What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger?
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Question:
Our brother asks and says: What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger?
Answer:
The well-known view among scholars is that a prophet is one to whom a divine law is revealed, but he is not commanded to convey it to the people. He is revealed to do such and such, to do such and such, to pray in such a way, to fast in such a way, but he is not commanded to convey it. This one is called a prophet.
As for when he is commanded to convey it, he conveys it to the people and warns the people; he becomes a prophet and a messenger, like our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and like Musa, Isa, Nuh, Hud, Salih, and others.
And some other people of knowledge said: The prophet is the one who is sent with a law that follows another, following a prophet before him; he is called a prophet. But if he is independent, then he is a prophet and a messenger. Those who were sent after Musa with the law of the Torah are called prophets because they follow the Torah. The correct view is the first one: that the messenger is the one who is sent and commanded to convey, even if he follows a prophet before him, as was the case with Dawud, Sulayman, and other prophets after Musa. They called to what Musa called to, and they are prophets and messengers, peace and blessings be upon them.
So the messenger is the one who is commanded to convey absolutely, even if he follows a prophet before him, such as one who is on the law of the Torah. And the prophet is the one who is not commanded to convey; he is revealed to fast, or to pray, or the like, but he is not commanded to convey. It is not said to him: "Convey to the people." Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Our brother asks and says: What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger?
Answer:
The well-known view among scholars is that a prophet is one to whom a divine law is revealed, but he is not commanded to convey it to the people. He is revealed to do such and such, to do such and such, to pray in such a way, to fast in such a way, but he is not commanded to convey it. This one is called a prophet.
As for when he is commanded to convey it, he conveys it to the people and warns the people; he becomes a prophet and a messenger, like our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and like Musa, Isa, Nuh, Hud, Salih, and others.
And some other people of knowledge said: The prophet is the one who is sent with a law that follows another, following a prophet before him; he is called a prophet. But if he is independent, then he is a prophet and a messenger. Those who were sent after Musa with the law of the Torah are called prophets because they follow the Torah. The correct view is the first one: that the messenger is the one who is sent and commanded to convey, even if he follows a prophet before him, as was the case with Dawud, Sulayman, and other prophets after Musa. They called to what Musa called to, and they are prophets and messengers, peace and blessings be upon them.
So the messenger is the one who is commanded to convey absolutely, even if he follows a prophet before him, such as one who is on the law of the Torah. And the prophet is the one who is not commanded to convey; he is revealed to fast, or to pray, or the like, but he is not commanded to convey. It is not said to him: "Convey to the people." Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.