Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (2/346)

Section: What the word “messengers” encompasses in the verse, “…for messengers before you were also rejected.”

They say:
Allah also says in Sūrah Āl ʿImrān,

“If they deny you, messengers before you were likewise denied; they came with clear proofs, with written texts, and with the radiant Book.” ⦗Āl ʿImrān: 184⦘

By “the radiant Book” He is referring as well to the Holy Gospel.

We reply: It has already been shown that the term “messengers” most definitely includes every messenger Allah names in the Quran, and especially the messengers of firm resolve—Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary. These, together with Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all—were singled out and favored by Allah, who said:

“And [recall] when We took from the prophets their covenant, and from you, and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary; We took from them a solemn covenant, so that He may question the truthful about their truthfulness, and He has prepared for the disbelievers a painful punishment.” ⦗al-Aḥzāb: 7–8⦘

[فَصْلٌ: مَا يَتَنَاوَلُهُ اسْمُ الرُّسُلِ فِي قَوْلِهِ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ] قَالُوا: وَقَالَ فِي سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ: {فَإِنْ كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ جَاءُوا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ} [آل عمران: ١٨٤] فَأُعْنِيَ أَيْضًا بِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ الَّذِي هُوَ الْإِنْجِيلُ الْمُقَدَّسُ. فَيُقَالُ: قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ أَنَّ الرُّسُلَ تَتَنَاوَلُ قَطْعًا الرُّسُلَ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ لَا سِيَّمَا أُولُو الْعَزْمِ كَنُوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ - صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَسَلَامُهُ - خَصَّهُمُ اللَّهُ وَفَضَّلَهُمْ بِقَوْلِهِ - تَعَالَى -: {وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ وَمِنْكَ وَمِنْ نُوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُمْ مِيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا - لِيَسْأَلَ الصَّادِقِينَ عَنْ صِدْقِهِمْ وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا} [الأحزاب: ٧ - ٨]