Did God send female messengers? And what is the interpretation of the angels' address to Mary, peace be upon her?

God did not send a female messenger, in accordance with His saying: ﴿And We did not send before you except men﴾. Some scholars, such as Ibn Hazm, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Ash'ari, were of the opinion that women could attain prophethood, but not messengership, citing God's revelation to them, as in the story of Mary: ﴿Then We sent to her Our Spirit﴾. This can be refuted by stating that the addressing by angels does not always imply prophethood, and that revelation can also occur in a dream.