The concept of a believer increasing in rank with God exists in different forms in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Each faith has its own understanding and practices through which believers can grow closer to God and attain higher spiritual ranks. And each faith includes individuals who have the rank of a believer, Prophet, Messenger, Imam ect. But how can we distinguish between a Prophet and a Messenger? What are the different ranks that a person can achieve?
Let us look at how Sunni Islam defines these ranks
According to Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz, “The well-known view of scholars is that a prophet is one to whom a system of law is revealed but was not commanded to convey it. He is ordered to pray and fast, etc., but not commanded to deliver what was revealed to him. If he is ordered to convey a message, then he is considered a prophet and a messenger; such as our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Musa (Moses), ‘Isa (Jesus), Nuh (Noah), Hud, Saleh, etc. Other scholars held that a prophet is one sent with a code similar to that which was revealed to the prophet who preceded him, while a messenger is one sent with a new, different code, such as the prophets who were sent after Musa to teach the Tawrah (Torah). The soundest view is that a messenger is one who receives revelation and is ordered to convey it, even if he is sent with a code similar to that revealed to the prophet preceding him. Prophets Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon) as well as those who were sent after Musa are called prophets because they invited people to the same laws of Musa. Therefore, a messenger is ordered to convey the revelation to the people whereas a prophet is ordered to pray, fast, etc.; but he is not ordered to convey the message he received to people.”
Source: https://alsalafiyyah.github.io/audios/difference-between-prophet-messenger/
According to Assim Al-Hakeem,
“A messenger is someone who is sent with a new law and scriptures, while a prophet is sent to follow and verify the law of the messenger before him.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql0eHYJ5Lyo&ab_channel=assimalhakeem
According to Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1, p. 226, he says,
“A Messenger is one who receives Revelation from Allaah of a law and he is called upon to propagate it and to act upon it. Every Messenger is a Prophet, but not every Prophet is a Messenger. The Prophets are more in number than the Messengers, and Allaah has related the stories of some of the Messengers in the Quran and others He has not related. Allaah, the Most High says: And indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)): Of some of them We have related to you their story, and some of them we have not related to you their story. And it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a Sign except by the leave of Allaah. [Surah Ghafir 40:78] Based upon this Verse, it is plain that every Prophet mentioned in the Quran is a Messenger.”
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/09/20/the-difference-between-a-messenger-rasul-and-a-prophet-nabiyy/
Now let us debunk this myth that every Messenger came with a new law/legislation and scripture.
وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِسۡمَٰعِيلَۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلۡوَعۡدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولٗا نَّبِيّٗا
Wazkur fil Kitaabi ismaa’eel; innahoo kaana saadiqal wa’di wa kaana Rasoolan Nabiyyaa
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
- The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 19, (Maryam) Verse 54
كَذَّبَتۡ عَادٌ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ أَخُوهُمۡ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ
Kazzabat ‘Aadunil mursaleen. Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Hoodun alaa tattaqoon. Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen‘Aad denied the messengers. When their brother Hud said to them, “Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger."
- The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 26, (Al-Shu’ara) Verses 123-125
كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ أَخُوهُمۡ صَٰلِحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ
Kazzabat Samoodul mursaleen. Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Saalihun alaa tattaqoon. Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen
Thamud denied the messengers. When their brother Salih said to them, “Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger."
- The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 26, (Al-Shu’ara) Verses 141-143
كَذَّبَ أَصۡحَٰبُ لۡـَٔيۡكَةِ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ شُعَيۡبٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ
Kazzaba As haabul Aykatil mursaleen. Iz qaala lahum Shu’aybun alaa tattaqoon. Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen.
The companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] denied the messengers. When Shu’ayb said to them, “Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger."- The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 26, (Al-Shu’ara) Verse 176-178
Here we have Shu’ayb, Salih, Hud, and Ishmael. They are messengers. However, there is no evidence that they came with a new law/legislation and scripture to their people. Therefore, the opinion that scholars have that a messenger came with a new law/legislation and scripture does not match the Qur'an.
The Shias on the other hand mostly agree with the Sunnis in regards to the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger, however, a great emphasis is placed on the rank of Imam. The rank of an Imam in Shia Islam is a foundational theological concept that refers to the leadership of the Muslim community. It holds that certain individuals, called Imams, are divinely appointed and possess spiritual and temporal authority over Muslims.
The Qaim/Riser Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him Is Peace) clarifies the matter by providing the distinction between the ranks of the people in the Goal of the Wise.
