Tafāḍul Without Tafrīq: Reconstructing the Concept of Distinction Among the Messengers in Qur’an 2:253 and 2:285

The relationship between the distinction in rank among the messengers and the obligation to believe in all messengers presents a hermeneutical challenge in interpreting Qur’an 2:253 and 2:285. The former affirms differences in the ranks of the messengers, while the latter prohibits tafrīq (discrimination) among them. This study aims to examine the semantic relationship between these two verses, critically evaluate the arguments advanced by Qur’anic exegetes in reconciling the verses with hadith reports concerning prophetic superiority, and reconstruct the concept of tafāḍul without tafrīq as a theological-hermeneutical framework. Employing a qualitative library-based approach, the study applies the comparative method of Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr muqāran), integrated with semantic and intratextual analyses. Its primary sources include the Qur’an, relevant hadith reports, and the exegetical works of al-Ṭabarī, al-Rāzī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr, and Ibn ʿĀshūr. The findings demonstrate that tafḍīl refers to distinctions in divine favor and status established by God, whereas tafrīq primarily denotes the selective rejection of the legitimacy of certain messengers. A comparative examination of Qur’anic exegesis and hadith reports indicates that prohibitions against ranking prophets must be understood in light of their textual foundations, contextual circumstances, and the limits of human authority. The study identifies three interconnected conceptual dimensions: differentiation in divine favor, the unity of prophetic legitimacy, and the limits of human comparison. Its theoretical contribution lies in systematically articulating the relationship among these dimensions through the concept of tafāḍul without tafrīq, demonstrating that differences in prophetic rank do not undermine the unity of faith in all messengers. This framework contributes to Qur’anic exegesis and the theology of prophethood by integrating linguistic analysis, intratextual relationships, and classical exegetical reasoning