Finality of Prophethood..
Irfan Akram
"Thou will never find a change, a deviation, in the practice
of Allah"
(Al Quran 35:43)
Many Muslims today follow what is known as the finality of Prophethood
with the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Mustufa (saw) being the final
and last prophet in whom no prophet can come after. A major reason of
this idea is because in the Holy Quran chapter 33 verse 40, it speaks
of Muhammad (saw) as the Seal of Prophets or otherwise, Al Khatuman
Nabiyyan. It has been put agianst the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam that
because we do not interpret the verse as they do we do not believe in
it.
First of all we should see what the scholors or Companions of the Holy
Prophet (saw) interperate the so called finality of Prophethood?
A well known scholor, Hadhrat Abu Abdullah Muhammadd bin Ali Hussain
Al Hakam of Tirmidhi has said:
"How can the glory and superiority of Muhammad (saw) be
manifested
if we claim that he was the last in time to appear in the
world? This is
no doubt, an interpretation of the foolish and the ignorant."
(Kitab
Khatamal Auliya p. 341)
Shah Waliullah Muhaddas of Delhi writes:
"Muhammad (saw) was the last of the Prophets in the sense that
there
will appear no one after him to promulgate a new law for the
people.
(Tafheemat-i-Ilahiyya, pg. 53)
Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani stated:
"The prophetic law is finished and completed with the Holy
Prophet
because he was the called Al Khatuman Nabiyyan." (Al-Insanul
Kamil
ch. 36)
Maulana Abdul Haye of Lukhnow says:
"It is Not impossible that a new prophet may appear during or
after the
age of Muhammad but bringing of a new code of religion is an
absolute
impossiblity." (Dafi-ul-Wasawis fee Asr ibn Abbas pg. 12)
Hadhrat Sheik Ahmad Sirhindhi has said:
"The attainment of high characteristics of prophethood by way
of
obiedience and inheritence after the coming of the Khatuman
Nabiyyin
is not against being Khatam." (Maktoobat Ima Rabbani pg. 432)
Sheikul Akbar Muyud Din Ibn Arabi also states:
"The prophethood which has ceased the Prophet of God (saw) is
only
the prophethood with law and not the status of prophethod. So
there
will be no other institute added to it. So Prophethood has not
completly
disappeared." (Futoohati Makkiyya vol.2 pgs. 3 and 64)
Hadhrat Shah Wali Ullah of Delhi writes:
"From the sayings of the Holy Prophet la Nabiyyat B'adi and la
Rasool,
we came to understand that prophethood that has ceased the
Holy
Prophet is the Law-bearing prophethood." (Qirat Ainai Fi
Tafadhulul
Shaikhain, pg. 39)
Mullah Ali al Qari has stated:
"According to the Ulema the words La Nabiyya Badee mean that
no
prophet shall be raised who shall abrogate the Law of the Holy
Prophet
(saw)" (Al Isha at Fi Ashraqatus Saat pg. 226)
Maulana Rum has stated:
He was the Khatam because no one in generosity, Has ever been
like
him before nor shall ever be. When an artisan excels to the
exellence in
his craft, Do you not say to him that the craftmenship has now
come to
an end?" (Mathnavi Maulana Rum ch. 6)
Hadhrat Maulvi Abul Qasem Nanotvi stated:
"In the conception of the masses the Holy Prophet (saw) was
Khatam in
the sense that he came after all the other prophets and he was
the last
prophet of all. But it is evident that in the estimation of
the wise no
superiority whatever attaches to precedence in time or its
reverse."
(Tah-zirunnas, Saharanpur pg3)
The Holy Prophet's Wife, Hadhart Aaiysha also has spoken on this
subject:
"Say that he is Al Khatuman Nabiyyan (the Seal of Prophets)
but do not
say he is the last of all Prophets." (Takmala Majma ul Bihar
pg.188;
and Manthur)
There are so many more sayings of Companions let me just write down
the references to them for now:
Imam Muhammad Tahir Gujrati also says the same thing Takmala Majma ul
Bihar pg. 85)
Imam Sha'araani as well supports the same notion. (Al Yawaqeet Wal
Jawahir, vol.2 pg.22)
Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan as well (Iqtarabus Saa pg. 162)
Imam Soyooti as well writes simular (Durr-i-Mansoor)
Shiek Hadhrat Moyiudin Ibn Arabi further comments on it more
(Fatuhaati Makkiyya vol.1 pg 545) Note: he has stated it twice in the
same book.
