Question
Were there any Prophets and Messengers sent to the Arabs between the time of Ishmael (peace be upon him) and the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
Answer
No Prophet had been sent to the Arabian Peninsula before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came with his universal and final message for humanity.
Allah informs us of this in the Qur’ân when he says: “Or do they say that he has forged it? Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may admonish a people to whom no warner before you has come, in order that they may receive guidance.” [Sûrah al-Sajdah: 3]
Allah also says: “In order that you may admonish a people whose fathers had received no admonition and who therefore remained heedless.” [Sûrah YâSîn: 6]
Ibn Jurayh says: “No Messenger had come to them or to their forefathers, no Messenger had come to the Arabs from Allah Almighty.” Al-Suyûtî quotes this statement in his commentary on the Qur’ân entitled al-Durr al-Manthûr (6/537).
A similar statement is mentioned for Qatâdah. Al-Tabarî mentions this in his commentary on the Qur’ân (22/150). Al-Suyûtî also mentions it in al-Durr al-Manthûr (7/42).
Allah makes it clear that he had never before sent down a scripture to the Arabs when he says: “But We had not given them any books from which to study, nor did We send to them before you anyone to warn them.” [Sûrah Saba’: 44]
Scholars differ with how to reconcile this verse with other verses like: “Verily We sent you in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And there has never been a people who have not had a warner live among them.” [Sûrah Fâtir: 24]
The opinion that seems to me to be the most correct is that the verses that negate the sending of Messengers and scriptures to the Arabs as a people are to be taken literally. When Allah says that there has never been a people who have not had a warner live among them, He means other peoples besides the people to whom Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been sent.
This interpretation of these verses is supported by the fact that Allah first mentions that he has sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a “bearer of glad tidings and a warner” and then goes on to explain that His way of dealing with His Creation is to send such messengers to them.
The gist of this verse, therefore, goes something like this: “There has never been a people who have not had a warner sent to them with the exception of the Arabs, so We have now sent you, O Muhammad, to them.”
And Allah knows best.
For more information on this issue, please refer to al-Baghawî, Tafsîr al-Baghawî (3/497), al-Alûsî, Rûh al-Ma`ânî (11/117-119), and Ibn Kathîr, Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr (3/542 and 552).
Allah informs us of this in the Qur’ân when he says: “Or do they say that he has forged it? Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may admonish a people to whom no warner before you has come, in order that they may receive guidance.” [Sûrah al-Sajdah: 3]
Allah also says: “In order that you may admonish a people whose fathers had received no admonition and who therefore remained heedless.” [Sûrah YâSîn: 6]
Ibn Jurayh says: “No Messenger had come to them or to their forefathers, no Messenger had come to the Arabs from Allah Almighty.” Al-Suyûtî quotes this statement in his commentary on the Qur’ân entitled al-Durr al-Manthûr (6/537).
A similar statement is mentioned for Qatâdah. Al-Tabarî mentions this in his commentary on the Qur’ân (22/150). Al-Suyûtî also mentions it in al-Durr al-Manthûr (7/42).
Allah makes it clear that he had never before sent down a scripture to the Arabs when he says: “But We had not given them any books from which to study, nor did We send to them before you anyone to warn them.” [Sûrah Saba’: 44]
Scholars differ with how to reconcile this verse with other verses like: “Verily We sent you in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And there has never been a people who have not had a warner live among them.” [Sûrah Fâtir: 24]
The opinion that seems to me to be the most correct is that the verses that negate the sending of Messengers and scriptures to the Arabs as a people are to be taken literally. When Allah says that there has never been a people who have not had a warner live among them, He means other peoples besides the people to whom Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been sent.
This interpretation of these verses is supported by the fact that Allah first mentions that he has sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a “bearer of glad tidings and a warner” and then goes on to explain that His way of dealing with His Creation is to send such messengers to them.
The gist of this verse, therefore, goes something like this: “There has never been a people who have not had a warner sent to them with the exception of the Arabs, so We have now sent you, O Muhammad, to them.”
And Allah knows best.
For more information on this issue, please refer to al-Baghawî, Tafsîr al-Baghawî (3/497), al-Alûsî, Rûh al-Ma`ânî (11/117-119), and Ibn Kathîr, Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr (3/542 and 552).
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