Who is a Messenger?
(Quranic Criteria)
The Quran outlines a number of attributes which all genuine messengers of God have. These attributes are there to make it possible for people to distinguish between genuine messengers and false ones.
1- The first attribute of a genuine messenger is that he will always preach the worship of God alone.
This is the principal message of any of God's messengers:
[16:36] We have sent a messenger to every community, saying, "You shall worship GOD, and avoid idolatry." Subsequently, some were guided by GOD, while others were committed to straying. Roam the earth and note the consequences for the rejectors.
[21:25] We did not send any messenger before you except with the inspiration: "There is no other god beside Me; you shall worship Me alone."
In Chapter 11, we read a number of examples of messengers who went to their people with this message:
[11:25-26] We sent Noah to his people, saying, "I come to you as a manifest warner. "You shall not worship except GOD. I fear for you the retribution of a painful day."
We also have the same example in the case of the messenger Hûd:
[11:50] To 'Aad we sent their brother Hood. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. You have invented lies.
The same message was uttered by the messenger Saaleh:
[11:61] To Thamûd we sent their brother Saaleh. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall ask for His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near, responsive."
This principal message is indeed inspired to all of God's messengers, they are all commanded to preach to their people the worship of God alone and the abolition of all forms of idol worship.
Due to the importance of this prime message, it is considered the first pillar of Submission. The testimony of "Laa Elaaha Ellaa Allah" (there is no god but God) is uttered by God Himself as well as the angels and all who possess knowledge:
[3:18] GOD bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.
2- The second attribute of God's genuine messenger is that he will never ask for a wage/return for his work.
This command was given to Muhammad and all the other messengers of God:
[38:86] Say, "I do not ask you for any money. Nor am I fabricating.
[25:56-57] We have sent you (Rashad) as a deliverer of good news, as well as a warner. Say, "I do not ask you for any money. All I seek is to help you find the right path to your Lord, if you so wish."
In Chapter 11 we read about the words of Noah to his people:
[11:29] "I do not ask you for money; my wage comes only from GOD. I will never dismiss those who believed; they will meet their Lord (and He alone will judge them). I see that you are ignorant people.
The same words were spoken by other messengers: Hûd (11:51), Saaleh (26:145), Lot (26:164), and Shu'aib (26:180).
As a result, anyone who preaches or uses religion to make any financial gains is not a genuine messenger.
3- The third attribute of God's genuine messengers is that they are sent with clear proofs to confirm that they were sent by God.
Many righteous servants of God preach the worship of God alone and also never ask for any payment or reward for their work, thus satisfying the first two conditions. However, they do not satisfy the third requirement.
While these individuals may be called preachers, warners, or servants of God, only the messengers of God are given clear proof of their messengership. The following Quranic verses confirm this truth:
[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.
[10:13] Many a generation we have annihilated before them when they transgressed. Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they refused to believe. We thus requite the guilty people.
[40:22] That is because their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved. Consequently, GOD punished them. He is Mighty, strict in enforcing retribution.
Consequently, all those who claim messengership and are not able to produce incontrovertible proof of their messengership are false messengers.
To conclude, many righteous believers preach the worship of God alone and they do not expect to be paid for their sincere work for God. However, they are not messengers. Messengers receive divine inspiration from God and they are always given proof of their messengership from God.