Hadhrat Maulvi Abul Qasem Nanotvi, the renowned founder of Deoband
Academy stated it as well (Tah zirunnas, Saharanpur, pg.3)
So as we come to the conclusion of these great scholors, we should see
that the prophethood which has ended with the Holy Prophet (saw) as
Khatuman Nabiyyin, is only the prophethood with law, prophethood can
come as long as the prophet serves his purpose which is to guide
mankind to the correct path. But lets not end it there we forgot the
sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) as well, so:
The Holy Prophet (saw) states:
" Had Ibhrahim (his son) Lived he would have been a truthful
Prophet."
(Ibn Mahja vol.1 pg. 237; Khitab ul Janiaz)
This Hadith has been further elaborated on by a Companion: Mullah Ali
Al Qari states:
"If Ibhrahim had lived and had become a Prophet and in the
same way
Umar had become a Prophet, both would have been followers of
the
Holy Prophet (saw) like Jesus khizr and Ilyas.So it would not
contridict the word of God Al Khatuman Nabiyyan, because its
meaning
is that there will not come a Prophet who cancels his law and
who is
not from his followers." (Mauzuate Kabir pg. 69)
So we see the true meaning of The Holy Prophet being Khatam here and
the meaning of the Hadith stated above. The only question is who would
be a Prophet if there was one to come? That is when the Holy Prophet
(saw) states:
"The Promised Messiah will be a Prophet of God." (Muslim vol.2
pg.
515)
So we see that it will be the Promised Messiah to be a Prophet of
God!!!!
Also the Holy Prophet has stated:
"Abu Baker is best of men after me if a prophet should
appear." (Kanul
Ummal)
This Hadith is obviously stating that if an other Prophet should come,
Abu
Baker will be the best person to do so; thus saying a prophet can come
after him (saw); Although he was not chosen by God to become one so he
became the first Khalifa-e-Rashideen
There are also other places where the word Khatam (Seal) are used, for
example, The Holy Prophet (saw) has called his unlce
Khatam-ul-Muhajireen (Kanzul Ummal, vol. VI, pg. 178)
The meaning of this statement in Seal of refugees, now does this mean
that his uncle Abbas, shall be the last of all refugees??? In the same
sense Hazrat Ali is mentioned as Khatam-ul-Auliya (Tafsir Safi); Ibn
Khalduun says this phrase refers to him as a perfect saint and not the
last (Muqaddama vol.2 pgs. 165-167).
Also in the same sense Abu Tamam, an Arab poet was called
Khatam-us-Shuara (Wafiyatul Aayan Li Ibn Khallikan, vol.1 p 123,
Cairo), now was Abu Tamam the last poet? Thus the word Khatam can be
interpreted as a perfect or a greatest of a certain entitlment.
An other proof that there is no finality of Prophethood is from two
Hadiths of the Holy Prophet, when he says:
"I am the last of the prophets, and you are the last of the
peoples."
(Muslim)
>From this the Holy Prophet (saw) calls himself the last of the
Prophets, and the Muslims the last of the peoples. Thus we can
understand from this and the Commentry by the companions of the Holy
Prophet given above, that its meaning is that we are the last of the
peoples in the sense that no other religion shall come, so Muslims are
the last religious group (not my words and commentry but the commentry
of the scholors).
Also it is has been stated:
" And my Mosque is the last Mosque." (Muslim; Kitan ul Haj Fadlis
Salat, pg. 531)
Obviously you should have figured it out by now, that there is no
finality of
Prophethood.
Allah is so Unique in His Actions
Peace,
Irfan
Altway
"Irfan Akram" <irfan_a...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:63f39d4.04030...@posting.google.com...
> A major reason of
> this idea is because in the Holy Quran chapter 33 verse 40, it speaks
of Muhammad (saw) as the Seal of Prophets or otherwise, Al Khatuman
Nabiyyan. It has been put agianst the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam that
because we do not interpret the verse as they do we do not believe in
it.
> A well known scholor, Hadhrat Abu Abdullah Muhammadd bin Ali Hussain
Al Hakam of Tirmidhi has said:
> "Muhammad (saw) was the last of the Prophets in the sense that
there will appear no one after him to promulgate a new law for the
people. (Tafheemat-i-Ilahiyya, pg. 53)
Comment:-
Yes, I think that Seal of the Prophets means Seal of Authority
and implies confirmation, completion and perfection of the Message
rather than The Last.
