Understanding two terms of Islam, Nature of Nabi and Rasool

Submitted by Muhammad Shakeel Faiz (Pakistan), Nov 5, 2005 at 08:30

In the name of Allah, The Merciful, The All-merciful

Non-Muslims think, why Quran is violent and why Muslims do not leave Quran or at least follow the mild parts and leave the violent parts.

Quran answers:
"…Do you believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in part?.." [Al-Quran 2:85]

It means, Muslim cannot leave a single verse of Quran, neither they can say some are abrogated or some have precedence over the others.

There is no such thing less or more important in Quran. Each and every verse of Quran is as important for the Muslims as the whole Quran.

For example, see these verses:
"If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then COMPEL mankind, against their will, to believe! [Al-Quran, 10:99]"

"Then, when the sacred months have passed away, kill the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and sit for them at every place of ambush. Then, if they repent, and establish the Prayer, and pay the Due-Alms, leave alone their way; God is Forgiving, Merciful."[Al-Quran, 9:5]

Both of these verses are equally important for each and every Muslim. If any Muslim will accept the first verse and deny the second, then he is no more Muslim. Likewise, if he will deny the second and accept the first, he will still not be Muslim.

So being a Muslim, you must obey each and every verse of Quran.

Apparently, these verses seem to contradict each other. But they are not contradicting. We think, they contradict, because of our lack of understanding of the difference between two Islamic terms "Nabi" and "Rasool"


Nabi in Islam:
In Islamic terminology a Nabi (Prophet, plural Anbiyaah) is a person who receives revelation from GOD, with the responsibility to convey the TRUTH to a well-defined audience (people of his community) and give glad tidings of reward of GOD to those who accepts his message and warns the Rejectors (Kafiroon) with a horrible end. The good tidings are termed as Basharat (Good News) and the warnings as Indhaar (Warning). The people may accept his message or reject it. The success of his mission in the face of Disbelief and Rejection is not promised. His mission might be failure or success. Both things can happen with him.

Rasool in Islam:
The Holy Quran further adds that some of the Nabi (Prophets) were also appointed as Rasool (Apostles, plural Rusul)

A Rasool is a Nabi, who is sent to his people in a manner that he comes as the JUDGEMENT OF GOD. If his people reject him, their DAY OF JUDGEMENT is held here in this world. Their punishment is not postponed till the HEREAFTER. The Rasool imposes the DIVINE PUNISHMENT on the rejecters in this world, vanquishes the Falsehood and practically establish the DOMINION OF TRUTH. That is why, a RASOOL announces two PUNISHMENTS ("AZAAB") for his rejecters – a LESSER PUNISHMENT in this world and the other GREATER PUNISHMENT in the HEREAFTER.

Such is the punishment; and the punishment of the Hereafter is greater; would that they knew. [Al-Quran 68:33]

This DIVINE LAW in respect of RASOOL OF ALLAH is stated in the Holy Quran:

And the unbelievers said to their Rasools, `we will certainly expel you from our land, or you will return into our creed'. Then their Lord revealed to them: `We will surely destroy the wrong-doers; and We will surely settle you in the land after them; that is for him who fears My station and fears My threat'. [Al-Quran 14:13-14]

Surely, those who oppose God and His Rasool, they shall be humiliated. God has decreed, `I will surely triumph – I and My Rasool' Powerful is GOD and MIGHTY. [Al-Quran 58:20-21]

It is important to note in these verses that

Ø The DIVINE PUNISHMENT for triumph is restricted to RASOOL and not to NABI.

Ø The opponents and rejecters of the RASOOL shall be destroyed in a humiliating manner, their domination shall be terminated and they shall be turned out of that area.

Ø It is promised that the RASOOL shall be given the land to dwell or in other words the rejecters shall be replaced by the rule of the RASOOL and his companions


Here are some RASOOLs in Islam.
Noah, Hud, Saaleh, Shoaib, Jonah, Lot, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad

Note: Since Muhammad was RASOOL OF ALLAH too, so whomsoever Muhammad addressed in his lifetime and rejected the RASOOL were to be humiliated or killed according to the DIVINE LAW stated in QURAN.

Muhammad as RASOOL of ALLAH addressed these people in his lifetime.

1) Pagans of Arab
2) Jews and Christians of Arabs (People of Book)
3) Kings of Persia, Byzantine, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain

All these people were warned and told the DIVINE LAW beforehand, so whomsoever rejected the message were to be humiliated or killed.

RASOOL and US.
Muhammad had been made a RASOOL of ALLAH, so he and his companions must impose Islam on everyone.

Each and every pagan in Arab was given one out of two options.
Ø Be Muslim
Ø Be killed

Jews+Christians of the Arab were given one out of these two options.
Ø Be Muslim
Ø Pay tax with humiliation (sitting on the ground)

Kings of Persia, Byzantine, Egypt, Syria and Bahrain were given two options
Ø Be Muslim and be king of these lands as you are right now
Ø Be humiliated and lose your empires.

Since only kings were addressed, so their empires must vanish from the earth and come under RASOOL's rule. However, the subject of these empires were not addressed by Muhammad so they were not killed or forced to be Muslim, neither they were forced to give tax in humiliation.

After the RASOOL and HIS companions passed away, none of us have a right to kill any pagan or Christian or Jews to force Islam or pay tax in humiliation.

None of us is RASOOL of ALLAH and none of us have been given authority from ALLAH to impose Islam on anyone.

In the end, I will end this article with these verses

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things." [Al-Quran, 2:256]

"Say, 'The truth is from your Lord': Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it):......" [Al-Quran, 18:29]

"If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! Will you then COMPEL mankind, against their will, to believe!" [Al-Quran, 10:99]

"Say: 'Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message)." [Al-Quran, 24:54]

"Say : O you that reject Faith! I worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which you have been wont to worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine. [Al-Quran,109: 1-6]

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