However, these 512 instances are very critical to understand the duties of the messengers who are blessed with God’s messages can broadly be grouped into 3: 130 as the verb, 341 as the noun and 41 as the participle as shown in the table below to review each group separately to better understand the message coded in the relevant verses as well as to make distinction between the terms to avoid misinterpretation:
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 (Ultimatum) do not belong to the Quran even though these two verses are still found in the standard edition of Quran.
Out of 331 instances of rasūl in the Quran, 140 instances in 116 verses across 8 surahs along with 10 instances of risālat in 10 verses are reviewed, while reviewing of the instances of rasūl is continuing to help us to make a clear distinction between the closely related terms: risaalat, rasuul and mur’sal as well as to make a distinction between the terms, rasuul and nabiy. However, 60 instances of rasuul in 55 verses across 15 surahs are reviewed below:
Instances of rasūl
[10:13] And certainly, we have destroyed the generations before yourselves when they had wronged, and came to them their messengers with the clear proofs (wa-jaa’at’hum rusuluhum bil-bayyinaati), and they had not done to believe. Thus that we recompense the people who are the criminals.
[10:21] And when we have given taste of mercy to the people after an adversity had afflicted them, then they have a plot against our revelations. Say: “God is swifter in a plot.” indeed, our messengers write down what you plot (inna rusulanaa yaktubuuna maa tamkuruuna).
[10:47] And there is a messenger for every nation (wa-li-kulli ummatan rasuulun). So when there has come their messenger, it has been judged between themselves with the justice fa-idhaa jaa-a rasuuluhum qudiya baynahum bil-qis’ti), and they do not be wronged.
[10:74] Then we have sent messengers to their people after him (Noah) (thumma ba`athnaa min ba`dihi rusulan ilaa qawmihim) that they had come to them with the clear proofs, while they had not done to believe in what they had denied in it before. Thus that we seal on hearts of the transgressors.
[10:103] Then we save our messengers and those who have believed (thumma nunajjee rusulanaa wa-alladheena aamanuu). Thus that it is an obligation upon us to save the believers.
[11:59] And that was Aad. They had denied in their Lord’s revelations and had disobeyed His messengers and had followed a command of every stubborn tyrant (wa-`asaw rusulahu wa-ittaba`uu amra kullu jabbaarin aneedin).
[11:69] And certainly, our messengers (angels) had come to Abraham with the good news (wa-laqad jaa’at rusulunaa ib’raaheema bil-bush’raa), they said: “Peace.” He said: “Peace” while he had not delayed that he brought a roasted calf.
[11:77] And when had come our messengers (angel) to Lut (wa-lamma jaa’at rusulunaa luutan), he has been grieved for them and has felt discomfort for them, and said: “This is a distressful day.”
[11:81] They said: “O Lut, we are messengers (angels) of your Lord (qaaluu yaa’luutu innaa rusulu rabbika); they cannot reach you. So you shall travel with your family in a part of the night and let not any of you look back except for your wife; indeed, it will be an affliction for her what has struck them. Indeed, their appointed time is the morning. Has not it been the morning of near?”
[11:120] And each, we narrate to you a news of the messengers (wa-kullan naqussu `alayka min anbaa-i al-rusuli) that we can firm your heart with it, and has come to you the truth in this as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers.
[12:50] And the King said: “Come to me with him.” Then when the messenger (a man) had come to him (Yousuf) (fa-lamma jaa’ahu al-rasuulu), he said: “Go back to your lord and ask him what is about the women who had cut their hands? Indeed, my Lord is Knower of their plot.”
[12:110] Until when has given up the messengers and has thought that they have certainly been denied (hattaa idhaa is’tay’asa al-rusulu wa-zannuu annahum qad khudhibuu), had come to them our help, thus had been saved whomever we will, while our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are the criminals.
[13:32] And certainly has been mocked of messengers before yourself (wa-laqadi us’tuh’zi-a bi-rusulin min qablika), while I have granted respite to those who had disbelieved, then I had seized them; then how has been My punishment?
[13:38] And certainly, we have sent messengers before yourself (wa-laqad arsalnaa rusulan min qablika) and have made for them wives and offspring. And it has not been for a messenger that he comes with any sign except by God’s leave (wa-maa kaana li-rasuulin an yatiya bi-aayatin illaa bi-idh’ni allahi) . For every time it is a decree.
