As regards the literal (root or dictionary) meaning of the word rasul, Hazrat Mirza explained:

``A person who is sent is called rasul in Arabic.''

(Arba`in, No. 2, footnote, p. 18)

``Risalat in Arabic lexicology means to be sent.''

(Letter dated 17 August 1899; published in Al-Hakam, vol. iii, no.

29, August 1899)

``Rasul means a Divine elect who is sent.''

(Siraj Munir, p. 40)

As regards the technical meaning of rasul, Hazrat Mirza wrote:

``According to the explanation of the Holy Quran, rasul is he who receives the commands and beliefs of the religion through the angel Gabriel.''

(Izala Auham, p. 534 item[2.]

``It is part of the concept and essence of rasul that he receive religious knowledge through angel Gabriel.''

(ibid., p. 614)

nabi

Hazrat Mirza gave the root meaning of nabi as follows:

``Nubuwwat means `to make prophecies'.''

(Ruhani Khaza'in, No. 2, vol. i, p. 140)

``He who discloses news of the unseen received from God is called nabi in Arabic.''

(Arba`in, No. 2, footnote, p. 18)

``Nabi here has only been used to mean `one who makes prophecies through knowledge received from God', or `one who explains hidden matters'.''

(Letter dated 17 August 1899; published in Al-Hakam, vol. iii, no. 29, August 1899)

Regarding the technical meaning, he wrote as follows:

``In the terminology of Islam, nabi and rasul mean persons who bring an entirely new law, or abrogate some aspects of the previous law, or are not included among the followers of the previous prophet, having a direct connection with God without benefit from any prophet.''

``If a person makes a claim to nubuwwat, it is necessary in that claim that he form a religious nation (ummah) which considers him to be a nabi and regards his book as the book of God.''

(Ainah Kamalat Islam, p. 344)

The above are the literal and technical meanings of the words nabi and rasul as given by Hazrat Mirza, upon which are agreed the Muslim religious authorities. All prophets of the past times fulfil the technical meanings, while Hazrat Mirza applied to himself the literal meanings, and throughout his life denied applying to himself the technical meanings.

Denial of technical sense and affirmation of root sense

Having defined the meanings given above, Hazrat Mirza denied claiming to be a nabi or rasul in the technical sense of these terms, but affirmed that these terms applied to him in the root or literal sense. He wrote:

``This humble one has never, at any time, made a claim of nubuwwat or risalat [prophethood or messengership] in the real sense. To use a word in a non-real sense, and to employ it in speech according to its broad, root meaning, does not imply heresy (kufr).''

(Anjam Atham, footnote, p. 27)

``These words [i.e. nabi, rasul] do not bear their real meaning, but have been used according to their literal meaning in a straight-forward manner.''

(Majmu`a Ishtiharat, vol. i, p. 313)

``It is obvious that he who is sent by God is His envoy, and an envoy is called rasul in Arabic. And he who discloses news of the unseen received from God is called nabi in Arabic. The meanings in Islamic terminology are different. At this place, only the literal meaning is intended.''

(Arba`in, No. 2, footnote, p. 18)