He, the Exalted, said:

“Say, ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what Moses and Jesus were given, and what the prophets were given by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’”

“So if they believe as you believe, they are rightly guided. But if they turn away, they are only in opposition. Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”

And He said:

“But righteousness is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets.”

And He said:

“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers: ‘We make no distinction between any of His messengers.’ And they say, ‘We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final return.’”

Those who are not prophets, by contrast, are not protected from error as the prophets are, even if they are allies of Allah. Hence, whoever reviles any prophet is to be put to death, according to the consensus of the jurists, whereas whoever reviles anyone else is not to be put to death.

This protection from error established for the prophets is what ensures that the purpose of prophethood and messengership is fulfilled. A “prophet” is one who receives tidings from Allah, while a “messenger” is one whom Allah Most High has sent. Every messenger is a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger. Their protection from error in what they convey from Allah is established; thus, by the consensus of the Muslims, no error is allowed to persist in it.