The Difference Between Prophet and Messenger
(A Quranic Definition)

One of the issues that always comes up when discussing the Quran is the difference between a prophet (nabi) and a messenger (rasoul). Since it is God who sends all prophets and messengers, then who better than God can give us the definition of each?

Even though the definitions of the words prophet and messenger are clearly given in the Quran, the majority of traditional scholars do not accept the Quranic definition and instead uphold a definition of their own making or one which they have inherited from their predecessors. Placing the interpretations of scholars above the Words of God reflects disbelief in God and His Word (Quran). For that, we read the following clear warning in the Quran:

[9:31] They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords, instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners.

Quranic Definition of Prophet and Messenger
(Nabi and Rasoul)

We have in 3:81 a clear distinction between the duty assigned to prophets as opposed to the duty assigned to a messenger who is not a prophet:

[3:81] GOD took a covenant from the prophets, saying, "I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?" They said, "We agree." He said, "You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you."

Verse 3:81, among many other verses, provides the definitions of a prophet and also a messenger. A prophet is a messenger of God who delivers a new Scripture, while a messenger (who is not a prophet) is commissioned by God to confirm an existing Scripture. Only the messengers who deliver new Scriptures are called prophets. As a result, every prophet is also a messenger, but not every messenger is a prophet. We have numerous pieces of Quranic evidence to confirm this truth. We read in the following verse how it is the prophets who are sent with the Scriptures:

[2:213] The people used to be one community when GOD sent the prophets as bearers of good news, as well as warners. He sent down with them the scripture, bearing the truth, to judge among the people in their disputes. Ironically, those who received the scripture were the ones who rejected any new scripture, despite clear proofs given to them. This is due to jealousy on their part. GOD guides those who believe to the truth that is disputed by all others, in accordance with His will. GOD guides whoever wills in a straight path.

More Proofs from the Quran Linking Prophethood and Scripture:

Those who are not sufficiently familiar with the Quran tend to think that Aaron was a prophet who did not receive a Scripture. They claim that the Torah was given to Moses and not to Aaron! This is totally inaccurate since God ascertains that the Torah was given to both Moses and Aaron:

[37:117] We gave them both (Moses and Aaron) the profound scripture.

[21:48] And we gave Moses and Aaron the Statute Book, a beacon, and a reminder for the righteous.

Whenever God mentions prophethood in the Quran, God also mentions Scriptures. The following are some examples:

[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, "Idolize me beside GOD." Instead, (he would say), "Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone," according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.

[6:89] These are the ones to whom we have given the scripture, wisdom, and prophethood. If these people disbelieve, we will substitute others in their place, and the new people will not be disbelievers.

[29:27] And we granted him Isaac and Jacob, and we placed prophethood and the scripture in his descendants. We endowed him with his due recompense in this life, and in the Hereafter he will surely be with the righteous.

[45:16] We gave the Children of Israel the scripture, wisdom, and prophethood, and provided them with good provisions, and we made them the best community (in the beginning).

[57:26] We sent Noah and Abraham, and we granted their descendants prophethood and the scripture. Some of them were guided, while many were wicked.

Moses, the Prophet Messenger:

[19:51] Mention in the scripture Moses. He was devoted, and he was a messenger prophet.

Moses was a "messenger prophet" (rasoul nabi), meaning that Moses was a messenger who was also a prophet, as opposed to non-prophet messengers.

Ishmael, the Prophet Messenger:

We read the same in 19:54 about Ishmael.

The question is: if every messenger is also a prophet, why does God use the phrase "messenger prophet"?

Messenger nor a Prophet:

Perhaps one of the strongest pieces of Quranic evidence that the words prophet and messenger do not have the same meaning is found in the following verse:

[22:52] We did not send before you any messenger, or a prophet, without having the devil interfere in his wishes. GOD then nullifies what the devil has done. GOD perfects His revelations. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

If the words prophet and messenger had the same meaning God would not be saying "messenger, or a prophet", for it would be an unnecessary repetition.

