The Seal Of The Prophets And Messengers (1/2)

Let us examine an aspect of belief that is required of every Muslim and that is the (proper) belief in Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, His Books, the last day, and the pre - decree of Allah, the good of it and the bad of it. For the purpose of this discussion we will focus on the requirement of the belief in His Messengers. Most Muslims will readily name off the articles of belief which I have just listed. However, the part of this belief system that is neglected by some is the kaifiyyah or the manner in which we should believe in these articles. It is not sufficient to simply say,’ I believe in (God) Allah…’ but it is the proper belief in Allah that one must have in order to be considered a believer. If a person claims to believe in Allah, yet this person also believes that He has a son or is contained in his creation in some manner or is somehow similar to his creation, then this person has not established the proper belief in Allah. This same rule can be applied to all of the areas of faith. For this discussion, it is the proper belief in the Messengers of Allah and everything that is contained within this belief. As with all other areas of Iman, the correct belief is also what resides in the heart and is manifested on the tongue and the limbs. Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) states in his Al-‘Aqeedatul-Waasitiyyah:

It is part of the principles of Ahl-us-Sunnah Wa’l-Jamaa’ah that deen and Iman are names of profession and practice – profession by the heart and tongue and actions by the heart tongue and the limbs.

The scholars of this religion have extracted from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Messenger  of  Allah  (sallallahu   ‘alayhi   wa   sallam)   that  proper  belief  in  the  Messengers encompasses the principle that the message of Islam was completed and perfected with the advent of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and that He is the Seal of The Prophets and Messengers. Allah says:

“Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33: 40)

Allah, The Mighty, states that indeed, Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   is Rasoolullah and has conferred upon him the title which implies that this will not be applicable to anyone after him and has described him as Khaataman-Naabiyyeen – The Seal (end) of the Prophets. Khaatam is rooted in the word khataba which means to seal off, close, terminate, and conclude. A person with a weak understanding of this verse may misinterpret it as the sealing off of Prophethood but not messenger-ship because of the phrase Khaataman-Naabiyyeen.

However, as we have previously stated, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) did not revea l the Qur’an for amusement or foolishness and that his words are perfectly chosen and placed even though we may not comprehend the wisdom of it. Allah has confirmed that the Messenger (sallallahu  ‘alayhi wa sallam) has been endowed with the distinction of being not only a messenger of Allah but THE Messenger of Allah which, as we have discussed, is a distinction beyond Prophethood. With this understanding, all those prophets to whom Allah has given the distinction of rasaalah are Messengers and Prophets. In other words all Messengers are Prophets but not all Prophets are Messengers. Logically, if there is a conclusion (khaatam) of Prophethood then this automatically means that rasaalah has come to an end also. Ibn Katheer comments on the Qur’anic verse about the ‘Seal of The Prophets’ in Tafseerul-Qur’anil-‘Adheem;

 ‘Hence this verse is a clear proof of the fact that no prophet will come after Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and when it is said that no prophet will come after Him, it is a foregone conclusion that no messenger will succeed him either, for the office of a messenger holds prominence over the office of a prophet. Every messenger is a prophet but all prophets are not messengers. Anyone who lays a claim to prophethood after Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is a liar, a disruptionist, an imposter, depraved and a seducer despite his wondrous jugglery and magical feats. Anyone who would make this claim in the future till the end of the world belongs to this class.’ (Vol.3, pp. 493 -494)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) himself explains quite clearly the concept of finality of messengership and prophethood when He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,

‘Verily, Ar-Rasaalah (the messengership)  and An-Nubuwwah (the prophethood) ends with Me so there will be no Messenger nor Prophet after Me.’ (Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Ahmad)

This statement leaves no ambiguity concerning the matter. Anyone who disputes this issue after this statement of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  must remember Allah’s statement when He says:

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (Surah An-Nisa’,-4:65)

 ‘Allamah Syed Mahmood Alusi (d. 1270 A.H.) states in Tafseer Ruh-ul-Ma’ani;

The word ‘prophet’ is common, but the word ‘Messenger’ has a particular significance. Hence when the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is called the ‘Seal of Prophets’, it necessarily follows that he is also the seal of the Messengers.’

 ‘That he (Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was the final prophet, is ordained by the Qur’an, acknowledged by the Sunnah  and agreed  upon by the Ummah;  hence a claimant to the contrary will be (determined  as) Kaafir (unbeliever) and put to death if he is persistent.’ (vol.22, pg.32)

Imam Abu Hameed Al-Ghazali states in Al Iqtisad fil Etiqad:

"No doubt the Ummah (all Muslims) has unanimously understood from this word (‘Khaatam-un- Nabiyyeen’) and its circumstantial reference to mean non-existence of a ‘Nabee’ or ‘ Rasool’ ever after Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  and that (this word calls for) no reservation or tacit interpretation in it; hence its dissident is certainly the one who rejects the Ummah's unanimity". (Pg. 123)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has also said in a hadeeth recorded by Imam Ahmad:

‘There will be thirty liars among my Ummah. Each one will claim that he is a prophet. But I am the last of the Prophets and there will be no Prophet after Me.’

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘I have many names; I am Muhammad. I am Ahmad. I am Al-Maahee (the obliterator) by whom Allah obliterates disbelief. I am Al-Haashir (the gatherer) who gathers the people at my feet. I am Al -‘Aqib (the successor) whom none comes after.’ (Reported by Bukhari)

 (Continued)