The instances of Arabic words from the root: raa, seen and laam (ر س ل) occur 512 times in the Quran in 8 derived forms having similar meanings according to their morphological and grammatical forms, and to understand the relationship between risaalat meaning “message” and rasuul meaning “messenger” is very straightforward while to reflect message being messenger is difficult for many of us when God is our concern; and He has chosen messenger from humans and angels to guide humanity in right direction. The detailed review of these instances may help us to eliminate traces of personality cult in His given religion and to interpret His instruction appropriately in the guidance sent down for us. However, these 512 instances can broadly be grouped into 3 forms: 130 as the verb, 341 as the noun and 41 as the participle form as shown in the table below:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com while 1 instance of rasuul in the verse, 9:128 has not been included in the table as the two verses, 128 and 129 of Surah 9 (Bara`ah) do not belong to the Quran even though these two verses still exist in the standard edition of the Quran.
However, 5 instances of mur’sil meaning “sent one” in the active participle form and 36 instances of mur’sal meaning “is sent one” (Messenger being the meaning of mur’sal is not appropriately reflected in the above table) in the passive participle form are reviewed here:
Instances of mur’sil
There are 5 instances of mur’sil in the active participle form in 5 verses across 5 surahs in the Quran are described below:
[27:35] “And I (Sheba) am sending a gift to them (wa-inni-i mur’silatun ilayhim bi-hadiyyatin); let us see what came back with those who have been sent.”
[28:45] But we raised generations so has prolonged for them the life. And you have not been a dweller among the people of Madyan, reciting our revelations to them. But we have been of senders ( wa-laakinnaa kunnaa mur’sileena).
[35:2] Whatever of God’s mercy grants for the people, then no one can withhold it and whatever He withholds, then no one can send it other than He (wa-maa yumsik fa-laa mursila lahu min baidihi) as He is the Almighty, the Wise.
[44:5] It is a decree from us, indeed we have been senders (amran min `indinaa innaa kunnaa mursileena).
[54:27] Indeed, we sent the camel as a test for them (innaa mur’siluu al-naaqati fitnatan lahum). So watch them and be patient.
Instances of mursal
There are 36 instances of mur’sal in the passive participle form in 36 verses across 14 surahs in the Quran are described below:
[2:252] That is of God’s signs, we recite it to you with the truth, and indeed, you are surely one of the sent ones (wa-innaka lamina al-mur’saleena).
Note: Here is a piece of information that has reflected of God’s revelations is the story of David and Goliath.
[6:34] And certainly, there has been denied messengers before yourself (Muhammad), while they have been patient for what they have been denied, and they have been harmed until there had come to them our help; and there is none who can change to God’s words; and certainly, there has come to you a news of the sent ones (wa-laqad jaa’aka min naba-i al-mur’saleena).
[6:48] And we do not send the sent ones except bearers of good news and warners (wa-maa nur’silu al-mur’saleena illaa mubashireena wa-mundhireena). So whoever has believed and has reformed, then there is no fear for them nor will they grieve.
[7:6] Then surely, we will question those has been sent to them (sent ones), and surely, we will ask the sent ones (wa-la’nasalanna al-mur’saleena).
[7:75] The leaders who had been arrogant of his people said to those who had been oppressed of whoever had believed from them, “How do you know that Saleh is a sent one from his Lord (a-ta’lamuun anna Salih mur’salun min rabbihi)?” They said, “Indeed, we are believers in what has been sent with him.”
[7:77] Then they had slaughtered the she-camel, and had become arrogant towards their Lord’s command, and they said: “O Saleh, bring us of what you promise us if you have been one of the sent ones (yaasaalihu i’tinaa bimaa ta`idunaa in kunta mina al-mur’saleena).”
[13:43] And those who had disbelieved say: “You have not been a sent one (wa-yaquulu alladheena kafaruu lasta mur’salan).” Say: “It has sufficed of God as a Witness between me and you, and whoever with him there is knowledge of the scripture.”
