# Muhammd "was" a messenger

Is Muhammad alive or dead? This seems like a strange question, but the Quran clarifies it in case there is any doubt.

> \[39:30] You (Muhammad) will surely die, just like they will die.
>
>  إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ

So, can a dead person be a messenger? The Shahada of the masses says: 

> Muhammad <mark style="color:red;">is</mark> a messenger of God
>
> مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ
>
> Muhammadun Rasūlu-llāh

But this is factually incorrect because a dead person cannot be a messenger. Therefore, to say today that “Muhammad <mark style="color:red;">is</mark> a messenger of God” is incorrect; the correct statement would be:

> Muhammad <mark style="color:red;">was</mark> a messenger of God
>
> <mark style="color:red;">كَانَ</mark> مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولَ اللهِ
>
> <mark style="color:red;">Kāna</mark> Muhammadun Rasūla-llāh

> \[33:70] O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the correct utterances.
>
> &#x20;يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا