(Who is the Last Messenger?*
A Tragic Human Trait)
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.
وَلَقَد جاءَكُم يوسُفُ مِن قَبلُ بِالبَيِّنٰتِ فَما زِلتُم فى شَكٍّ مِمّا جاءَكُم بِهِ حَتّىٰ إِذا هَلَكَ قُلتُم لَن يَبعَثَ اللَّهُ مِن بَعدِهِ رَسولًا كَذٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن هُوَ مُسرِفٌ مُرتابٌ
wa laqad jaaa’akum Yoosufu min qablu bil baiyinaati famaa ziltum fee shakkim mimmaa jaaa’akum bihee hattaaa izaa halaka qultum lai yab asal laahu mim ba’dihee Rasoolaa; kazaalika yudillul laahu man huwa Musrifum murtaab
*40:34 The Jews refused to believe in the Messiah when he came to them, the Christians refused to believe in Muhammad when he came to them, and a majority of today’s Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last messenger. On that erroneous basis, they refused to accept God’s Messenger of the Covenant. We learn from 3:81-90 and 33:7 that those who fail to accept the Quranic injunction to “believe in and support God’s Messenger of the Covenant” are no longer believers. See Appendices 2 & 26.
**40:34 It is noteworthy that we find the name “Rashad” in the Arabic text precisely four verses ahead of the injunction against saying “the last messenger,” and also four verses after it.