What Does Rasul (رَسُول) Mean in the Quran?
The root of sending. A rasul is one who is sent, a messenger, and irsal is the sending itself.
Counted from the Uthmani text bundled with this site: the singular rasul in its written forms with article, prefixes, and attached pronouns (rasulan, rasuluna, rasulihi). The plural rusul is a different written form and is not included.
Inside the Quran
A rasul is a messenger sent by Allah with revelation for his people. The declaration Muhammadun rasulullah, Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah, is the second half of the shahada, and appears word for word in 48:29.
The Quran uses the word for the messengers before him too, and for the pattern they share: every rasul was sent with the same call, worship Allah alone.
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allāh often.”
“Muḥammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allāh at all; but Allāh will reward the grateful.”
“Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allāh and [His] pleasure. Their sign is in their faces from the effect of prostration [i.e., prayer]. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that He [i.e., Allāh] may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allāh has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.”
Arabic quoted letter for letter from the Uthmani text of our Quran reader. Translation: Saheeh International.
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