Question:
Our brother asks and says: What is the difference between the Prophet and the Messenger?
Answer:
What is well-known among scholars is that a Prophet is one who receives divine revelation regarding a law, but is not commanded to convey it to the people. Revelation is given to him to do such-and-such, to pray in a certain way, or to fast in a certain way, but he is not commanded to preach it. This is who is called a Prophet.
As for if he is commanded with conveying, so he conveys to the people, he warns the people; he becomes a prophet messenger, like our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and like Moses, Jesus, Noah, Hud, Salih, and others.
Another group of scholars stated: A Prophet is one who is sent with a law that follows a previous law—meaning he follows a prophet before him. However, if he is given an independent law, then he is a Prophet-Messenger. For instance, those who were sent after Moses following the law of the Torah are called prophets because they adhered to the Torah.
But the correct view is the first one: a Messenger is anyone who is sent and commanded to convey the message, even if he follows a prophet before him. This was the case with David, Solomon, and other prophets after Moses; they called to the same message Moses called to, yet they were both Prophets and Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them.
In short, a Messenger is someone who is commanded to convey the message unconditionally, even if he follows the law of a prophet before him, such as those who followed the law of the Torah. A Prophet, on the other hand, is one who is not commanded to convey the message; he receives revelation to fast, pray, or do similar deeds, but he is not commanded to preach it—he is not told, “Convey this to the people.” Yes.