Romaisa

Batch 3M
Finality of Prophethood
Introduction
The foundation of Islam laid on Iman. The verbatim meaning of ‘Iman’ is
faith or belief. In Islamic theology ‘Iman’ is one’s acknowledgement in heart
of the oneness of Allah and that Hazrat Muhammad PBUH is his Last
prophet including belief in Allah’s angels, revealed books, prophets, the
Last Day (Day of Judgment) and the divine decree. A Muslim must believe
that the chain of prophethood has come to an end. Hazrat Muhammad
PBUH is the last Messenger of Allah and no prophet will come after him.
He is the best of creation and leader of the prophets. After him the door of
Prophethood was closed and sealed, and no one can break this seal. If any
one dares to break this seal, he would be termed as a heretic and non-
believer. The fact is that believing in the Finality of the Prophethood is one
of the fundamental elements of ‘Iman’. A person can’t be a Muslim without
believing in the Prophethood. One who claims that he is a Muslim but
doesn’t believe and declare that Hazrat Muhammad PBUH is the last
Messenger of Allah then he is not a Muslim. His prayers (Salat), Zakat,
fasting (Siyam), Hajj and other worships are not valid. 
Literal meaning of khatam
According to Arabic lexicon Khatam means to affix seal; to close, to come
to an end; and to carry something to its ultimate end. For example, if
Khatam al Amal is used it means one has completed the jib and the
responsibility stands discharged. In the same manner, Khatma al Anbiya
means that assignment of Prophethood that started with the Apostle Adam
alai-hi-salam concluded with the mission of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
Definition of Khatmun-Nubuwwat
Khatm-e-Nubuwwat means that Hazrat Muhammad PBUH is the Last of
the Prophets. The process and routine of appointing Prophets and
Messengers by Almighty Allah has been terminated, finished, ended,
stopped, and sealed. None will be appointed as Prophet after Hazrat
Muhammad PBUH. His Prophet hood will continue until the dooms day and
even afterwards.

َ ‫ َو َك‬  ۗ‫ٱل َّن ِب ِّي ۧـ َن‬ ‫ َو َخا َت َم‬ ِ ‫ٱهَّلل‬ ‫رَّ سُو َل‬ ‫ َولَ ٰـكِن‬ ‫رِّ َجالِ ُك ْم‬ ‫مِّن‬ ‫َأ َح ۢ ٍد‬ ‫َأ َبٓا‬ ‫م َُح َّم ٌد‬ ‫ان‬
‫ َعلِي ۭ ًما‬ ‫ َشىْ ٍء‬ ‫ ِب ُك ِّل‬ ُ ‫ٱهَّلل‬ ‫ان‬ ‫مَّا‬
َ ‫ َك‬ 

Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of
Allah and the seal of the Prophets. Allah has full knowledge of everything
(Surah al- Ahzab verse 40)
In this verse, the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH has been described as
the "Seal of the prophets" or the "Last of the prophets". This verse from the
Holy Qur'an is the most clear-cut evidence for the belief of "Khatmun-
Nubuwwat" (finality of prophethood). The well-known scholar Hafiz Ibn-
Katheer rahmatullahi alayhi writes in his book: "This verse is a clear
evidence for this belief that there is no prophet after the Holy Prophet
Muhammad PBUH." (Tafseer Ibn-Katheer)
Importance in the light of Quran and hadith
A great scholar, Imam al-Tahawi (d. 321 AH) in al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyya
states:
"Every claim to prophethood after him is falsehood and deceit.”
In the light of Quran
ْ ‫ق ِلي‬
َ‫ُظ ِه َرهُ َعلَى الدِّي ِن ُكلِّ ِه َولَوْ َك ِرهَ ْال ُم ْش ِر ُكون‬ ِّ ‫هُ َو الَّ ِذي َأرْ َس َل َرسُولَهُ بِ ْالهُد َٰى َو ِدي ِن ْال َح‬

“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Deen of
Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all Deens, however much the
idolaters may be averse.” (Surah Tawbah verse 33)
In the light of hadith

ُ‫ِإ َّن َمثَلِي َو َمثَ َل اَأل ْنبِيَا ِء ِم ْن قَ ْبلِي َك َمثَ ِل َرج ٍُل بَنَى بَ ْيتًا فََأحْ َسنَه‬
‫ون بِ ِه‬َ ُ‫ فَ َج َع َل النَّاسُ يَطُوف‬،‫اويَ ٍة‬ ِ ‫ ِإالَّ َم ْو‬،ُ‫َوَأجْ َملَه‬
ِ ‫ض َع لَبِنَ ٍة ِم ْن َز‬
،ُ‫ت هَ ِذ ِه اللَّبِنَةُ قَا َل فََأنَا اللَّبِنَة‬ْ ‫ض َع‬ ِ ‫ون هَالَّ ُو‬ َ ُ‫ َويَقُول‬،ُ‫ُون لَه‬
َ ‫َويَ ْع َجب‬
." ‫ِّين‬ َ ‫َوَأنَا َخاتِ ُم النَّبِي‬
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "My similitude in comparison with the other prophets
before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully,
except for a place of "ONE" brick in a corner. The people go about it and
wonder at its beauty but say: 'Would that this brick be put in its place!' So, I
am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Number 735: - Book of Merits - Chapter
on Khatam an Nabiyeen)
Characteristics of finality Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH)
 Universality:
The Prophethood of all the Prophets (A.S) before Mohammad
(PBUH) used to be for a specific nation and a specific time. The
Prophethood of Mohammad (PBUH) is for all times and for all nations
till the Day of Judgment. In other words, his Prophethood is universal
and eternal: valid for all people, all times and all climes as mentioned
in the Holy Quran:

