How do we interpret the verse: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves" and does this mean that those with him are messengers of Allah?

Al-Saadi said in his tafsir (exegesis) of the verse: Allah the Almighty informs about His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions, that they possess the most perfect attributes. They are "stern against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves, like a solid structure." The verse does not mean that those of the believers who are with him are messengers from Allah the Almighty, but rather, the intent of their sending is to grant them permission, through the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to spread Tawhid (monotheism) and invite to it. Ibn Ashour mentioned in Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir that "those who are with him" could be a mubtada (subject) and "stern" its khabar (predicate), with the intent being praise for the companions of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Alternatively, it could be an 'atf (conjunction) to "His Messenger" from the verse: "It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth," implying: "And He sent those who were with him," meaning his companions, such that the intent of "sending" includes granting them permission through the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.