“Out of the billions of human beings born throughout the past 10,000 years, millions were believers. Out of those millions, 124,000 of them were chosen to become Prophets and reached the rank of Prophethood (nabi). Out of the 124,000 Prophets, only 313 reached the next rank of becoming a Messenger (rasool). Out of the 313 Messengers sent to humanity, only five reached the rank of an Imam (foremost guide) and became carriers of a new jurisprudence and Covenant. Finally, out of the five Ulul-Azm Messengers, the Covenant Prophets with great determination and steadfastness, only 1 was to reach the next level of “two bow lengths or closer” to God. - The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 53 (Al-Najm), Verse 9
The rank of dissolution into God: a state of incomprehensible oneness and singularity. It is a state of communion with the Absolute God. It is the rank of God in Creation (Allah fi-al-khalq). For the sake of simplicity, we shall describe each rank or station (maqam):
1. The rank of a Believer: This is a rank higher than being a non-believer. In this rank, the believer is required to pledge allegiance to the Messenger of God in his time or the Imam of his time, the one who has been selected to guide the believers through their journey. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) said: “Whoever dies and doesn’t pledge allegiance to the Imam of his time has died the death of ignorance.” - Al-Aql wa Al-Jahl fi Al-Kitab wa Al-Sunnah, Mohammed Al-Reyshahri, p. 275
Once the believer finds and pledges allegiance to the representative of God in his time, he must obey him in all things.
2. The rank of a Prophet: This is a rank higher than being an ordinary believer. In this rank, the belief of the believer has intensified to such a degree that God has made him a vessel whereby he may receive inspiration, words of truth, and even prophetic insights from God. They also have the ability to interpret them correctly.
3. The rank of a Messenger: This is a rank higher than being an ordinary Prophet. In this rank, the Prophet is assigned to deliver a message or warning to a particular people. Some Messengers were sent to nations, others to tribes, others were sent to a particular family and yet others were sent to a single individual. In all cases, the Messenger has a task of delivering his message to someone on God’s behalf and by His instruction.
4. The rank of an Imam: This is a rank higher than being an ordinary Messenger. In this rank, the Messenger must establish a new Covenant and implement a new jurisprudence appropriate for his time and in accordance with God’s instructions and wishes. After Abraham (PBUH) was chosen as a Prophet and then as a Messenger, he was made into an Imam. As such was demonstrated in the Holy Qur’an. Out of all the Messengers, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (PBUT) were all given the task of establishing a new Covenant and implementing a new jurisprudence.
5. The rank of God in Creation: This is a rank higher than an Imam. In this rank, the Messenger has completed himself and has become perfected in every way, shape, and form. He has successfully dissolved himself into God and has become the perfect image of God. He is now at this rank, given the duty by God of performing all the tasks God would do, such as taking care of all the affairs of creation. This includes sending forth Messengers. It is clear here that the purpose of the Creator with His creation is that He brings them to a point where they are like Him, perfected, and then once perfected, God leaves the aΛ airs of creation to them. For He so loved His creation that He wished for them to be like Him.
This is clear in the following direct narration from God (hadith qudsi) where God addresses His servants: “O son of Adam, I’m Ever-Living and do not die, obey Me in what I command you so that I shall make you ever-living and not die. O son of Adam, I say to something, be and it is, so obey Me in what I command you and I shall make you say to something, be and it is.” - Al-Qiyadah fi Al-Islam (Leadership in Islam), Mohammed Al-Reyshahri, p. 77
When a human being loves his son, he wishes for his child to be like him, rather better than him. God’s love for us is like the love of a parent. Although it is not possible that we be better than God is, God wishes for us to be perfect in nature like Him. We cannot truly be like Him unless we get to experience what it is like to be Him or in charge of creation. It is as the narration states: “Creation are the children of God, the most beloved of His children to Him are those who are the kindest to His creation.” - Jami’ ahadith al-Shi’a (Collection of Shia Hadith), Al-Sayed Burujirdi, Vol. 16, p. 177
- The Goal of Wise, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace), Door 6 (The Sixth Covenant With Mohammed (PBUH & His Family)), pp. 90-91
And Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him Is Peace) goes into detail about the ranks of the believers in the episode Female Prophets & Messengers
“So if we go to the Old Testament in Judaism, we'll find that there's something called a 'Prophet'. And an example of a Prophet would be somebody like Moses. So it's somebody who's receiving communications from God, revelations, hearing the voice of God or speaking to angels.
Then we have something called a ‘Priest’. And a Priest is also a Messenger from God. It's somebody who's a representative of God and he performs particular functions that have to do with purification or certain functions that have to do with the temple. And an example of a Priest in the Old Testament would be somebody like Aaron, who is the vicegerent of Moses and his brother.
We have also the title of a 'Judge'. And a Judge in the Old Testament would be somebody who would lead the Israelites and judge them in all of their affairs. So they'd lead them into battles, into openings. And an example of that in the Old Testament is somebody like Joshua.
