Prophet, Messenger

[Madhuri]

What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger according to the various Abrahamic religions?

 

[Levite]

What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger according to the various Abrahamic religions?

In Judaism, the word "messenger" has various connotations. The usual word used in Hebrew is malach, which is classically interpreted to mean "angel."

The word for prophet in Hebrew is navi, which refers specifically to someone who not only has spoken with God (anyone is potentially capable of that), but whom God has directed to relay specific messages to the public-- so in that sense, prophet and messenger are the same to us. It is the belief in Judaism that there are no more prophets: Ezra and Nehemiah were the last, and there will be no more until the messiah comes. Of course, we still believe that anyone is potentially capable of speaking with God: we just believe the age of prophetic messages has ended.

 

[Zardoz]

What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger according to the various Abrahamic religions?

Also in Judaism, there is no prophecy outside of Eretz Yisrael for Jews (but not for non-Jews) and since the laws of Jubilee and Ger Toshav are not yet in force, there is no prophecy for Jews inside of Eretz Yisrael as well at this time.

 

[ChristineES]

Are there still prophets? I have asked that before to Christians but I never thought to ask someone in Judaism. (Off-Topic, Zardoz, I love your avatar; isn't is Sean Connery?)

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Are there still prophets? I have asked that before to Christians but I never thought to ask someone in Judaism. (Off-Topic, Zardoz, I love your avatar; isn't is Sean Connery?)

In traditional Christianity the last prophet was John the Baptist, and in Islam- Muhammad. In Judaism, as already stated- Ezra.

 

[Madhuri]

Thanks for the answers so far but I'd love to hear from the Christians and Muslims about this as well. Would the answer be the same or have some differences?

 

[control.to.win]

In Islam, a prophet translates as "nabi" and a messenger translates as "rasool"

In regards to the difference between the 2, there is none. These 2 titles are given to every prophet to describe 2 different functions of his position.

From the arabic root of prophet (nabi), we find that it is derived from a meaning that translates as news. So, a prophet is a person who receives news from God (a nabi) and then spreads that message to others (rasool)

Hope that clears that up.

 

[stillsearching]

The LDS believe they have a prophet today who receives revelation from God.

 

[Madhuri]

The LDS believe they have a prophet today who receives revelation from God.

Could you expand on this? Do you mean there is currently a human being that is a prophet in your community or that there is always at one point in time a prophet or that your prophet speaks through the scriptures...?

 

[stillsearching]

Could you expand on this? Do you mean there is currently a human being that is a prophet in your community or that there is always at one point in time a prophet or that your prophet speaks through the scriptures...?

Yes, currently they have a prophet of God. Since the restoration of the church through Joseph Smith there has always been a prophet. He has 12 apostles as Christ did and they do receive revelation from God still today. They do still teach from the scriptures as well.

 

[control.to.win]

Yes, currently they have a prophet of God. Since the restoration of the church through Joseph Smith there has always been a prophet. He has 12 apostles as Christ did and they do receive revelation from God still today. They do still teach from the scriptures as well.

REALLY...I'm greatly interested in this claim of continued revelation. I believed only Ahmadi Muslims believed this for themselves. Please provide a link where I can get more info on what exactly they believe to be revelation and copies of their verbal revelations received from God.

 

[Zardoz]

Are there still prophets? I have asked that before to Christians but I never thought to ask someone in Judaism. (Off-Topic, Zardoz, I love your avatar; isn't is Sean Connery?)

There are different types of prophecy, as I have re-discovered in my studies during the High Holy Days. Sometimes, a prophecy only involves the individual, and not any community. This is a personal and specific thing, but still IMHO not something Jews expereience at this time. As I said, there is no Prophecy outside or Eretz Yisrael and at this time none in it either. However, I have a belief that non-Jews experience prophecy, if only personal prophecy, and have seen it myself. Or rather I had the blessing that they shared it with me.

Yes, that's Sean Connery in the low budget movie 'Zardoz' back when movies tried to have a message.

 

[David_2010]

Yes, that's Sean Connery in the low budget movie 'Zardoz' back when movies tried to have a message.

This is OT, but, I actually assumed your avatar pic was a picture of yourself, I had no idea it was Sean Connery .

 

[stillsearching]

REALLY...I'm greatly interested in this claim of continued revelation. I believed only Ahmadi Muslims believed this for themselves. Please provide a link where I can get more info on what exactly they believe to be revelation and copies of their verbal revelations received from God.

I am not super knowledgeable on all of it so if anyone knows otherwise, please correct me.

It isn't something like Moses coming from the Mountain with tablets or anything like that. The prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon based on revelation and also provided the Doctrine and Covenants which is another book of scripture that is a bunch of revelations given from God to his early (meaning Joseph Smiths time) prophets. Currently there is a General Conference that happens twice a year where the prophet addresses everyone and speaks about things that he feels we are in need of at this time. He uses the Bible and Book of Mormon to teach from.
You can check LDS.org for more information or ask another general question that I might be able to answer.

 

[ChristineES]

How would we recognize a prophet if there was one now? I guess most prophets weren't really recognized in their own time and were usually killed.

 

[islam means peace]

What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger according to the various Abrahamic religions?