[14:4] And we have not sent any messenger except with a language of his people that he may clarify for them (wa-maa arsalnaa min rasuulin illaa bi-lisaani qawmihi li-yubayyina lahum). Then God lets go astray whomever He wills and He guides whomever He wills. And He is the Al-mighty, the Wise.
[14:9] Does not come to you a news of those who were before yourselves – the people of Noah, and Aad, and Thamud, and those who were after themselves? None knows them except God. Had come to them their messengers with the clear proofs (jaa’at’hum rusuluhum bil-bayyinaati), while they turned back having their hands in their mouths and said: “Indeed, we have disbelieved in what you have been sent with it, and indeed, we are surely in doubt about what you invite us to it being the distrustful.”
[14:10] Said their messengers: “Is there any doubt in God as Creator of the heavens and the earth (qaalat rusuluhum a-fee allahi shakkun faatiri al-samaawaati wal-ardi)? He invites you that He may forgive for you of your sins and may give you respite to an appointed time.” They said: “You are not except human being like ourselves wish that you hinder us from what has done our forefathers to worship. So come to us with a clear authority.”
[14:11] Said to them their messengers: “We are not but human being like yourselves, but God bestows His grace upon whomever He wills of His servants (qaalat lahum rusuluhum in nahnu illaa basharun mith’lukum wa-laakinna allahu yamunnu `alaa man yashaau min `ibaadihi). And it has not been for us that we come to you with an authority except by God’s leave. And upon God should put trust the believers”
[14:13] And said those who had disbelieved to their messengers (wa-qaala alladheena kafaruu li-rusulihim): “Surely, we will drive you out of our land or surely, you must return to our religion.” So their Lord had inspired to them: “Surely, we will destroy the wrongdoers.”
[14:44] And you shall warn the people about a day the punishment will come to them, then those who had wronged will say: “Our Lord, delay for us for a short time; we will answer Your call and will follow the messengers (rabbanaa akhir’naa ilaa ajalin qareebin nujib da`wataka wa-nattabi`i al-rusula).” Would not be you that you have sworn before there is no end for you?
[14:47] So do not think that God will be failed as a keeper of His promise to His messengers (fa-laa-tahsabanna allahu mukh’lifa wa`dahi rusulahu). Indeed, God is Almighty being possessor of retribution.
[15:11] And does not come to them any messenger (wa-maa yateehim min rasuulin) except that they have done to mock with him.
[16:35] And those who have associated partners said: “If God had willed, we would not have worshiped anything other than Him; neither we nor our fathers; nor would we have forbidden anything other than Him.” Thus that has done of those who were of their before; is there then on the messengers except the conveyance of the clear message (fa-hal `alaa al-rusuli illaa al-balaaghu al-mubeenu)?
[16:36] And certainly, we have raised a messenger in every nation (wa-laqad ba`athnaa fee kulli ummatan rasuulan) that you shall worship God and avoid the false deities. Then of them there is whomever God has guided, and of them there is whomever has justified the straying on him. So you shall travel in the land, then you shall see how has been an end of the deniers?
[16:113] And certainly, had come to them a messenger from them (wa-laqad jaa-a’hum rasuulun min’hum), while they denied him. So, had seized them the punishment, and they were wrongdoers.
[17:15] Whoever has guided, then he only guides for his soul, and whoever has gone astray, then he only goes astray against it. And a bearer of burden will not bear a burden of another. And we have not been punishers until we send a messenger (wa-maa kunnaa mu`adhdhibeena hattaa nab’`atha rasuulan).
[17:77] A system to whomever of our messengers certainly, we have sent before yourself (sunnata man qad arsalnaa qablaka min rusulinaa), and you do not find alternation to our system.
[17:93] “Or it would be a house of luxury for you, or you may ascend into the sky. And we will not believe to your ascension until you bring down to us a book we could read it.” Say: “Glory to my Lord, whom have I been but a human messenger (hal kuntu illaa basharan rasuulan?”
[17:94] And what has prevented the people that they believe when has come to them the guidance, except that they have said: “Has God sent a human messenger (illaa an qaaluu a-ba`atha basharan rasuulan)?”
