Is it not a contradiction that there are people of interregnum though prophets are sent to all nations?

- Al-Isra 15: "Nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a messenger (to give warning)."
- According to the verse above, it seems that there are places where messengers were not sent.
- The following is stated in verse 36 of the chapter of an-Nahl: “For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger.” We know that prophets were not sent in the periods of interregnum. It seems that there is a contradiction.

Dear Brother / Sister,

- It is emphasized in verse 15 of the chapter of al-Isra “Nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a messenger (to give warning)” that Allah will not wrong anybody. It is possible to understand it from the statement before this one in the same verse:

 "Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another." (al-Isra, 17/15)

It is possible to understand it from the verse above because to choose the true path (guidance) necessitates the existence of a true path. The determination of the true path is possible only through prophets. 

- This statement of the verse expresses a general condition not a specific condition. That is, this statement of the Quran aims to emphasize that every nation that was punished had been sent a prophet, not that some nations were not sent prophets. 

- What is meant by it is that prophets had definitely been sent to those who were punished. This statement does not mean “those who were punished had not been sent prophets”. This statement is a reference to the incidents that happened or will happen about those who were punished and will be punished. 

- “For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger.” (an-Nahl, 16/36) The expression of the verse above is very clear. The existence of this verses makes it necessary for verse 5 of the chapter of al-Isra to be understood as we have explained it above. 

- It is known that 124.000 prophets were sent since Hz. Adam. It is highly probable that a period of interregnum occurred between two prophets many times in history. The period of interregnum between Hz. Isa and Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) is well-known. 

- The time period of no prophet was limited in history. Hz. Nuh (Noah) served as a prophet for 950 years while some prophets like Hz. Dawud (David), Hz. Sulayman (Solomon), Hz. Yahya (John) and Hz. Isa (Jesus) served as prophets for a short time. 

Therefore, the periods of interregnum between two prophets may have lasted for a short time and also for a long time. If the people forgot the instructions and teachings of a prophet before the next one came, it would be regarded as an interregnum. 

The reason why the period between Hz. Isa and Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) came to the foreground as a period of interregnum is that Christians forgot the teachings of Hz. Isa – though partly - , that the Arabs, who were illiterate, were unaware of the religion at that time and that even the remains of the religion of Hz. Ibrahim disappeared to a great extent.

Questions on Islam