Nabi and rasul - What is the difference?

Difference between Nabi and Rasul

By: Khurshid Imam

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Popular understanding is: "Every Rasul is Nabi. But every Nabi is not Rasul. Rasul is the Nabi who was given holy book from God."

Let us check the validity of this definition in the light of Quran.

Nabi is an Arabic word derived from the root word nūn bā hamza (ن ب أ) which means "news or piece of information or tidings". One who delivers the news / tidings is referred as NABI. Quran has used this word for those human being whom we refer to as Prophet in English. Prophet or Nabi would give glad tidings of good result and paradise for those who believed the message of God and he would warn people against bad consequences of rejecting the message of God.

Rasul is one who delivers the message. Going by the literal meaning both seems to be exactly same but they are not. Let’s not go into the etymology of these terms. Let us see some basic differences:

Quran has used word RASUL for different kind of creatures. It is not specific to human being or Prophets.

1.     RASUL used for angel:

Say, "If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger (Rasul). Quran 17:95.

Allah says that an angel would have been sent as RASUL if angels were living on the earth.

Quran 11:77 And when Our messengers (Rasul), [angels], came to Lot,

Quran 11:81 - (The angels) said, "O Lot, indeed we are messengers (Rasul) of your Lord;

Quran 11:69 And certainly did Our messengers (Rasul) come to Abraham with good tidings;

Quran 15:57 - [Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers (Rasul)?"

Quran 15:61 - And when the messengers (Rasul) came to the family of Lot,

Quran 29:31 - messenger sent to Abraham is referred as Rasul.
Quran 29:33 - messenger sent to Prophet Lot is referred as Rasul.

Quran 7:37 refers to angel of death as Rasul.

2.     RASUL used for Al-Rooh:

ROOH- who visited Hazrat Maryam is referred to as Rasul. Quran 19:17, 19

3.     RASUL used for normal human being:

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger (Rasul word is used here) came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master …." Quran12:50

Word Rasul is used here for a person who belonged to the kingdom of Egypt. 

4.     RASUL used for Sahabi (Companion of Prophet Muhammad):

When Prophet was sending Hazrat MUAZ BIN JABAL as Governor of Yemen then Prophet referred Hazrat Muaz as “RASUL ka RASUL” = “Messenger (of prophet) of the messenger (messenger of Allah)”. Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1327

5.     RASUL used for Jinn (invisible creature of God):

"O you assembly of jinn and mankind! "Did not there come to you messengers (Rasul) from amongst you, reciting unto you My Verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" Quran 6:130

Allah chooses messengers from the angels and from the people. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing. Quran 22:75

Quran 33:40 tells that Prophet Muhammad is RASUL and he is the seal of NABI. Prophet Muhammad is referred as last NABI. He is not referred as last RASUL.

Nabi were those people whom we call as Prophet. Risalat continues. But door of revelation ceased with Prophet Muhammad. Revelation of God would come to human being who was a Nabi.

Allah says in Quran 28:59 that Allah does not destroy a population until he sends RASUL among them. Obviously this Risalat of Rasul continues in the form of human beings acting as Rasul / warner / guide. But for sure – NABUWWAT or Prophet-hood has ended so there is no concept of receiving revelation from Allah after Prophet Muhammad.

Myth: Rasul is a Nabi who got new holy book from God. There were 313 Rasul and 100,000+ Nabi”.

Reality 1: This hypothesis contradicts with Quran. Quran 19:54 says that Prophet Ishmael was a Rasul. But we know that he did not bring any new holy book. He was son of Prophet Abraham and he would have continued teaching of Sohaf-e-Ibraheem i.e. book given to his father.

And mention in the Book (the Qur'an) Isma'il (Ishmael). Verily he was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger (Rasul), (and) a Prophet (Nabi). Quran 19:54

Please note that word RASUL is used for Prophet Ismael even though he was not given any separate book.

Reality 2: Quran says opposite. As we have seen that every Nabi was a Rasul. Quran 3:81 says that every Nabi was given portion of book and wisdom (Kitaab and Hikmah). Details of “Al Kitaab” is beyond the scope of this article. The idea is that teachings from Al-Kitab (Need not to be present today in holy book format) was given to every Nabi but misconception spread is that only Rasul were given holy book. Holy book / revelation is not a factor for differentiating between Nabi and Rasul.

Reality 3: Quran says in 19:30 that Jesus was given book and he was Nabi.

[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture (Kitab) and made me a prophet (Nabi). Quran 19:30

Reality 4: Quran 19:51 says that Prophet Moses was a Nabi and a Rasul. Even though – he was given torah, a new shariah yet Quran did not say that he was only a Rasul and not a Nabi.

Reality 5: “We gave Moses the scripture (Kitab) and followed him up with messengers (Rasul) in quick succession. …”. Quran 2:87.

Please note that Quran says that Moses was given the book, then messengers (Rasul) came in quick succession and then ayah talks about Prophet Jesus. It is very obvious that messengers (Rasul) coming in quick succession after Moses would mean no new message or scripture but the continuation of the message (book) of Prophet Moses. This fact also discards the idea that Rasul is a Nabi who brings new shariah / holy book.

Reality 6: “And We have already sent Noah and Abraham and placed in their descendants prophet hood (Nabuwwat) and scripture (Kitab)…”. Quran 57:26

Please note that Quran did not say Risalat and Kitab, rather it says Nabuwwat and Kitab. Again- we find here that theory of Rasul only getting Kitab is fabricated concept. Let me repeat: Quran has not put revelation / shariah / new holy book – a factor in differentiating between Nabi and Rasul.

I don’t know how this false notion – “every Rasul is a Nabi and only Rasul got holy book”- became so popular. This idea is horribly wrong in the context with Quran.

Conclusion:

1.     Nabi is a person who receives divine guidance and revelation from God.

2.     Every Nabi was a Rasul. Rasul is someone who carries a message.

3.     Quran uses Rasul for Nabi, angel, normal human being etc.

4.     So, every Nabi was a Rasul but every Rasul need not be Nabi.

5.     Holy book or revelation is not a factor in differentiating Nabi and Rasul.

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