Besides using angels to accomplish some tasks, Allah uses human beings to perform activities taking place strictly among humans (If there were angels walking peacefully on earth, We would have sent down to them from heaven an angel messenger, 17:95). Although Allah sends angels as messengers, but in a human form: “If We made (the messenger) an angel, We would have made him a man, ….6:9. Usually, when Allah sends an angel to iniquitous people, it doesn’t end well for those people (6:8).
There are two categories of messengers: messengers strictly, and prophets. Prophets are entrusted with the duty of conveying a scripture (2:213, 3:81). There seems to be a confusion in many minds between the functions of a messenger and that of a prophet, but Quran brings us some clarifying statements. Anyone sent by Allah is a messenger, but any messenger delivering a scripture is a prophet.
Two verses carry strong commandments not to make a distinction between prophets (2:136 ), or between messengers (2:285). Making a distinction is giving undue importance to a prophet or a messenger at the expense of others. That is a prerogative reserved exclusively to Allah.
Once Allah has chosen as a prophet or messenger, the only choice left for humans is to accept or reject that choice. The believers are under obligation to accept all of them, without exclusion or distinction. “Those who make a distinction between Allah and His messengers, 4:150, 4:152
Those who dare making a difference between the prophets or between the messengers are breaking a powerful commandment and are stepping on Allah’s privileges. “Those who say: We believe in some, and disbelieve in some, those are the real disbelievers “(4:151).
Yet, wouldn’t the insistence of Moslems of naming the prophet Mohammed every time they pronounce the declaration of faith, or call for the prayers, constitute not only singling him out from among all prophets and messengers, thereby contravening Allah’s command, but also cross the boundary of associating him with Allah? “When Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter shrink in aversion, but when other(s) are mentioned besides Him, they then rejoice” 39:45.
That is that when Allah alone is called upon, you disbelieve, and if it is associated with Him, then you believe (40:12).
Allah Himself makes a distinction among prophets and messengers (2:253, 17:21, 17:55), but that is a prerogative reserved exclusively to Him. Humans are not granted such privilege or latitude. Even the prophet who brings a scripture to a people and leads them, or the messenger who delivers a message to them, should be, according to Quran, entitled to obedience, but not be the object of favoritism.
Humans have to be extremely careful not to confer any special status on any particular messenger, or to reject any one of them that we happen to know of. Rejecting even one messenger may annul all of our deeds on earth.
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Les Messagers d’ALLAH
Quran Perspective 