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Difference between a prophet and a messenger

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Zainab_M
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« on: December 25, 2006, 01:51:56 am »

 

BismEm


Modified by me as per the contents of my second post in this thread.

According to the explanations of our ulemas and scholars the difference between a prophet and a messenger is:  a prophet is one who is inspired by the Divine Power periodically but does not receive any revelations of a Divine Scripture.  Messenger is one who is inspired by Allah and has received revelations resulting in the formation of a Divine Book.  E.g. Prophets Moses, Jesus, Muhammad (peace on them all) were messengers, while John the Baptist (Yehya) and Zachriah (peace be on them) were prophets. 

Some ulemas have explained it as follows: In greater detail, the well-known difference between a Prophet and a Messenger (Nabi and Rasool) is that a Messenger is one to whom a law is revealed and he is commanded to convey it, whilst a Prophet is one to whom a law is revealed but he is not commanded to convey it. But this distinction is not free of problems, because a Prophet is also commanded to call people, convey the Message and judge among the people.

The Noble Quran does not at all say in so many words the difference between a prophet and a messenger.  That's because apparently there's no significant difference between a Prophet and Messenger - the difference is only to elucidate the correct vocabulary with correct grammar, depending on the sentence used. 

Here's what this means.  The term "Prophet" means a person who's chosen by Allah to deliver His Message to humanity.  This selection of being the chosen person of Allah Almighty makes that person a "prophet."  At the same time we must also keep in mind that every prophet was chosen by Allah for the same specific reason, that is, to deliver His Message to humanity.  Thus, the act of delivering this Message to others makes a prophet a messenger too by definition of simple English and Arabic (nabi and rasool - prophet and messenger respectively).  Therefore, if while talking or writing, we refer to the act of a prophet in connection with delivering or narrating Allah's Message as commanded by Allah through His inspiration or revelation, it would be more correct to refer to that chosen person of Allah as a "messenger."  But, for example, if we discuss the biography of that chosen person or some incident or event of his life, it would be correct to refer to him as "prophet."

The Divine Messages delivered by some former prophets were written, retained and then lost or changed by people of later times.  Probably, the Divine Messages delivered by some other prophets were not written down by people at all.  Only Allah knows best.  And of course, the Noble Quran was written down systematically and will be retained permanently as per the promise of Allah within the Quran itself.  The important thing to remember in order to know that there's no difference between a 'prophet' and a 'messenger' is that whenever Allah chose a special person as a prophet, it was for some purpose.  And that purpose was always to deliver some Divine Message to correct the wrong ideas or deteriorating plight of the community and the world.  Allah never chose anyone as a special person (prophet) for no reason.  Neither did Allah ever choose anyone as a prophet for insignificant reasons such as family status, outward appearance, iconic popularity in society, wealth, worldly power etc.  Every prophet had a mission, that is, to convey some Divine Message to the people of their community, who should then spread that Message beyond their community over the generations. 

Thus, it's totally senseless to say that there's a difference between a 'prophet' and a 'messenger.'  The two words are given to one and the same person.

This confusion of differentiating between a 'prophet' and 'messenger' was started by the very misguided mischief-maker, Rashid Khalifa, a man who died in the 1990s and tried to fool the world by saying that he was the final messenger.  To serve his own selfish motives, Khalifa misinterpreted Verse 33:40 by differentiating between 'prophet' and 'messenger' even though the Verse gives no reason to make such a distinction.  Please read this verse as follows.

"Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is Aware {Al-'Alim} of all things."  33:40

The above verse simply means that Allah chose Muhammad above other people (making Muhammad a Prophet) to deliver His Message (making Muhammad a Messenger).  And since Allah intended to put an end to sending more Messages to humanity, therefore after Muhammad, Allah decided not to choose any more people.  This brings an end to the era of Prophethood (making Muhammad the "Seal of the Prophets") and automatically an end to all Mesengers as well.  That's because a Prophet and a Messenger are connected (or are the same).  It's impossible to be a Prophet or a chosen person of Allah without being His Messenger as Allah always sends a Prophet with a mission for delivering His Message.  And neither can a messenger prop up from nowhere without first being a Prophet by receiving some inspiration from Allah confirming that Allah has chosen him above others.  That's because Allah does not choose any ordinary creature as His Prophet with the responsibility of delivering His Message.  That person is always special, and different from others in Allah's sight and Allah confirms it to that chosen person through inspiration before delivering His Message.  The Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) began being inspired by Allah when he (the Prophet) began getting reclusive and liked being alone in a quiet cave away from the noise & confusion of the society, which eventually led to his seeing the Angel Gabriel.  That was his Prophethood.  Then, the revelations that came for the next 23 years periodically, was the mission of Prophet Muhammad to deliver those Messages from Allah which is the Glorious Quran.  All praise be to Allah Almighty and peace & love on His final Mesenger whom He chose as the final Prophet.
 
In the Quran, the word 'Rasool' (messenger) has also been used for angels who descend with messages with the permission of Allah.  E.g. Verse 6:61 and several more. 

"He is the Omnipotent over His slaves. He sends guardians over you until, when death comes unto one of you, Our messengers receive him, and they neglect not."  (6:61)

The term "messengers" in the above verse refers to angels who receive our souls when we depart from this world. 