[17:95] Say: “If it had been angels walking secure in the earth; surely, we would have sent down to them an angel messenger from the heaven (la-nazzalnaa `alayhim mina al-samaa-i malakan rasuulan).”
[18:106] That is their recompense is Hell, for that they have disbelieved and have taken My revelations and My messengers by mockery (bimaa kafaruu wa-ittakhadhuu aayaati-i wa-rasuuli-i huzuwan).
[19:19] He (angel) said: “I am just a messenger of your (Maryam) Lord that I can bestow to you a pure son (innamaa anaa rasuulu rabbiki li-ahaba laki ghulaaman zakiyyan).”
[19:51] And mention Moses in the scripture. Indeed, he has been a chosen one and has been a messenger prophet (innahu kaana mukhlasan wa-kaana rasuulan nabiyyan).
[19:54] And mention Ismail in the scripture. Indeed, he has been a truthful one to the promise and has been a messenger prophet (innahu kaana saadiqa al-wa`di wa-kaana rasuulan nabiyyan).
[20:47] So go to him (Pharaoh) and say: “Indeed, we are (two) messengers of your Lord, so send the Children of Israel with us (innaa rasuulaa rabbika fa-arsil ma`anaa banee is’raa-eela), and you do not torment them. Certainly, we have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And the peace upon whoever has followed the guidance.”
[20:96] He (Samiri) said, “I have perceived of what they do not perceive with it. So I have grabbed a fistful from a track of the messenger (fa-qabadtu qabdatan min athari al-rasuuli), then I have thrown it; thus that my soul has enticed to me.”
[20:134] And if we had destroyed them with a punishment before him; surely, they would have said: “Our Lord, why have You not sent a messenger to us (rabbanaa lawlaa arsalta ilaynaa rasuulan), then we could have followed Your revelations before that we face humiliation and disgrace.”
[21:25] And we have not sent any messenger before yourself (Muhammad) except we inspire to him that (wa-maa arsalnaa min qablika min rasuulin illaa nuuhee ilayhi annahu) there is no god except I, so you shall worship Me.
[21:41] And certainly, has been mocked of messengers before yourself (Muhammad) (wa-laqadi us’tuh’zi-a bi-rusulin min qablika), then has surrounded of those who have mocked from them what they have done to mock with it.
[22:52] And we have not sent before yourself (Muhammad) any messenger nor a prophet (wa-maa arsalnaa min qablika min rasuulin wa-laa-nabiyyin), except that when he has recited the devil has cast in his recitation, while God nullifies what the devil casts. Then God establishes His revelations, and God is Knower, Wise.
[22:75] God chooses messengers from the angels and from the humans (allahu yastafee mina al-mala-i-kati rusulan wa-mina al-nnasi). Indeed, God is Hearer, Seer.
[22:78] And you shall strive in God for His true striving. He has chosen all of you and has made no difficulty upon you in the religion, a religion of your father Abraham. He has named you submitters before and in this that the messenger would be a witness over you, and you would be witnesses over the people (li-yakuuna al-rasuulu shaheedan `alaykum wa-takuunuu shuhadaa-a `alaa al-nnaasi). So, you shall observe the Contact Prayer and shall give the Obligatory Charity, and shall hold fast to God, He is your Protector, so has been the excellent Protector and has been the excellent Supporter.
[23:32] So we have sent a messenger to them from them that (fa-arsalna feehim rasuulan min’hum ani) you shall worship God: there is no god for you other than Him. Will you then not fear?
[23:44] Then we have sent our messengers in succession (thumma arsalnaa rusulanaa tat’raa). Every time there had come to a nation its messenger, they denied him (kulla jaa-a ummatan rasuuluhaa kadh’dhabuuhu). So we made follow one of them to other, and we have made them precedents that away are a people – they do not believe.
[23:51] “O the messengers, you shall eat from the good things and shall do as righteous (yaa’ayyuhaa al-rusulu kuluu mina al-tayyibaati wa-i`maluu saalihan). Indeed, I am Knower of what you do.”
[24:47] And they say: “We have believed in God and in the messenger, and we have obeyed (aamannaa bil-lahi wa-bil-rasuuli wa-ata`naa).” Then a group of them turns away after that, and those are not with the believers.
