A Comparative Study of the Interpretation of Addresses of "Ya Ayyohannabi" (O Prophet) and "Ya Ayyoharrasoul": (O Messenger) in the Holy Quran

The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has been addressed in the Holy Quran by different phrases, including "Ya Ayyohannabi" (O Prophet) and "Ya Ayyoharrasoul" (O Messenger). Commentators disagree on the meaning of these two addresses and provide five different commentaries. Based on the principle of non-synonymy, it is taken for granted that almighty God has intended special meaning for these two addresses, each with distinct and different meaning. The present paper studies and reviews the relevant commentaries of two Sunni and Shia commentators systematically and comparatively and then provides a technical criticism. The research findings indicate that whenever the Holy Prophet was addressed by "O Prophet", his "scientific superiority", which is related to revelation, was intended, and whenever he was addressed by "O Messenger", his "propagating aspect" was intended.