This further explains why a prophet is also called a messenger (or rasul).  That's because angels are referred to as messengers (rasul) only in the context of their responsibility of carrying out the orders of Allah Almighty.


*Please note and beware:
There are some sects of Muslims like the Ahmedis, Ismailis and various secular individual Muslims who, through their intentional misinterpretation of the Quran say that the end of prophethood is not necessarily the end of a message.  They say this with the purpose of keeping the avenue of 'messenger' open so that they can give this title to their own leaders and favourites at later times.  Needless to say, this concept is in complete violation of the Quran.  To accept such notions would be open disobedience of the Final Message of Allah.



Related post:
Every Prophet is also a Messenger |  Prophet Abraham (pbuh) received a Scripture.

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N. Truth Seeker
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« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2006, 02:05:08 am »

Very useful article sister.  This is a much asked question among many nowadays. 

I am also of the view that the Quran does not make any specific distinctions between a Nabi and Rasool in so many words as explained by ulemas, but as per the contents of the Quran there is surely a difference between Nabi and Prophet.  And the truth is only known to Allah. 

Verse 33:40 clearly and definitely refers to the end of all prophets and messengers.  In other words, no one who is Divinely inspired and chosen by Allah to deliver His message will come any more, be it verbal or thru a Scripture.  It will only be the Day of Judgment itself that will finally bring us the signs of Allah.

Thus Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is the final Prophet and the final Messenger. 

I absolutely agree about being aware of phoneys like Ahmedis and Ismailis who try to refute this fact that's been confirmed by Allah. 
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« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2009, 10:32:18 pm »

Okay .. I was a bit confused uptil now over this topic but now after further reflections for some months on the various contents of the Noble Quraan along with my rational perception, it's a lot clearer.  Here's how I would interpret the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger.

A Prophet and a Messenger are two titles given to the same person in different contexts pertaining to their ethical status and responsibility, respectively. 

When Allah Almighty chooses a person above others on the merits of his character to deliver His Message to humanity, this decision of Allah to select that person as someone special makes him a Prophet. 

All Prophets were chosen by Allah to deliver the Message of monotheism to the community.  Therefore, whether the Divine Messages were written in the form of a Book after being inspired to the different Prophets or were left unwritten, all Prophets had the responsibility to deliever these Messages of Allah to humanity. 

Hence, when we refer to the Prophets performing their duties (that is, delivering the Divine Message to people) they are known as 'Messengers' by definition in accordance with the description of their task.  But the fact remains that both Prophet and Messenger are the same person. 

Prophet = a special person chosen by Allah

Messenger = a credential of every Prophet in regard to the responsibility bestowed upon them for delivering the Divine Message

In my humble opinion, it's just a matter of common sense to perceive this very simple issue.
 

And here's a very simply analogy to understand it.  In USA, the head of the state is known as a president.  When he's talking to the senate, the congress and the American people, he's the 'president.'  But when he gives orders to the men and women of the US armed forces, he's known as the commander-in-chief of the US army by definition, relating to his leadership in this sphere and the responsibility it involves.  Yet, at the end of the day, the president and commander-in-chief of the US army are one and the same person.  He could not have become the commander-in-chief if he wasn't first made the president.

It's basically the same theory applied for differentiating between Prophet and Messenger, at a much higher level of course, in that, unlike presidents, Prophets are chosen by the Divine Power and not by the people.


And only Allah knows best.
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« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2011, 05:06:59 pm »

Salaam
u are also confusing me also .both words have same meaning all prophets and messengers give same message that is biased on Tawhid.
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« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2011, 05:12:16 am »

Salaam
u are also confusing me also .both words have same meaning all prophets and messengers give same message that is biased on Tawhid.

Yes, the messages delivered by all Prophets were based on Tawheed.

To clear up your confusion, please read my last post on this thread above where, after my final research, I've explained that there's no difference between prophet (nabi) and messenger (rasool).  The word "prophet" refers to being a chosen person of Allah Almighty, and the word "messenger" refers to that chosen person carrying out his duty of delivering the Message of Allah. Hence, the terms "prophet" and "messenger" are only two different vocabularies, that's all.  They don't refer to different persons.  Every chosen person of Allah whom Allah calls a "Prophet" is automatically a "Messenger" as well because all Prophets had the responsibility to deliver the Divine Message.  The word "messenger" is derived from the word "message."
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« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2011, 02:32:37 pm »

Sister all  nabi were sent by Allah, amongst them on which  Allah sent  books(sheriat ) they are rasools.Prophet Muhammad  is the stamp on all nabi. when work is done n finished it is stamped.And Muhammad is the last Messenger. finish
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« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2011, 09:05:29 am »

Sister all  nabi were sent by Allah, amongst them on which  Allah sent  books(sheriat ) they are rasools.Prophet Muhammad  is the stamp on all nabi. when work is done n finished it is stamped.And Muhammad is the last Messenger. finish 

Yes, right sister .... Zeynab is also saying the same thing.  I think you didn't follow what she meant.  Please read her last post in this thread which begins with the words "Okay .. I was a bit confused uptil now over this topic but now after further reflections for some months on the various contents of the Noble Quraan along with my rational perception, it's a lot clearer.  Here's how I would interpret the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger."  If you check this post carefully & slowly, you will understand it, InshAllah.   
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« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2011, 10:32:36 am »

Salaam
 i understand it what she said . i give my point of view.
Regards
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