Benefits: Concerning the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger.

The Shaykh : This is what strengthens the view of the majority of scholars regarding the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger. A Prophet is one to whom a Shari'ah is revealed, but he is not obligated to convey it, nor is he bound by it; rather, he is told to worship in accordance with it. Thus, his benefit is that if there was a Messenger before him, it is the reviving of the message that many people had forgotten. If there was no Messenger before him, as in the case of Adam, it is a new Shari'ah. This is the position of the majority of scholars regarding the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger. If someone asks, "How can Allah reveal to him without commanding him to convey it?" we say there are two things here: specific worship and general worship that must be conveyed. Which of these is prophethood? The first, specific worship. Its benefit is that when he acts in accordance with the Shari'ah, and he is respected among the people—and prophethood must be in one who is worthy of it—the people will follow his example. This is why we see the scholars of this Ummah, the scholars of this Ummah, reviving what has died of the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) when people see them following their example and learning from them. So the benefit of the Prophet to whom the Shari'ah is revealed and who worships Allah in accordance with it is the reviving of what has died of the Sunnah of the Messenger before him, if there was a Messenger before him, or the establishing of a new Shari'ah to worship Allah in accordance with it. I do not know of an example for the latter except Adam, except Adam, for no one was sent before him, but he was made a Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he worshipped in accordance with this revelation until his children multiplied and spread out and differed, so the Messengers were sent. Yes.