Several facts can be taken from this verse. One is that apparantly there is a difference between a Rasool and a Nabi. Another is that they are both sent and recite God's signs to people. The question then is what is the difference between a Nabi and a Rasool?
Resaala:
Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn back, then on him rests that which is imposed on him and on you rests that which is imposed on you; and if you obey him, you are on the right way; and nothing rests on the Messenger but the clear/manifest delivering . (24:54)
The verse shows the sole duty of Messengerhood is the manifest delivering? Now what exactly are they delivering? They are delivering "the message", but what is "the message" and what makes that different then the role of Nubuwa.
The Quran shows it has something to do with bringing "Amrallah" (Command of God) to the people:
This is an account of (the fate of) the towns which We relate to you; of them are some that stand and (others) mown down.
And We did not do them injustice, but they were unjust to themselves, so their gods whom they called upon besides Allah did not avail them aught when the command of your Lord came; and they added but to their ruin. (11:100-101)
And certainly We sent messengers before you: there are some of them that We have mentioned to you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to you, and it was not meet for a messenger that he should bring a sign except with Allah's permission, but when the command of Allah came, judgment was given with truth, and those who treated (it) as a lie were lost. (40:78)
Whoever goes aright, for his own soul does he go aright; and whoever goes astray, to its detriment only does he go astray: nor can the bearer of a burden bear the burden of another, nor do We chastise until We raise a messenger.
And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our command to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction. (17:15-16)
The Quran else where shows those waiting "Amrallah" are neither disbelievers or people of faith:
And others are made to await Allah's command, whether He chastise them or whether He turn to them (mercifully), and Allah is Knowing, Wise. (9:106)
Exactly what is "Amrallah" will be dealt with under the concept of Imamate. But in short it is the hidden reality and the signed asked for and it will come in full manifest form on the day of judgement, when it is brought down through a Messenger although in reduced form and in seven veils, it does cause judgement on the people because it's a manifest conveying of God's All-Inclusive Name. The reality of "Amrallah" will be discussed in detail under the concept of Imamate with support from Quran.
Nubuwa:
Humans were a single nation; so Allah raised prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He revealed with them the Book with truth, that it might judge between people in that in which they differed; and none but the very people who were given it differed about it after clear arguments had come to them, revolting among themselves; so Allah has guided by His will those who believe to the truth about which they differed and Allah guides whom He pleases to the right path. (2:213)
IThe role of Anbiya (as) can be seen is that they bring revelation from God to people which has a guidance from the difference, recite God's signs and the truth, warn thereby and give goods news, but they don't bring "Amrallah" or "convey manifestly the message". They bring clear proofs but they don't bring down "Amrallah" which causes damnation or salvation. The bringing down of "Amrallah" is the "Clear Sign" "Clear Proof" and "Manifest Message" and it brings God's inclusive name down to everyone and therebye either one will accept God light and be in God's mercy or reject it. The people who that doesn't come to due to certain reasons are said to be people waiting for God's Command. God punishes only through Resalat. Nubuwa is a guidance for the believers but Resalat brings it down to everyone and hence causes judgement by the truth.
It must be said that while not all Anbiya (as) are Rasools (as), all Rasools (as) are Anbiya (as) since the role of Resalat encompass that of Nubuwa. Nubuwa without Resalat conveys a revelation that is guidance to the believers from the difference due to their inclination to the truth and Resalat is Nubuwa but with "Amrallah" assigned to be manifestly conveyed and it brings judgement to all those it is conveyed to and all those who recieve it.
Khilaafa:
o Dawood ! surely We have made you a Khalif in the land; so rule between people with justice and do not follow desire, lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah; (as for) those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning. (38:26)
This is a role quite aside from the duty of conveying God's revelation and signs. The sole role of Messengerhood is as stated, and nothing rests on the Messenger but the clear/manifest delivering (24:54).
Allah (swt) said to Mohammad (SaW):
Surely We have revealed the Book to you with the truth that you may rule between people by means of that which Allah has shown you and be not an advocate on behalf of the treacherous. (4:105)
Mohammad (SaW) also had been assigned the role of Ruling by justice on behalf of God. We see in Quran a non-Prophet, Dul-Qarnayn (as), is also assigned this duty. The people are then required to accept the Khalifs of God and enter their rule, refer to them their disputes, and accept them as the authority on behalf of God. All Prophets (as) naturally are Khalifs in the sense people are required to obey them and they have authority in that sense and are rulers of mankind. However, not all are are assigned to be a Khalifa in the sense they are to be taken as the head of society, that they should be reffered to for all civil and religious disputes, and people are required to help establish them in the earth and helping either establishing them government or if they do have it, then helping that government and strengthening it is the required duty. We see in Suratal Yaseen a few Prophets (as) are sent to one people, if the people accepted them, obviously only one needs to take on that role although the rest too possess the authority of God and obedience is just as much required to them as it is required to others. We also see in Quran Musa (as) tells Harun (as) to take his place with the people although Harun (as) already had authority as all Messengers (as) possess the right of obedience due to the right of God on mankind.
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