208 - I asked Ahmad ibn Yahya Tha'lab the grammarian about the hadith of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in which a man asked him, "Ya Nabia Allah (O Prophet of Allah)," and used a hamzah (glottal stop). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to him, "I am not Nabia Allah [with a hamzah], but I am Nabi Allah [without a hamzah]." He said: "The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) meant: I am from 'al-irtifa'' (elevation/high rank), not from 'al-naba'' (news/announcement)."