Question: How many kinds of divine Prophets are there?
Answer [by ‘Abdu’l-Baha]: There are three kinds of divine
Prophets. One kind are the universal Manifestations, which are even as the sun.
Through Their advent the world of existence is renewed, a new cycle is
inaugurated, a new religion is revealed, souls are quickened to a new life, and
East and West are flooded with light. These Souls are the universal
Manifestations of God and have been sent forth to the entire world and the
generality of mankind.
Another kind of Prophets are followers and promulgators, not
leaders and law-givers, but they are nonetheless the recipients of the hidden
inspirations of God. Yet another kind are Prophets Whose prophethood has been
limited to a particular locality. But the universal Manifestations are
all-encompassing: They are like the root, and all others are as the branches;
they are like the sun, and all others are as the moon and the stars.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table Talks at Akka; Online Baha’i Reference Library of the
Baha’i World Center)
