Shah Wali-ullah of Delhi (d. 1763 C.E.) writes:

``Remember that the Saying of the Holy Prophet which mentions a large number of prophets includes muhaddases in its count.''

(Al-Khair al-Kaseer, Urdu translation, p. 246)

The Saying referred to is the well-known one which mentions the number of prophets (nabi) that ever appeared as 124,000. Shah Wali-ullah says that the Holy Prophet has used the word nabi here to include those who were merely muhaddas.

Maulana Sana-ullah of Panipat: a classical commentator of the Quran, writes in his commentary:

``Rasul has a broad significance, applying both to men and angels. Some scholars say that, as a general metaphor, the word rasul is applied to saints as well.''

(Tafsir Mazhari, p. 140)

Sayyid Muhammad Ismail Shaheed (d. 1831 C.E.) wrote:

``Muhaddases too are called rasul.''

(Abqaat, Urdu translation by Manazir Ahsan Gilani, published in A.P., India, p. 402)

Maulana Mufti Kifayat-ullah: a theologian of this century who was head of the Jami`at al-`Ulama, India, defined a muhaddas as follows:

``A muhaddas is he who receives the word of God by special revelation. Some scholars consider such a one to be a prophet of a low rank, and others consider him to be a saint of a high order.''

(Majalis al-Abrar, by Shaikh Ahmad Rumi, translated by Maulana Mufti Kifayat-ullah, footnote by the translator, p. 48 of the edition published by Darul Ishaat, Karachi, August 1978.)

Allama Khalid Mahmud: A present-day theologian, has commented as follows on the writings of Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi:

``In this respect, the Maulana refers to every spiritual leader who follows the Sunna as metaphorically a prophet.''

(`Aqidat al-Umma fi ma`ni khatam an-nubuwwat, published by Idara Hifz-i Muarif-i Islamia, Lahore, 3rd ed., 1965, p.\ 112)

Mulla Ali Qari wrote in his famous classical work:

``To be a metaphorical prophet does not constitute kufr nor an innovation.''

(Sharh Shifa, vol. ii, p. 518)