Difference Between a Prophet (Nabī) and a Messenger (Rasūl)
Source: Fatāwā Aminpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Aminpuri
Question
What is the difference between a Nabī (Prophet) and a Rasūl (Messenger)?
Answer
❀ ʿAllāmah al-Ṭībī (RA) (d. 743 AH) explained:
الفرق بينهما أن الرسول من الأنبياء : من جمع إلى المعجزة الكتاب المنزل عليه ، والنبي غير الرسول : من لم ينزل عليه كتاب وإنما أمر أن يدعو الناس إلى شريعة من قبله.
“The difference between them is that a Rasūl is a Prophet who, along with a miracle, is granted a revealed book. Whereas a Nabī is one upon whom no book is revealed; rather, he is commanded to call people to the Sharīʿah of the Prophet before him.”
(Sharḥ al-Ṭībī 11/3629)
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