[15:57] He (Abraham) said: “Then what is your business, O the sent ones (fa-maa khatbukum ayyuhaa al-mur’saluuna)?”
[15:61] Then when there had come the sent ones (angels) to a family (people) of Lut (falammaa jaa-a aala luutin al-mur’saluuna).
[15:80] And certainly, a people of the Rocky Tract had denied the sent ones (wa-laqad kadhaba as’haabu al-hij’ri al-mur’saleena).
[18:56] And we do not send the sent ones except bearers of good news and warners (wa-maa nur’silu al-mur’saleena illaa mubashireena wa-mundhireena). And those who had disbelieved argue with the falsehood to disapprove the truth with it. And they had taken My revelations and what they had been warned as mockery!
[25:20] And we have not sent before yourself (Muhammad) any of the sent ones except indeed, they surely eat the food and walk in the markets (wa-maa arsalnaa qablaka min al-mur’saleena illaa la’yakuluuna al-ta`aama wa-yamshuuna fee al-aswaaqi). And we have made of you a test for other, will you be patient? And your Lord is Seer.
[26:21] “So I fled from you when I feared you. So my Lord granted me wisdom and made me of those who have been sent (fa-wahaba li-i rabbi-i hukman wa-ja`alani-i mina al-mur”saleena).”
[26:105] The people of Noah denied those who have been sent (kadhabat qawmu nuuhin al-mur’saleena).
[26:123] Aad denied those who have been sent (kadhabat `aadun al-mur’saleena).
[26:141] Thamud denied those who have been sent (kadhabat thamuudu al-mur’saleena).
[26:160] The people of Lot denied those who have been sent (kadhabat qawmu luutin al-mur’saleena).
[26:176] The dwellers of the Woods denied those who have been sent (kadhaba as’haabu al’aykati al-mur’saleena).
[27:10] “And throw down your staff.” When he saw it moving like a demon, he turned around and fled. “O Moses, do not fear. Those who are sent from Me shall not fear (inni-i laa yakhaafu ladayya al-mur’saleena).”
[27:35] “And I am sending a gift to them; let us see what came back with those who have been sent (fa-naaziratun bima yar’ji`u al-mur’saleena).”
[28:7] And we inspired to Moses’ mother that you shall suckle him, as when you fear for him that you shall cast him into the river, while neither do you fear nor do you grieve. Indeed, we will be restorer of him to you and will be maker of him one of the sent ones (innaa raadduuhu ilayki wa-ja`iluuhu mina al-mur’saleena).”
[28:65] And a day He will call them to inform (wa-yawma yunaadeehim fa-yaquulu): “What have you responded to the sent ones (maadhaa ajabtumu al-mur’saleena)?”
[36:3] Indeed, you are surely one of the sent ones (innaka lamina al-mur’saleena).
[36:13] And you (Muhammad) shall cite an example to them of the people of the town, when there had come to it the sent ones (idh jaa-ahaa al-mur’saluuna).
[36:14] When we had sent to them two, then they denied both of them. So, we had strengthened them with a third one, then they said, “Indeed, to you we are sent ones (fa-qaaluu innaa ilaykum mur’saluuna).”
[36:16] They said: “Our Lord knows that to you surely, we are those who have been sent (qaaluu rabbunaa ya’lamu innaa ilaykum la’mur’saluuna).”
[36:20] And there had come a man running from the farthest end of the city; he said: “O my people, you shall follow those who have been sent” (qaala yaaqawmi ittabi`uu al-mur’saleena.)
[36:52] They said: “Woe to us! Who has raised us from our resting place? This is what had promised the Gracious and had told truth those who have been sent (haadhaa maa wa`ada al-rahmaanu wa-sadaqa al-mur’saluuna).”
[37:37] Nay, he has come with the truth and has confirmed those who have been sent (bal jaa-a al-haqqi wa-saddaqa al-mur’saleena).