[…]So that is the final example of a representative of God. They have the title of a 'King'. But we find that the title 'Messenger' itself or 'Rasool' is missing, it's absent from Judaism because they're all kind of seen as Messengers of God.And in Christianity, the New Testament, basically it's the same as Judaism in terms of the titles, except we add on there the title of 'Apostle'. And an Apostle is somebody who is a Messenger, but not a Messenger directly from God, but a Messenger from Jesus. And it's used to describe the 12 disciples. And you have 'Messiah'. And the Messiah he's a King, but he's a special King. […] And then we have in Islam, we have a 'Rasool'. And Rasool is a Messenger, and we have a 'Prophet', a 'Nabi'. And we have 'Imam'. These are the three titles that are given to people who are appointed by or representatives of God. And in Islam there are 124,000 Prophets that were sent to mankind, and there's 313 Messengers. And every Messenger is a Prophet, but not every Prophet is a Messenger. And so the way that it's divided over there is not really so much about their function. Because in Islam, for example, you have David and Solomon and David and Solomon, although in Judaism they fall within the category of Kings, but they're still representatives of God.
In Islam they are Kings, but they are Prophets, but they are Messengers. And so like I said, there's 124,000 Prophets, but these Prophets in Islam, they were people who reached a particular rank. And they managed to communicate or receive communications from God, but they were not given the task to go forward to the people of the earth with any particular message. So it wasn't their job, for example, to warn mankind that anything's going to happen or to demand reformations in society or anything of the sort unless they were a Messenger. And there's only 313 of them. So 124,000, they received messages, and at times they would speak about the messages or speak about the dreams which they had or the communications with God, but they weren't given the task to do so.So it's like this ladder that human beings can climb up. You have the general public. And then you have a layer above that are believers out of that general public. So the people from the general public or the general human beings on the planet that chose to believe in the words of the Prophet and the Messenger. So that's a degree above the non-believers. The believers, they hear God's words and they accept it even though they're not hearing it directly to them. So it's through somebody else, but they accept it. So that's a rank higher. And then out of this group of believers, all those who believe really firmly and with a lot of certitude in the words of the Prophets or the Messengers, it's a very real reality for them. And they don't doubt in it at all, from those believers 124,000 were chosen and were good enough to pass on to the next level of faith whereby God would give them themselves direct messages and signs and communications from Him.
And then out of those 124,000 Prophets, it's one thing to receive a message and to believe in it in the comfort of your own home. But it's a whole nother story to have to declare it publicly in front of the people or to go forward and have that much faith in your dream that you demand on its basis or you condemn a king or a tyrant on its basis. And so there were only 313 of those Prophets that had enough certitude and enough courage and enough determination to take their faith to the next level. And for that reason, God chose them and gave them the task to go forward and rule over mankind or deliver particular messages.And in those 313 Messengers that were sent to humanity, only... to reach the next level, you have to have enough faith in your message that even if God had given you a message which was contradictory to the messages that you had heard about from previous Prophets and Messengers, that you would still be able to abandon what the previous Prophets and Messengers said and what the people were used to and go forward to them with a brand new message and a brand new jurisprudence or law. And we find that although there was 313 that were determined enough to go face the people with their messages, only about five of them had the courage and the ability to go forward to their people with a new message which contradicted or was different than the messages that the people were used to. Because a Prophet, it's hard enough to go to the people and tell them that you're a Prophet or to give them prophecies, but to give them now a new law that's different than what they're used to, that's going to cause a backlash, and a lot of people to perhaps fight against you.
And so we find that in Islam, if you reach that level and you become a Prophet, Messenger that is of those of the Ulul-Azm or has the utmost determination to be a Messenger and to fulfil your duty as a Messenger, that would be the rank of becoming an Imam. And that's why Abraham in the Qur'an - first, he was a Prophet, Messenger, and then he was chosen to be an Imam.
So 'Imam' means that you are above… you're one rank above being a normal Messenger, and we find that those who reached that rank were Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus and Mohammed (sall Allahu alayhi wa alihi). Those were the only ones.
And then there's one level that's above that. But that's a complex topic that I think we need an entire episode to talk about. And that is the level of being two bows or less, and the level of being the number one winner in the race. And that's the level that the Qur'an describes Mohammed (sall Allahu alayhi wa alihi) as having reached after the Night Journey. That's why he's the master of all creation, and the best of mankind, and the best of the Messengers in Islam. So now that I've described the different titles and how Judaism breaks up the representatives based on the role that they perform or the function that they perform, and we mentioned over here also in Islam, how Islam views it. We find that they're really titles, they signify things, but they're kind of the overlap one another. And so over here you have a Prophet like Moses and a Priest like Aaron, and a Judge like Joshua, and a King like David. In Islam, those four characters are four characters that received prophecies from God, and therefore they were Prophets and they were sent to nations, and therefore they were from the 313 Messengers. And so all of them would be given that title of 'Messenger'.
- Transcript from Episode, ‘Female Prophets & Messengers’ from the series ‘School of Divine Mysteries’