A Misconception Removed — Page 6
6 Eik Ghalațī Kā Izāla having been informed by God. Therefore, the title of Nabi would be justified wherever this connotation would apply. A Nabī has to be a Rasul, 15 for if he is not a Rasul he cannot be the recipient of knowledge of the unseen, as indicated by the verse: لَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِةٍ أَحَدًا إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِنْ رَّسُولٍ 16 Now, taking this connotation into account, if the ap- pearance of a Nabī is denied, it will be tantamount to believing that this umma has been deprived of Divine address and converse, because whosoever discloses matters of the unseen on the basis of Divine knowl- edge would necessarily be a Nabī within the connotation of the verse: لَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ 17 Likewise, anyone who is sent by God will be called Rasul. The only difference is that, after our Holy Prophetsa till the end of days, there cannot be any Nabī who is granted a new shariah. Nor can anyone be granted the title of Nubuwwat18 unless it is through the Holy Prophets, and unless a person has arrived at 15 Rasul: Messenger. [Publishers] 16 He does not grant anyone ascendancy over His domain of the unseen, except him whom He chooses as His Messenger. Al-Jinn, 72:27-28 [Publishers] 17 He does not grant anyone ascendancy over His domain of the un- seen. . . . Al-Jinn, 72:27 [Publishers] 18 Nubuwwat: Prophethood. [Publishers]