61:6 Recall that Jesus, son of Mary, said, “O Children of Israel, I am GOD’s messenger to you, confirming the Torah and bringing good news of a messenger to come after me whose name will be even more praised (Ahmad).” Then, when he showed them the clear proofs, they said, “This is profound magic.”
2:129 “Our Lord, and raise among them a messenger to recite to them Your revelations, teach them the scripture and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, Most Wise.”
2:151 (Blessings) such as the sending of a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you, purify you, teach you the scripture and wisdom, and to teach you what you never knew.
3:164 GOD has blessed the believers by raising in their midst a messenger from among them, to recite for them His revelations, and to purify them, and to teach them the scripture and wisdom. Before this, they had gone totally astray.
5:19 O people of the scripture, our messenger has come to you, to explain things to you, after a period of time without messengers, lest you say, “We did not receive any preacher or warner.” A preacher and warner has now come to you. GOD is Omnipotent.
62:2 He is the One who sent to the gentiles a messenger from among them, to recite to them His revelations, purify them, and teach them the scripture and wisdom. Before this, they had gone far astray.
The Quran confirms that between Ismail to Muhammad the lineage of Ismail did not receive prophets. This is why the Arabs were considered gentiles (ummyeen) because the Arabs were not given scripture like the Children of Israel.
45:16 We have given the Children of Israel the scripture, wisdom, and prophethood, and provided them with good provisions; we bestowed upon them more blessings than any other people.
God blessed Abraham with two sons who were also prophets. The first was Ismail and the second was Isaac. From Ismail’s lineage, we have the formation of the Arab people. While Isaac had Jacob, who is also called Israel, and the lineage of the prophets of the Children of Israel.
2:136 Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”
3:84 Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and in what was given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”
The Quran mentions some of the prophets in the following verses:
6:83 Such was our argument, with which we supported Abraham against his people. We exalt whomever we will to higher ranks. Your Lord is Most Wise, Omniscient. 6:84 And we granted him Isaac and Jacob, and we guided both of them. Similarly, we guided Noah before that, and from his descendants (we guided) David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. We thus reward the righteous. 6:85 Also, Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias; all were righteous. 6:86 And Ismail, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot; each of these we distinguished over all the people. 6:87 From among their ancestors, their descendants, and their siblings, we chose many, and we guided them in a straight path. 6:88 Such is GOD’s guidance, with which He guides whomever He chooses from among His servants. Had any of them fallen into idolatry, their works would have been nullified. 6:89 Those were the ones to whom we have given the scripture, wisdom, and prophethood. If these people disbelieve, we will substitute others in their place, and the new people will not be disbelievers.
Aside from Ismail and Lot, all these prophets mentioned in the above verse were from the lineage of Isaac. This again reinforces that the Children of Israel were the ones blessed with prophethood and scripture.
5:20 Recall that Moses said to his people, “O my people, remember GOD’s blessings upon you: He appointed prophets from among you, made you kings, and granted you what He never granted any other people.
19:58 These are some of the prophets whom GOD blessed. They were chosen from among the descendants of Adam, and the descendants of those whom we carried with Noah, and the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom we guided and selected. When the revelations of the Most Gracious are recited to them, they fall prostrate, weeping.
But while prophets and messengers were sent to the Children of Israel we have three examples of messengers that were sent to the Arab communities that were mentioned in the Quran. These are Hud, Saleh, and Shu’aib.
26:123 ‘Ãd disbelieved the messengers. 26:124 Their brother Hûd said to them, “Would you not be righteous? 26:125 “I am an honest messenger to you. 26:126 “You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.
26:141 Thamûd disbelieved the messengers. 26:142 Their brother Sãleh said to them, “Would you not be righteous? 26:143 “I am an honest messenger to you. 26:144 “You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.
26:176 The People of the Woods disbelieved the messengers. 26:177 Shu’aib said to them, “Would you not be righteous? 26:178 “I am an honest messenger to you. 26:179 “You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.
Nowhere in the Quran does it mention that Hud, Saleh, or Shu’aib were prophets or that they were given scripture (kitab).
Messengers Sent Scripture
In the Quran, there are three words that are associated with the English word “to send”, and each of these words has a slightly different connotation. The first word is Arsal ( أَرْسَلَ), which comes from the same root as rasool and is the most general of the three words used for sending in the Quran.
The second word is Ba’ath ( بَعَثَ), this word is associated with sending from the bottom up in the form of raising. We see this used in the context of God sending a messenger from among people.
40:34 Joseph had come to you before that with clear revelations, but you continued to doubt his message. Then, when he died you said, “ GOD will not send any other messenger after him. (He was the last messenger)!” GOD thus sends astray those who are transgressors, doubtful.
The third word for send is Anzal ( أَنْزَلَ), and this word is associated typically with sending down, or descending, of something. We see this word used in the context of God sending rain from the sky.
2:22 The One who made the earth habitable for you, and the sky a structure. He sends down from the sky water, to produce all kinds of fruits for your sustenance. You shall not set up idols to rival GOD, now that you know.
Additionally, we see that the word Anzal is also used in the context of sending scripture (kitab). In several verses, we see that God sends (anzal) his scripture to messengers.
57:25 We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice. And we sent down the iron, wherein there is strength, and many benefits for the people. All this in order for GOD to distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers, on faith. GOD is Powerful, Almighty.
4:136 O you who believe, you shall believe in GOD and His messenger, and the scripture He has sent to His messenger, and the scripture He has sent from before. Anyone who refuses to believe in GOD, and His angels, and His scriptures, and His messengers, and the Last Day, has indeed strayed far astray.
Based on these verses, some individuals claim that this shows that messengers are given scripture. The problem with this understanding is that the verses do not say that the messengers were given scripture, secondly if this was a quality exclusive for only messengers that they were sent (arsal) scripture then we should not have a verse that applies this action towards prophet except we do.
2:213 The people used to be one community when GOD sent the prophets as bearers of good news, as well as warners. He sent down (anzala) with them the scripture, bearing the truth, to judge among the people in their disputes. Ironically, those who received the scripture were the ones who rejected any new scripture, despite clear proofs given to them. This is due to jealousy on their part. GOD guides those who believe to the truth that is disputed by all others, in accordance with His will. GOD guides whoever wills in a straight path.
There is another major flaw with this understanding that messengers, and not prophets, are the ones given scripture. Not only does such an understanding contradicts the above points, but it would also nullify the claim that the Quran is the final scripture to mankind. The Quran is clear that Muhammad was the final prophet, but nowhere in the Quran is Muhammad ever called the final messenger.
33:40 Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things.
If we say that it is messengers who are given scripture, then this opens the door to the possibility that there will be another scripture to come after the revelation of the Quran.
Takeaway:
God sends (anzal) both prophets and messengers scripture (kitab)
Only prophets are given scripture (ata kitab)
Messengers dissiminate information
Since Muhammad was the final prophet then this means the Quran is the final scripture
If messengers are given scripture, then there can be a scripture to come after the Quran