নবি-রাসুলের পার্থক্য বর্ণনা কর
Answers
Answer:
God not only used the words with established meanings in the Quran at the time of revelation, He used new words too. But He explained the new words in the subsequent verses as in the example below, in the Surah 104- Surah Humazah:
“By no means! They will be thrown into Hutamah. Do you know what the Hutamah is? It is GOD's blazing Hellfire. It burns them inside out.” ( Al Quran #104: 4–7)
The word Nabi (equivalent English word is Prophet) is not a new word introduced in the Quran, it rather existed in all the Semitic languages; in Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic with established meanings prior to revelation of the Quran. In Hebrew the equivalent word is Navi (נָבִיא).
Yona Sabar , a professor of Hebrew and Aramaic languages in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA says that Navi in Hebrew means a tool through which God’s words are spoken; but in other Semitic languages it means ‘to call’ or ‘proclaim’. In modern Arabic it means ‘report the news’.
According to Jewish scholars, a Navi is someone who communicates with God; the meaning of Navi is best described in the Bible # Deuteronomy 18:18, below:
"...and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him".
Hence, a Navi is the one who calls out to the people, because he is the one who is called upon by God?
So, the meaning of the word Nabi was very much clear to the people when the Quran was revealed. As such, God says in the Quran:
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah (Rasul Allah) and the Last of the prophets (Nabi); and Allah is cognizant of all things” (Al Quran # 33:40)
The difference between Nabi and Rasul is clear in the verse 33:40 mentioned above. God addresses Prophet Muhammad, pbuh as Rasul Allah (Messenger of Allah) and also as Nabi- the Last of the Nabi(s).
Since the Quran is the final revelation, no new revelation would come afterwards; Prophet Muhammad, pbuh was the last human to communicate with God and receive revelation from Him. Hence God termed him as the khatamannabiyyin - Last of the Nabi(s). Therefore the word Nabi exclusively means receiver of Message/Wahy from God, or the one who communicated with God.
The Arabic word Rasul linguistically means messenger; but there are other meanings currently in use that are derivatives of the same root R S L, i.e., - consignor; dispatcher; forwarded; mailed; outspread; posted; sender; transmitted; transmitter; uploaded etc.
Because all the Nabi(s) had an additional responsibility of delivering the unadulterated Message to the people, they were all the Messengers of God too. As such, besides addressing as Nabi, God has addressed them as Rasulallah (Messenger of God) or Rasulannabi (messenger Prophet) as is said in the verses 7:157, 19:51,19:54, 4:157,4:171,7:158, 33:21,33:53, 48:29,49:7, 49:3,61:6,61:5,63:7, 63:1, 63:5, 91:13.
While the verse 33:40 mentioned above exclusively says that no Nabi would come with new Message, but there is no verse in the Quran that says about the end of messengers. So, who are the messengers after the death of the last Prophet- Rasulallah, God is talking about?
Scholars of all time and place are burdened with the responsibility of delivering the EXISTING Message/revelations to the people without changing any of its words, unadulterated - they are the messengers; here is a verse reminding the duty of the messengers:
“The duty of the messenger is only to convey (the message). Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide.” ( Al Quran # 5:99)
And here is the verse that reminds the people until the end of time:
“O children of Adam, when messengers come to you from among you, and RECITE My revelations to you, those who take heed and lead a righteous life, will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.” (Al Quran # 7:35).
Therefore, those who take the responsibility of delivering God’s Message bear mounting responsibility of delivering the true Message. The messengers must deliver the whole truth- complete Message. When they deliver incomplete message- misinterpret, people get divided into sects based on scholars’ interpretations. God therefore further reminds the messengers/scholars of their duties in the following verses:
“O you messengers, eat from the good provisions, and work righteousness. I am fully aware of everything you do.” (Al Quran # 23:51)
“And surely this nation of yours is one nation, and I am your Lord; so have piety towards Me." (Al Quran # 23:52)
“But they tore themselves into disputing factions; each party happy with what they have” (Al Quran # 23:53)
Sadly, despite God’s warning, the messengers of the later times, and after the demise of the Prophet- the scholars, have divided the Ummah by their deliberate misinterpretations, instead of making them well informed, united; as such, they bear the responsibility of creating innumerable sects in the religion.