[24:48] And when they have been called to God and His messenger to judge between themselves (wa-idhaa du`uu ilaa allahi wa-rasuulihi li-yah’kuma baynahum), then a party of them is averse.
[24:50] Is there a disease in their hearts, or have they doubted or do they fear that God and His messenger would do unjust on them (yaheefa allahu `alayhim wa-rasuuluhu)? Nay, those – they are the wrongdoers.
[24:51] It has only been saying of the believers when they have been called to God and His messenger (innamaa kaana qawla al-mu’mineena idhaa du`uu ilaa allahi wa-rasuulihi) to judge between themselves that they say: “We have heard and we have obeyed.” And those – they are the successful ones.
[24:52] And whoever obeys God and His messenger (wa-man yuti`i allaha wa-rasuulahu), and reveres God and fears Him, then those – they are the achievers.
[24:54] Say: “You shall obey God and shall obey the messenger (atee`uu allaha wa-atee`uu al-rasuula).” While if you turn away, then upon him is only what is placed on him, and upon you what is placed on you. And if you obey him, you will guide you. And it is not upon the messenger except the conveyance of the clear message (wa-maa `alaa al-rasuula illaa al-balaaghu al-mubeenu).
[24:56] And you shall observe the Contact Prayer and shall give the Obligatory Charity, and shall obey the messenger (wa-aqeemuu al-salata wa-aatuu al-zakata wa-atee`uu al-rasuula) that you are given mercy.
[24:62] The believers are only of those who have believed in God and His messenger (innamaa al-mu’minuuna alladheena aamanuu bil-lahi wa-rasuulihi), and when they are with him for a matter of group action, they do not leave until they ask him permission. Indeed, those who ask you permission, those – they believe in God and His messenger (inna alladheena yas’tadhinuunaka yu’minuuna bil-lahi wa-rasuulihi). So when they ask you permission for some of their affairs, then give permission to whomever of them you will, and ask forgiveness of God for them. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24:63] You do not make a call to the messenger between yourselves like a call one of you to other (laa-taj’`aluu du`aa-a al-rasuuli baynakum ka-du`aa-i ba`dikum ba`dan). Certainly, God knows those from you who slip away with lame excuses. So you should be aware of those who differ from his command lest befalls them a test or befalls them a painful punishment.
Summary
- God destroyed many generations in the past as they had wronged after sending His messengers with the clear proofs.
- When He gave the people test of mercy after the adversity, they had plotted against His revelations while His messengers write down their plotting.
- God has sent His messenger to every nation so that they have been judged between themselves with the justice.
- God has sent messengers after Noah, who had come to the people with the clear proofs but they denied what had come before. Thus, He sealed their hearts for their disbelief as they did not see the proofs.
- God informs us that He has saved His messengers and those who believed being His obligation.
- Ad had denied in their Lord’s revelations and had disobeyed their messengers and had followed a command of every stubborn tyrant.
- Angel messengers visited to Abraham with a good news of a son and to Lut with a distressful day for his people.
- They said to Lut to travel with his family in the night while God afflicted his wicked people in the morning.
- God has narrated the history of messengers to strengthen prophet’s heart as well as admonition and reminder for the believers.
- When the king’s messenger came to Yousuf, he told him to go back to inquire about the women who had cut their hands.
- God’s help had come to them when His messengers gave up and thought that they have been denied. Then He saved whomever He willed while the criminal people could not be repelled from His punishment.
- Messengers sent before Muhammad have been mocked, and God gave a respite to the disbelievers, then had seized them His painful punishment.
- God has sent messengers before Muhammad and has made for them wives and offspring while no messenger comes with a sign except without His permission.
- God has not sent any messenger except with a language of the people so that he may clarify to them, then He lets go astray whomever He wills while He guides whomever He wills.
- Messengers had come with the clear proofs to the people of Noah, Ad and Thamud and the people after them, while they turned back having their hands in their mouths and said that they have disbelieved in what has sent with them being doubtful about it.
- When their messengers invite them to God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who may give forgive them for their sin or may give them a respite for an appointed time, while they said that the messengers are not except human being like themselves, who wish them to hinder them from what has done their forefathers to worship, and they wish to come them with a clear authority.”
- While the messengers said to their disbelieving people: “We are not but human being like yourselves, but God bestows His grace upon whomever He wills of His servants.”
