tapestry of truth that these messengers collectively represent. God calls such people who do that true disbelievers.

[4:150] Those who disbelieve in GOD and His messengers, and seek to make distinction among GOD and His messengers, and say, “We believe in some and reject some,” and wish to follow a path in between;
[4:151] these are the real disbelievers. We have prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.
[4:152] As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them, He will grant them their recompense. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا

 أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ حَقًّا وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

 وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُفَرِّقُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَوْفَ يُؤْتِيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Hence, it becomes incumbent upon all believers not to reject any of God’s messengers or the proofs or the messages they bring. This is not a trivial matter; it’s a fundamental requirement for faith in order to be counted among the righteous.

[2:285] The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They believe in GOD, His angels, His scripture, and His messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” They say, “We hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny.”

 ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