[37:123] And indeed, Elias was surely of those who have been sent (wa-inna il’yaasa lamina al-mur’saleena).
[37:133] And indeed, Lut was surely of those who have been sent (wa-inna luutan lamina al-mur’saleena).
[37:139] And indeed, Jonah was surely of those who have been sent (wa-inna yuunusa lamina al-mur’saleena).
[37:171] And certainly, our word had been decreed for our servants who have been sent (wa-laqad sabaqat kalimatunaa li`ibaadinaa al-mur’saleena).
[37:181] And peace be upon those who have been sent (wa-salaamun `alaa al-mur’saleena).
[51:31] He (Abraham) said: “So what is your mission, O you who have been sent (qaala famaa khatbukum ayyuhaa al-mur’saluuna)?”
[77:1] By those who have been sent in succession (wal-mur’salaati `urfan).
Conclusion
Here is summary of 5 instances of mur’sil meaning “sent one” in the active participle form and 36 instances of mur’sal meaning “is sent one” in the passive participle form found in 41 verses in the Quran across 17 suras:
- Sheba sent a gift to the king Solomon to see what came back with those who have been sent.
- Those who we sent to the people of Midyan were to recite our revelations to them.
- If God grants His mercy for the people, no one can withhold it but whatever He withholds, then no one can send it other than He being the wisest Al-mighty.
- It is a decree from us that we send and the camel as sent was a test for them.
- Those who have been sent recite God’s revelations with the truth.
- Messengers were patient for what they were denied and were persecuted until our support came to them while the news has come of those who have been sent.
- We did not send those who are sent except bearers of good news and warners.
- We will ask those to whom have been sent and we will also ask those who have been sent.
- The believers responded to the leaders of the disbelieving people of Saleh who was sent from his Lord informing them that what was sent with him made them believers.
- The disbelievers asked Saleh to bring what he promised us if he is one of those who had been sent and slaughtered the camel given him as a sign.
- God suffices witness about those who have been sent.
- Abraham asked those who had been sent about their business,
- The dwellers of the Valley denied those who have been sent while those who are sent are the bearers of good news and warners.
- Those who have been sent before yours ate the food and walked in the markets.
- My Lord granted me wisdom and made me of those who have been sent.
- The people of Noah and Lot denied those who have been sent and so did the dwellers of the Woods.
- The communities of `Aad and Thamud denied those who have been sent to them.
- When Moses turned around and fled, God called him and said “O Moses, those who are sent from Me shall not fear.”
- God inspired to Moses’ mother to cast him in the river without any fear or grieve informing her that He will return him to her and will make him of those who have been sent.
- The Day He will call them and say: “What did you answer to those who have been sent.
- The Quran, the wise through whom has been revealed is of those who have been sent to warn people whose parents were not warned.
- Cite for them the example of the people of the town, when those who have been sent came to it.
- When we sent to them two are denied then we supported them with a third one, and they said that they are those who have been sent.
- These are those who have been sent but denied while a man came running from the farthest end of the city said to his people to follow those who have been sent.
- Resurrection would be the event that we all will know what the Most Gracious had promised and those who have been sent had told truth.
- The prophet has come with the truth and has confirmed those who have been sent.
- Elias, Lot and Jonah were among those who have been sent.
- God’s word had been decreed for His servants who have been sent and peace be upon those who have sent.
- Abraham asked the angels “what is your mission, O you who have been sent.”
- God has confirmed certain events by taking oath with those who have been sent in succession.
The review confirms that the Arabic word, rasuul is not only related to the Arabic word, risaalat but it is also related to the Arabic word, mur’sal while both rasuul meaning “messenger” and mur’sal meaning “is sent one” recite God’s revelations being bearer of good news and warner to deliver divine message for a particular community of people to warn them as well as to lead a righteous life.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (5/3/2019).