But the question is :-
(1) Why does one need another Prophet when the message is complete.
Why follow this other person who merely restates what Muhammad (saw)
has alreay brought? Why not simply follow what Muhammad (saw) has brought?
(2) There are a number of people who claim prophethood. How does one
choose between them? Or does one accept them all?
Why not accept Bahaullah or anyone else, the Rev. Moon for instance.
(3) There are a number of spiritual teachers, Saints, Sheikhs and so on.
What is the difference between these and a Prophet who brings no new law.
Why call him a Prophet and not just a Teacher.
Hamid S. Aziz
..
Joubin
Salaam H S Aziz,
> Comment:-
>
> Yes, I think that Seal of the Prophets means Seal of Authority
> and implies confirmation, completion and perfection of the Message
> rather than The Last.
Agreement.
So now we await the un-Sealing of The Prophecies.
>
> But the question is :-
>
> (1) Why does one need another Prophet when the message is complete.
> Why follow this other person who merely restates what Muhammad (saw)
> has alreay brought? Why not simply follow what Muhammad (saw) has brought?
To make things Clear.
To Explain matters not yet fully understood.
To Complete The Revelation of The Qur'an.
>
> (2) There are a number of people who claim prophethood. How does one
> choose between them? Or does one accept them all?
> Why not accept Bahaullah or anyone else, the Rev. Moon for instance.
By applying the Discriminating Light of The ONE: The Qur'an, where in
it is written that sheitan is "an open enemy".
What is an "open enemy"?
It is an enemy that is not 'hidden' -- this Justly so, for if the
enemy was 'hidden' how could we be Judged astray if we did not have
the opportunity to distinguish the enemy from The Friend?
So, per The True Word of ALLAH we can be *certain* that a careful
consideration of the 'sayings' and 'teachings' of a false prophet MUST
bring to Light glaring falsehoods.
That is how we Discriminate between the true and the false.
So, on to the 'case studies': Mr. Nuri aka "Bahaullah" and R Khalifa
aka "The Messenger of the Covenant":
I) "Bahaullah" an 'open' false prophet?
Mr. Nuri aka Bahaullah claimed a Year of 19 months of 19 days.
ALLAH Says:
9:36
The number of months with ALLAH Is Twelve Months by ALLAH's ordinance
since the day when HE Created the Heavens and the Earth. [Sounds like
a fundamental number]
Of these four are Sacred.
'That' is The Right Religion.
*** So wrong not yourselves therein. ***
And fight the idolaters all together; and know that ALLAH is with
those who fear HIM.
~
OK then. That is clear enough. (Is it not?)
So here we have a hairy biped known as Nuri ala 'bahaullah' who has
openly contradicted ALLAH.
Open and shut case.
Remember:
2:209
O ye who believe!
Come into submission all of you
And follow not the footsteps of sheitan
Surely he is your ___open enemy___
Next.
II) "Mr. 19" aka "Messenger of the Covenant" an 'open' false prophet?
Lets see (and there is so much to see ;)
Mr. Khalifa claimed that the last two Sigs of Sura 9 where forgeries.
i.e.
9:128
Surely, a Messenger has come unto you from among yourselves; grievous
to him is it that you should fall into trouble; he is ardently
desirous of your welfare; and to the believers he is specially
compassionate and merciful.
9:129
But if they turn away, say, `ALLAH is sufficient for me. There is no
god but HE. In HIM do I put my trust, and HE is the Lord of the Mighty
Throne.'
are *not* from ALLAH.
Beyond the fact that these two Signs put a rather final dent in his
'proof', he supported his claim with the following reasoning: that
these Signs were due to an idoltary of Mohammad (Salaam Ever Be Upon
him and his house), since he is called "Raof Rahim" in 9.128.
But then a(n attentive) Believer will find **IN THE SAME SURA** that:
9:114
And Abraham asking forgiveness for his father was only because of a
promise he has made to him, but when it became clear to him that he
was an enemy of ALLAH, he dissociated himself from him. Surely,
Abraham was most tender-hearted and forbearing.
So Abraham was Haleem. (And ALLAH is also Haleem [c.f Q.17.45])
~
OK then. That is clear enough as well. (Is it not?)
