This short paper aims to outline the literal discussions on the word Nabī (Prophet). It is hoped that such an analysis will enable us to understand the station of nabuwwa better in Islam and appreciate the true rank given by Allāh to His selected servants. The analysis has been taken primarily from Ziā al-Qur’ān, the commentary of the Qur’ān written by Ziā al-Ummah Pīr Muhammad Karam Shāh Sahib, may Allah descend His infinite mercy upon him. (Zia al-Qur’an, Vol IV, Surah Ahzab. Verse One.)
There are three opinions regarding the origins of the word Nabī:
- 1. Nabwa (نبْوة).
- 2. Nabāwa (نباوة).
- 3. Naba’ (نبأ).
Opinions One & Two.
The literal meaning of nabwa and nabāwa is ‘exaltedness’. On this basis, a Nabī is so-called because he is lofty and exalted from other humans, because of his proximity to Allāh.
Opinion Three.
The third opinion – and the most trusted one as favoured by Allāma Jawharī and Farrā’ – is that the word stems from naba’, which means ‘news’. Allāma Afsahānī writes that naba’ does not refer to ordinary news. Rather news is only considered naba’ when it fulfills three attributes:
- 1. It is useful.
- 2. It is important and grand.
- 3. The listener benefits knowledge from it, which in its least form is ‘overwhelming thought’ (ظن غالب).
The Qur’ān affirms the usage of naba’ to mean ‘important news’ in several places:
عم يتساءلون عن النبأ العظيم
‘What are they asking one another? About the great news.’ (78: 1-2).
وأنبئكم بما تأكلون و ما تدخرون في بيوتكم
‘[And Jesus said] ‘I shall inform you of the news of what you eat and what you store in your houses.’ (3: 49).
On this basis, Nabī derives from naba’, to either mean:
- The giver of important news. Here, the word Nabī will give the meaning of the subject. Moreover, because it features on the template of فعيل rather than فاعل, it gives the meaning of a more permanent attribute (Allāh is described as the سميع and not the سامع because he is always listening, not just sometimes). In other words, a prophet is one who gives important news on a continual basis.
- The one provided with important news. Here, the word Nabī will give the meaning of the object. In Arabic, اسم مفعول can sometimes appear on the template of فعيل; for example, the word جريح means ‘wounded’.
From this brief analysis, the following can be deduced:
- A Prophet does not give ordinary news, but news of worth and significance.
- Such news is thus news of the unseen (غيب). This is proven by the fact that when Allāh describes news of the unseen in the Qur’ān, he uses the word naba’. For instance:
ذالك من أنباء الغيب نوحيه اليك
‘That is news of the unseen which We inspire you with.’ (3:44). (Note, anbā’ in the verse is the plural form of naba’).
- A Prophet delivers important news on a continuous, permanent basis.
- If it is assumed that the word Nabī gives the meaning of the object, then this affirms our belief that prophets do not know their knowledge independently, but through the means of Allāh.