- The disbelievers in their messengers said to them that they will drive them out of the land or they must return to their religion.
- A day when the wrongdoers see their punishment will ask their Lord to delay it for a short time so that they will respond to His call and will follow His messengers but here is an end for them.
- God will not fail to keep His promise whatever He has promised through His messengers.
- No messenger has come to the people that he has not been mocked by their people.
- The disbelievers justify their disbelief but the messenger does not except the conveyance of the clear message
- Messenger comes to every nation to call to worship God avoiding the false deities but the end of the deniers is around if we can reflect.
- The messenger comes from themselves but denied, while seized the deniers the punishment.
- Whoever guides has guided for himself and whoever goes astray has gone astray for himself.
- God has not been punisher until sending a messenger, which is His system with no change.
- If the messenger would have a luxurious home and even he could ascend into the sky the disbelievers would not believe him until he could bring a book that they can read as the messenger has been a human messenger.
- In response of the disbelievers God has informed that He would send an angel messenger if the angel could have been the inhabitants of the earth.
- The recompense for disbelieving as well as mocking God’s revelations and His messenger is Hell.
- An angel messenger has been to Maryam to give her a news of a pure son.
- Moses has been chosen while he has been a messenger prophet, and Ismail has been truthful while he has been a messenger prophet.
- Two messengers of God went to Pharaoh with His sign to send back Children of Israel with them.
- Samiri said that he had grabbed a fistful from a track of the messenger and had thrown it as his soul inspired him to do that.
- God has sent messengers before the destruction of any nation that they could not say that they would follow His revelation before facing humiliation and disgrace.
- God has not sent any messenger except inspiration that there is no god except He to worship Him.
- Messengers have been mocked but has surrounded those who have mocked of what they have done to mock with it.
- On the event of mistake made by the prophet in his recitation God strengthened him confirming that He nullifies what the devil has cast in the recitation of any messenger or a prophet to establish His revelations.
- God has chosen messengers from the angels as well as from the humans to deliver His message.
- God has introduced His worshippers as Submitters from the time of Abraham through whom first came the rituals of religion, has been honored as a father of religion, while the messenger would be a witness over His worshippers and His worshippers would be witnesses over the people that it has not been difficult to practice the religious rituals given to Abraham.
- God has sent a messenger to them from them that they shall worship Him as there is no god for them other than Him and they should fear Him.
- God has sent messengers in succession, and every time a messenger had come to a nation, its people denied him. Thus, He made them follow one of them to other and made them precedents that away are a people who did not believe.
- God has ordered the messengers to eat the good things and to do the righteous deeds while He knows what they do.
- There are people who said that we have believed in God and in the messenger and have obeyed, then a group of them turns away after that, who are not with the believers.
- There are people who are averse when they are called to God and His messenger to judge between themselves.
- Those who have disease in their hearts, or are doubtful or fear that God and His messenger will be unjust on them are the wrongdoers.
- The believers who have said we have heard and obeyed when are called to God and His messenger to judge between themselves are the successful ones.
- Those who obey God and His messenger as well as revere God and fear Him are the achievers.
- Those who believe shall obey God and His messenger. But those who turn away, then upon the messenger is only what is placed on him, and upon the people what is placed on them, and if they obey him, they are guided while there is no responsibility on the messenger except to convey the clear guidance.
- The believers shall observe the Contact Prayer and shall give the Obligatory Charity, and shall obey the messenger that they are given mercy.
- The believers are only those who have believed in God and His messenger, and they do not leave the messenger without his permission when in a group action, and if they ask his permission, they do believe in God and His messenger while the messenger will give them permission and ask God’s forgiveness for them.
- The believers should not make a call to the messenger between themselves like a call one of them to other, and if they slip away with any excuses and differ from his command, befalls them a test or befalls them a painful punishment.
Reviewing these instances of rasuul in the Quran gives us a clear picture to understand relationship between sender (source), bearer (deliverer) and receiver (follower) of the message. God being the sender has made it requirement for the people being receiver to believe and obey His messenger being the bearer, and pay proper attention to the message instead of its bearer but supporting him at lifetime to convey the clear message against strong opposition, while they will study, understand and follow the message to shape them with proper beliefs and practices to be achievers in the Hereafter.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (10/08/2021).