Claim Of Prophethood by Rashad Khalifa
Reader comment on item: Muslims in the West: Can Conflict Be Averted?
in response to reader comment: For: Rizal: "there is a difference between a messenger and a prophet"

Submitted by Rizal (Malaysia), Jul 2, 2006 at 00:57

Dear dhimmi no more,

You have used JM Cowan's and Wortabet's definitions in defining the word "prophet (nabi in Arabic)" and "messenger (rasoul in Arabic)". Those are JM Cowan's or Wortabet's definitions of "prophet" and "messenger". Rashad and I are using the definition of "prophet" and "rasoul" as per the Quran in Surah 3, Verse 81 :-

Quran, [3:81] :
" God took a covenant from the prophets, saying, "I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?" They said, "We agree." He said, "You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you."Verse 3:81, among many other verses in the Quran, provides the definitions of "Nabi" (Prophet) and "Rasoul" (Messenger). Thus, "Nabi" is a messenger of God who delivers a new scripture, while "Rasoul" is a messenger commissioned by God to confirm existing scripture; he does not bring a new scripture. According to the Quran, every "Nabi" is a "Rasoul," but not every "Rasoul" is a "Nabi." It is not logical that God will give a scripture to a prophet, then ask him to keep it exclusively for himself, as stated by some Muslim "scholars" (2:42, 146, 159).

The Quran also teaches the Muslims that Muhammad is the seal of prophet, not the seal of messenger. Never ever the Quran refers Muhammad as the last messenger.

"Muhammad was not the father of any of your men; he was a messenger (Rasoul) of God and the last prophet (Nabi)." [ 33:40 ]

The Quran [33:7] also teaches the Muslims that Muhammad was one of the prophets who made that solemn covenant with God as per [3:81] above :-

"And when we exacted a covenant from the Prophets, and from thee (O Muhammad) and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary, We took from them a solemn covenant. "(33:7) (according to Marmaduke Pickthall)

... Remember, Rashad never claimed that he is a prophet but he did claim that he is a messenger and the definition of prophet and messenger used by him when he claimed his messengership was based on the teaching or definition given in the Quran, not as per JM Cowen's nor Wortabet's definitions as you might have thought.

Rgds.

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