So here we have another hairy biped known as Rashad Khalifa ala 'Mr.
19' who has openly spewing nonsense.
Open and shut case.
43:63
And let not sheitan hinder you
he is to you an __open enemy__
>
> (3) There are a number of spiritual teachers, Saints, Sheikhs and so on.
> What is the difference between these and a Prophet who brings no new law.
> Why call him a Prophet and not just a Teacher.
One group is explicitly 'Commissioned' by ALLAH to perform *Specific*
Services / Tasks: These are the Messengers, Prophets, and Witnesses.
The other group -- Saints, Sheikhs, Teachers, etc. -- is not
commissioned.
39:70
And the Earth will Shine with the Light of her LORD and The Book Will
Be laid Open before them, and the Prophets and the Witnesses will be
brought, and Judgment Will Be Given between them with Justice, and
they will not be wronged.
+
One Group has "Manifest Authority" -- Sultana Mubain.
The other group does not.
4:154
The people of the Book ask thee to bring down upon them a Book from
heaven. They asked Moses a greater thing than this. They said, `Show
us ALLAH openly.' Thereupon a destructive punishment overtook them
because of their transgression. Then they took the calf for worship
after clear Signs had come to them, but WE pardoned even that.
And WE gave Moses a Manifest Authority.
So there are clear differences.
> Hamid S. Aziz
And Salaam be upon you.
Tomasz Antkowiak
irfan_a...@yahoo.co.uk (Irfan Akram) wrote in message news:<63f39d4.04030...@posting.google.com>...
> First of all we should see what the scholors or Companions of the Holy
> Prophet (saw) interperate the so called finality of Prophethood?
This is what they related:
Innahu la nabiyya ba`di = Verily there is NO PROPHET AFTER ME.
[Bukhari, Ahadith al-anbiya'; Muslim, Imara]
I have (many) names. I am The Praised One (muhammad). And I
am the Most Deserving of Praise (ahmad). And I am the Eraser
(al-mahi) by whom disbelief is erased. And I am the Gatherer
(al-hashir) at whose feet the people shall be gathered. AND
I AM THE LAST IN SUCCESSION (AL-`AQIB) AFTER WHOM THERE IS
NO PROPHET.
Narrated by Bukhari and Malik from Mu`ammar; by Ahmad (4:80), and
Tirmidhi in his Sunan (`Aridat al-ahwadhi 10:280) and Shama'il (p.
183)
from Jubayr ibn Mut`im; and by Muslim from Ishaq ibn Ibrahim
al-Hanzali
and others.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The Children of Israel used
to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another
would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but
there will be Caliphs who will increase in number." The people asked,
"O Allah's Apostle! What do you order us (to do)?" He said, "Obey the
one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their
(i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any
shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship."
[al-Bukhari 4.661]
Narrated Sa'ad: Allah's Apostle set out for Tabuk. appointing 'Ali as
his deputy (in Medina). 'Ali said, "Do you want to leave me with the
children and women?" The Prophet said, "Will you not be pleased that
you will be to me like Aaron to Moses? But there will be no prophet
after me." [al-Bukhari 5.700]
Narrated Ayesha (RA): "Prophethood will NOT continue after me, except
the harbingers of good news". They asked "What are the harbingers of
good news, O Apostle of Allah?." He replied: "Virtuous and pious
dreams a Muslim sees or are shown to him". [4] Musnad of Imam Ahmad
ibn Hanbal
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (saw) many came after him
claiming prophethood. How did the first Khalif, Abu Bakr as-Saddiq
deal the claimants? How did succeeding generations deal with the
claimants? Something to think about.
Tomasz Antkowiak
Altway
"Joubin" <jou...@inch.com> wrote in message
news:3767f8c6.04031...@posting.google.com...
> So now we await the un-Sealing of The Prophecies.
Comment:-
Really! You think that Sealing means concealing when the Quran came to
clarify!
What unsealing was done by which later prophet?
> > (1) Why does one need another Prophet when the message is complete.
Why follow this other person who merely restates what Muhammad (saw)
has alreay brought? Why not simply follow what Muhammad (saw) has brought?
> To make things Clear.
To Explain matters not yet fully understood.
To Complete The Revelation of The Qur'an.
Comment:-
That was the job the Quran and Muhammad (saw).
What has been clarified, explained and completed?