Significance of 33:40 and 10:47

[33:40] Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things.

According to 33:40, Muhammad was the seal (last) of all prophets. There will be no prophets to come after him. And since it is only the prophets who deliver the Scriptures, it follows that the Quran is the final Scripture to be sent by God. We must also be aware that 33:40 clearly states that Muhammad was a "messenger of God" and not 'the seal of the messengers'. God is very precise in His choice of words. If Muhammad was also the last of all messengers, as the Sunnis call him (Khatam Al-Mursaleen), then why does God call him only a "messenger of God"?

The reply is found in the following Quranic verses:

[10:47] To each community, a messenger. After their messenger comes, they are judged equitably, without the least injustice.

[10:48] They challenge, "When will that prophecy come to pass, if you are truthful?"

1- The words in 10:47 confirm that every nation receives a messenger, and since there will be nations on earth until the end of the world, then it also follows that there will be future messengers to come until the end of the world. That is why Muhammad is not the last messenger.

2- The words in 10:48 speak of the coming of messengers in the future. It is an event that would happen after the revelation of the Quran and after the prophet Muhammad. This is why the ones asking in 10:48 are asking about a future event and saying: "When will that prophecy come to pass?"

The Verdict of 57:25

[57:25] We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice. And we sent down the iron, wherein there is strength, and many benefits for the people. All this in order for GOD to distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers, on faith. GOD is Powerful, Almighty.

At first glance, the words in 57:25 seem to indicate that the Scriptures of God are not only sent with the prophets, but also with the messengers. This would make it inaccurate to say that only the prophets are given the Scriptures.

1- Since every prophet is also a messenger, any prophet of God can be referred to as a prophet or as a messenger.

As an example, prophet Muhammad is referred to as a prophet in 33:40 while in 3:144 and 48:29 he is referred to as a messenger. The same for Jesus, he is referred to as a prophet in 19:30 and 33:7 while in 5:75 he is referred to as a messenger. The same observation applies to other prophets such as Moses, Aaron, Noah and Lot among others.

In contrast, not every messenger can be referred to as a prophet since not all messengers were prophets.

2- To understand any Quranic subject, we should not look at one verse in isolation. This will often lead to misleading results. Instead, we must study all the verses related to that subject. To derive a conclusion from 57:25 on its own will surely be misleading.

When we look at 2:213, we learn that it is the prophets who are sent with Scriptures from God.

The same truth is found in 3:81. The words in 3:81 confirm that all the prophets are given Scriptures, but there are messengers who do not deliver a Scripture but they are sent to confirm previous Scriptures. Such messengers are not prophets.

By studying the verdict of 57:25, 2:213 and 3:81 collectively, it becomes apparent that the words in 57:25 speak about messengers who were also prophets, and not all messengers.

3- The case of using different words in reference to the same subject, as the case of prophets referred to as messengers, is seen with other Quranic subjects too.

As an example, the period of one month is made up of a number of days. Therefore, we can call this period a "month" or a "number of days."

This we see in Chapter 2. God speaks of Ramadan as a month "the month of Ramadan" in 2:185 and also as "a number of days" in 2:184.

This does not mean that any number of days make a month. A period of 13 or 14 days for example does not make a month. The number of days that make a month is only 29, 30 or 31, depending on whether we are referring to a lunar or solar month.

And so, we cannot call any number of days a month, but we can call any month a number of days.

Similarly, prophets may be referred to as messengers (such as in 57:25), but not every messenger can be referred to as a prophet.

To Conclude:

1- All prophets are also messengers, simply because they deliver a message from God.

2- Many messengers do not deliver a Scripture, thus they are not prophets.

3- There will be messengers to come after Muhammad, all the way to the end of the world (10:47).

4- Muhammad was the final prophet. No prophets will come after Muhammad (33:40).

5- Therefore, all messengers who come after Muhammad will not be sent with Scriptures.