What is the difference between a Prophet (Nabi) and a Messenger (Rasul), bearing in mind that Isma'il and Salih—peace be upon them both—conveyed a message from those who came before them, and no independent revelation was sent down to them?

Scholars have differed on the distinction between a Prophet (Nabi) and a Messenger (Rasool), presenting several views. Among these are: that a Messenger is sent with a new law, while a Prophet is sent to affirm a pre-existing law; or that a Messenger is commanded to convey a message, while a Prophet is not commanded to convey; or that a Messenger is one to whom the angel comes while awake, while a Prophet is one to whom revelation comes in a dream.

As for Isma'il (peace be upon him), a group of scholars are of the opinion that he followed the law of his father Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and did not have a new law of his own.

As for Salih (peace be upon him), some scholars mentioned that he followed the law of Nuh (peace be upon him), while others explicitly stated that he had his own specific law and that he was a Messenger of Allah in the sense of being a Prophet of Allah, as he had no book, unless it is considered that he brought a new law.