> > (2) There are a number of people who claim prophethood. How does one
choose between them? Or does one accept them all?
Why not accept Bahaullah or anyone else, the Rev. Moon for instance.
> By applying the Discriminating Light of The ONE: The Qur'an, where in
it is written that sheitan is "an open enemy".
Comment:-
That is what all the others claim.
The discriminating light can be applied directly to the Quran.
> So, per The True Word of ALLAH we can be *certain* that a careful
consideration of the 'sayings' and 'teachings' of a false prophet MUST
bring to Light glaring falsehoods.
Comment:-
That is what can be claimed about your prophet.
> That is how we Discriminate between the true and the false.
So, on to the 'case studies': Mr. Nuri aka "Bahaullah" and R Khalifa
aka "The Messenger of the Covenant":
> I) "Bahaullah" an 'open' false prophet?
Mr. Nuri aka Bahaullah claimed a Year of 19 months of 19 days.
Comment:-
The number 19 is mentioned in Quran.
You appear to have trapped yourself into a circle.
If Bahaullah is a Prophet then what he teaches must be from God.
But if a new Prophet cannot teach anything that was not taught
by Muhammad (saw) then what is the point.
But in any case, you need not tell us about Bahaullah and Khalifa
Muslims do not accept them. But they do not accept your
Prophet for similar reasons.
But I do accept that there are Saintly teachers and Authorities
who have greater knowledge and understanding and that we
should learn from them.
"O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority
amongst you; and if ye dispute (quarrel or argue) about anything, refer it
to Allah and the Messenger, if ye (in truth) believe in Allah and the Last
Day; that is better and fairer in the end." 4:59
Where does it say that another Prophet will be sent?
> > (3) There are a number of spiritual teachers, Saints, Sheikhs and so on.
What is the difference between these and a Prophet who brings no new law.
Why call him a Prophet and not just a Teacher.
> 39:70
And the Earth will Shine with the Light of her LORD and The Book Will
Be laid Open before them, and the Prophets and the Witnesses will be
brought, and Judgment Will Be Given between them with Justice, and
they will not be wronged.
Comment:-
This speaks of the Day of Judgement.
Who do you think are the Witnesses if they are not the Saints.
Do you say in your prayer:- " I bear witness that there is no god but
Allah."
> And WE gave Moses a Manifest Authority.
So there are clear differences.
Comment:-
Where does it give authority to your Prophet.
However, if he has something to say that increases my understanding
of the Quran I will accept what he says. But if it contradicts it then
I will not.
Hamid S. Aziz
Joubin
Soon it shall be a New Year for us Iranians. And I do not wish to
start a New Year carrying forward the ill effects of those who display
a distinct lack of manners -- and here I refer to the ad hominems and
'clairvoyant' [:)] evaluations of my self in your other reply -- while
engaged in debate of opinions and ideas.
However I also do not wish to remain silent regarding a specific
matter in this specific post of yours.
For here [1] you are accusing me of Kufr.
So, for the record:
> Comment:-
> That is what can be claimed about your prophet.
!? Who are you refering to ?!
Who is this "your prophet" that you have conjured?
My Prophet was, is, and will remain, Muhammad, aka Mustafa, aka The
Messenger of ALLAH, aka The Seal of The Prophets -- Salaam Ever Be
upon him and his House.
To be precise :) he was an Arab and he was born in Mecca and then he
migrated to Medina. He was Given a Book. The Book is called The
Qur'an.
Are we absolutely Clear on who my Prophet is?
I 'know' of no other Prophet after him, nor will I ever 'recognize'
any 'Prophet' after him. Nor have I ever said or written anything
contrary to the above.
So do provide your proof regarding "[my] prophet", *if* you have a
person other than Mohammad in mind and *if* you are of the Truthful!
Wa Salaam.
-- notes --
[1]: "Altway" <hsa...@ftiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:<40584...@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com> ...
Altway
> !? Who are you refering to ?!
Who is this "your prophet" that you have conjured?
> My Prophet was, is, and will remain, Muhammad, aka Mustafa, aka The
Messenger of ALLAH, aka The Seal of The Prophets -- Salaam Ever Be
upon him and his House.
Comment:-
I apologise profusely.
I had the impression for some reason
that you were a Ahmadiya or Qadiani.
That is who I was replying to.
Hamid S. Aziz
..