Well, by searching i found the following defenation of difference between prophet and messenger ,

The correct view is that the Messenger is one who is sent to a disbelieving people, and the Prophet is one who is sent to a believing people with the sharee’ah of the Messenger who came before him, to teach them and judge between them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, We did send down the Tawraat (Torah) [to Moosa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allaah’s Will, judged for the Jews”​

[al-Maa’idah 5:44]​

So the Prophets of the Children of Israel judged by the Tawraat which Allaah had revealed to Moosa.​

With regard to the aayah,​

“but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets” [al-Ahzaab 33:40]​

and why it did not say the last of the Messengers – the end of the Message does not mean the end of Prophethood, but the end of Prophethood does mean the end of the Message. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be no Prophet after me,” and he did not say, there will be no Messenger after me.​

Thus we know that there is no Messenger and no Prophet after him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); he was the last of the Prophets and of the Messengers, (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).​

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak

Source: Islam Question and Answer - The difference between a Messenger and a Prophet

 

[Madhuri]

Well, by searching i found the following defenation of difference between prophet and messenger ,

The correct view is that the Messenger is one who is sent to a disbelieving people, and the Prophet is one who is sent to a believing people with the sharee’ah of the Messenger who came before him, to teach them and judge between them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, We did send down the Tawraat (Torah) [to Moosa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allaah’s Will, judged for the Jews”
[al-Maa’idah 5:44]
So the Prophets of the Children of Israel judged by the Tawraat which Allaah had revealed to Moosa.
With regard to the aayah,
“but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets” [al-Ahzaab 33:40]
and why it did not say the last of the Messengers – the end of the Message does not mean the end of Prophethood, but the end of Prophethood does mean the end of the Message. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be no Prophet after me,” and he did not say, there will be no Messenger after me.
Thus we know that there is no Messenger and no Prophet after him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); he was the last of the Prophets and of the Messengers, (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).​

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak

Source: Islam Question and Answer - The difference between a Messenger and a Prophet

I'm confused. Mohammed was a Prophet, correct? But didn't he teach to non-believing people? I am not very knowledgeable about this history :sorry1:

And also, you wrote that "and he did not say, there will be no Messenger after me"
So why conclude that there will be no more messengers?

 

[islam means peace]

First of all i would like to tell you that my english is not perfect ,so i personlly cannot judge the difference between prophet and messegner (as these are english workds) and if you use the arabic word 'rasool' and 'nabi' you might understand the difference more properly , (I donot know what is the translation of nabi or rasool in english) the difference is

A Rasul was a messenger of Allah who was given a new Shariat (codes of law) from Him. And a Nabi was also the messenger of Allah, but he was not given any new Shariat and followed the shariat of earlier Rasul.

I think this will more clear your understanding rather the first difference given my me

I'm confused. Mohammed was a Prophet, correct? But didn't he teach to non-believing people? I am not very knowledgeable about this history :sorry1:

To give you authentic information i had just copied the text from site for you , i also have listen to this defination of difference first time in my life ,that was not wrong but seems little bit complex for me , and i alwasy read the defination of difference which i mentioned above for easy understandig.

Well , i also donot have much knowlege about history but i had read it and if we study the history we found on books that at the time of Prophet Muhammad salalahualiwasalam the society is divided into many groups/parts , there are jews and christians who changes the teaching of their Prophets , there are also some jews christians that are following the teaching correctly , there are people who worship sun,stars etc , there are people who worship fire etc so if we study history you will find very very few people who are actaully following the teaching of previous Prophets , most of them just destroy the teaching , even in the Kabbah people has made idols and start worship them, but still most of them belive on Allah , they know he is one and only but still they worhip and made false GODs.

Qurans says in surah 29 verse 61
If indeed thou ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law), they will certainlyreply, "Allah". How are they then deluded away (from the truth)?

As i just copy the information (posted in my previous message) from an article so i cannot clear much of the information from that passage. and if you now study the defination of difference posted in this message , that is

A Rasul was a messenger of Allah who was given a new Shariat (codes of law) from Him. And a Nabi was also the messenger of Allah, but he was not given any new Shariat and followed the shariat of earlier Rasul.

I think your confusion might remove. The previos defination of differen is also complex for me too.

And also, you wrote that "and he did not say, there will be no Messenger after me"
So why conclude that there will be no more messengers?

I think i had already answer this in my message athat is

"the end of the Message does not mean the end of Prophethood, but the end of Prophethood does mean the end of the Message"

and Becasue Quran clearly mentioned taht there will be no more Prophets coming after Muhammade salalahualiwasalam

Quran says in Surah 33 verse 40

40. Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge ofall things.

Secondly , watch this vidoe Muhammad (pbuh) the Last Prophet / Messenger of Allah | Learn and Clear Your Misconceptions About Islam.

(your specific answer will be start from 4:00 min so if you want you can start watching it from that) this will clear your all confusions)

What i can definec from my learning for your answers by saying that there

 

[Madhuri]

I think I understand now, thank you!

 

[xkatz]

A prophet is someone who has communicated with G-d. A messenger is some who has communicated with G-d and made a post on his/her twitter account about it