Need for new messengers- I'm not so sure

[Naeem Xapha]

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed this whole website since discovering it some years ago- so many of my own misconceptions have been cleared up by the wisdom, knowledge and clear thinking of brother Joseph. I mean it.

One thing which puzzles me still is this understanding that messengers may continue to come, after the last prophet. I must admit that this is difficult for me accept and the evidence offered in the discussions is very subjective- even when the Quran is used to support such thinking.

In one such discussion here I read:

"There is arguably no direct evidence in the Quran that a messenger 'must' declare himself as a messenger of God".

Really?

Surely that clears the path for anyone to stand up and declare himself to be divinely inspired. One such personality from recent history who achieved a degree of success is Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, who as you know, claimed to be a messiah, the Mehdi (Hadith reference) and a reformer- but not a prophet, exactly. The fact that he referred to the hadith prophesies of the second coming of Jesus and Imam Mehdi immediately rings bells for me, since that particular body of text is not from the Almighty himself.

Even so, he has a large minority devoted to his teachings and the Ahmeddiya followers do behave with more dignity than many others who are Muslims from other sects.

Aside from my obvious ramblings here, does anyone have any evidence of people who could have been legitimate messengers, following on from the Prophet?

Brother Joseph, if you read this, Allah bless you for the way you have improved my conviction and understanding. My unlimited prayers and blessings for you, from one human to just another human.

[Hamzeh]

Asalamu 3alykum

Dear Naeem Xapha

Although I do see that the Quran does capture that messengers did indeed claim or declare that they were messengers of God, this does not mean that every person who God recognizes as a messenger of His had to declare it. I think this is what is meant by "There is arguably no direct evidence in the Quran that a messenger 'must' declare himself as a messenger of God".

It may also be plausible that those who work for the sake of God spreading the truth and seeking His approval maybe in the sight of God messengers and they do not perceive it. Just because the Quran does not mention certain messengers does not mean that no other messengers walked the Earth. As a matter of fact God makes it clear that some messengers are not related to Prophet Muhammad.

To me this seems to point out that a lot has happened in the span of time and we may not always be able to hear about every person who God recognizes as a messenger.

40:78 We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any messenger to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth and justice, and there perished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods.

How were messengers of the past recognized as real messengers by their respective community anyway?

Would Saleh, Shuaib, Hud, Lot, Zakariya, Yehya and all the messengers(pbut) have been recognized today if a Scripture was not written about their stories? Its possible that in many cases it was not until after their demise that people recognized them as real messengers or not until God revealed a Scripture about them. 

If it was not for the Quran to verify their authenticity for us today, how was the people able to recognize the messengers authenticity? Was it not the truth they were speaking?

It was not all the time messengers had come to their people with miracles. There is instances that some nations had two or more messengers and all they did was make evident the transgressions of their respective community and were only responsible for clear communication.

36:17 "And our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message.".  Please see 36:13-30

Although some messengers of the past did come with signs, we know that God has stopped sending sign/miracles to the people.

17:59 And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning.

So that brings us to the fact that a true messenger is one that imparts truth to its people without also seeking any reward from anyone other than God.

We must also recognize that messengers are not perfect. Some may of had warrants against them for past deeds. (Moses for example).

Also I'm sure you will recognize that there does seem to be a benefit and blessings every time a messenger does pop up amongst a community.

Even today with a protected Scripture from the Almighty there seems to be people in dire need of clarification and making evident to them the truth in their Book. This at times is so liberating and comforting. This is of course is a blessing by the Almighty Lord.

You said

Surely that clears the path for anyone to stand up and declare himself to be divinely inspired.

Arguably brother it has always has been that way. There was nothing stopping anyone to do that before prophet Muhammad anyways. Many possibly claimed inspiration while they were never inspired and yet they were followed. As we know many were indeed divinely inspired and yet were not followed. How can one draw the line between who is who? Truth stands clear from false.

Truth does indeed stand clear from the false. It was that way in the past and will remain like that God willing in the future.

Anyone who speaks truth Insha'Allah will be recognized. How God wants to label that being is up to Him. We might be surprised on the Day of Resurrection who where the messengers who were rehearsing the revelations and warning mankind of the meeting of the Day of Judgement.

39:71 And those who disbelieve are driven unto hell in troops till, when they reach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Came there not to you messengers of your own, reciting to you the revelations of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? they say: Yea, verily. But the word of doom of disbelievers is fulfilled”

does anyone have any evidence of people who could have been legitimate messengers, following on from the Prophet?

Before I could think of answering that, I like to think about it this way:

I ask myself how would I of noticed or recognized prophet Muhammad as being a messenger of God if I was one of the people in his community?

How would I of notice or recognized the messengers in the time Aad, Thamud, the example given in 36:13-30 if I was to be living in their community?

I'm not saying to call anyone a messenger, but its more important to recognize the truth and help anyone who seems to be spreading the message. The point being that God The Most Merciful always guides and warns humanity, reminds and takes people from darkness into light Insha'Allah.

Those are my thoughts

Salam

[Naeem Xapha]

W/Salaam Br. Hamzeh

Thank you for elaborating your reply to my post. It alleviates some of my difficulties with the new messenger conundrum.

In all honesty I am troubled to a far greater extent by how Islam is subjected to people's own interpretation, around the world and the problems this is causing.

[My apologies in advance to the forum moderators if I am going off topic in this particular section]

I am deeply troubled and saddened by such things as:

The near deification of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) to that approaching the Christian view of Jesus (may Allah be pleased with him)

The non-regulatory framework in which Muslim scholars (comprising of countless individuals and groups) imposing their own agenda on followers

The otherworldly mosque clergy who insist that parents send children to daily mosque classes, at the expense of evening school study time ...and who place little or no importance to achieving any knowledge outside of religion

The lack of educated imams in mosques- many are from madrasah type establishments, some seeking to replicate a similar environment in mosques

Comparatively low attainment levels amongst Muslims generally, resulting in under-representation in important positions in society

Cultural values and traditions dominating our daily lives, in contradiction to Quranic teachings

Hadith-driven Islam (a big one for me)

...I could go on

I am a professional person with a career and a family, home etc. But inwardly I regard myself a total failure with no significant accomplishments, that can address even one of the above.

Salaam

[good logic]

Peace Naeem Xapha.
Once we accept Qoran, it becomes our live" messenger".

Accepting human messengers is irrelevant because the criteria is in Qoran ,the warning is in Qoran ,their message is in Qoran, ...If they are true, they will only direct us to Qoran. Nothing but Qoran s message.

The prophet warned by "Qoran- Li undhirakum Bihi Wa Man Balagh-" his generation and Qoran is here to warn all coming generations.

Coming messengers is no big deal, we are responsible to check all information given by anyone with Qoran.

Following Qoran is following all true messengers past ,present and future.
GOD bless you.
Peace.