‫ َج ِميعًا‬ ‫ِإلَ ْي ُك ْم‬ ِ ‫ٱهَّلل‬ ‫ َرسُو ُل‬ ‫ِإنِّى‬  ُ‫ٱلنَّاس‬ ‫يَ ٰـَٓأيُّهَا‬  ْ‫قُل‬

“Say (Oh! Muhammad (PBUH) people! I am a Prophet sent for all of you.
(Sura-e-Al-Araaf verse 158)
 Annulment of Previous Shariahs:
God almighty annulled all the Shariah of previous Prophets (A.S)
through His Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) as the
former were for specific time and nations. The Holy Quran says:

‫ين‬ ِ ‫اآلخ َر ِة ِم َن ْال َخ‬

َ ‫اس ِر‬ ِ ‫َو َمن يَ ْبتَ ِغ َغي َْر اِإل ْسالَ ِم ِدينًا فَلَن يُ ْقبَ َل ِم ْنهُ َوهُ َو ِفي‬
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), it
shall not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he shall be of the
losers.”
(Surah Al-Imran verse 85)
 Perfection:
The message of Prophet Muhammad PBUH is complete, perfect and
final. God says
“This day I have perfected your Deen for you, completed my favor upon
you and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen”
(Surah Al-Maida verse 3)
 Protection of The Book:
Unlike earlier divine books which are completely or partially extinct
the Quran is still preserved in its original form since Allah Himself has
taken the responsibility of protecting his book:

‫ون‬ ُ ‫ٱلذ ْك َر َوِإ َّنا َلهُۥ َل َح ٰـف‬

َ ‫ِظ‬ ِّ ‫ِإ َّنا َنحْ نُ َن َّز ْل َنا‬
“Certainly we have revealed this book (Quran) and We will protect it.”
(Surah Al-Hujr verse 9)
 Protection of Sunnah:
Sunnah is the second source of Islamic Law. God Almighty has also made
Arrangement for the protection of the Sunnah-e-Rasool Mohammad
(PBUH). The people who collected sayings of the Prophet made great
struggle and care in the collection of Ahadith. We today are taking
guidance in all matters, religion as well as worldly, from the sayings of the
Prophet (PBUH). Thus, all the actions of the Prophet Mohammad are
preserved word by word with the help of God.
 The Holy Place of Mohammad (Maqani-e-Mehmood):
Another important characteristic of the Prophethood of Hazrat Mohammad
(PBUH) is that God will grant him the Holy place of Mehmood on the Day of
Judgment as Allah.
ً ۭ ‫ك َم َقا ۭ ًما مَّحْ م‬
‫ُودا‬ َ ‫ك َع َس ٰ ٓى َأن َيب َْع َث‬
َ ‫ك َر ُّب‬ َ َّ‫َوم َِن ٱلَّي ِْل َف َتهَجَّ ْد ِبهِۦ َنافِلَ ۭ ًة ل‬

“(Oh Prophet)! Say prayers of night (Tahajjud) and this are a thing of
reward (Natal) for you, hopefully, your Lord will place you on the Holy place
Mahmood.”
(Surah Al- Israa Verse 79)
Ijma Sahaba
Ijma is “the agreement of the mujtahids (jurists) from among community of
Muhammad (peace be upon him) after his death in a certain period upon a
rule of Islamic law.”
There was a consensus among the companions that appointing a Khalifa is
obligatory upon the Muslim. There were events which demonstrate the
consensus of the companions that the Khilafa was an obligation. The first
event highlights its obligation and priority and the second event highlighting
that the issue of appointing the Khalifa and maintaining unity was an issue
that was more important that the sanctity of the life of a Muslim.
This Collective Ijtihad and Collective Opinion was the decision of the
Islamic State followed and obeyed by the all Muslims specially by
"SAHABA", so why it's called Ijma-e-Sahaba.
The first consensus of Muslim opinion (Ijmah) took place on this issue.
So, Hazrat Maulana Syed Muhammad Anwar Shah Kashmiri (Rahmatullah
Alaih) writes in his last book “Khatm-e-Nubuwwat”that:
Translation “And the first ever consensus of Muslim opinion was the
consensus on the murder of Muslima Kazab. Its only reason was just his
claim of Prophethood. The reverend Sahaba (The companions of Holy
Prophet PBUH came to know about his other evil doings later, as Ibne
Khuldoon writes. And ages after ages there was always consensus on the
infidelity, apostasy and killing of the claimer of Prophethood, and there was
never debate on Nubuwwat Tashria or non-Tashria.”
Rational approach/logical reasoning
The rational approach towards the finality of prophethood is that it
completes and purifies your Imaan in every dimension and gives you the
message that Prophet Muhammad PBUH is The Last Prophet and there
will be no messenger after him but if anyone dares to do that he will be
declared as a kafir. There are 99 verses on the finality of prophethood. The
greatest miracles of “Prophet Muhammad PBUH” is “The Holy Quran”.

ِ ‫ان ُع َم َر ب َْن ْال َخ َّطا‬

‫ب‬ َ ‫ان َبعْ دِي َن ِبيٌّ َل َك‬
َ ‫" َل ْو َك‬
Narrated 'Uqbah bin 'Amir: that the Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬said: "If there
was to have a Prophet after me, it would have been 'Umar bin Al-Khattab."
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3686)
Conclusion
The example of a true Muslim is who believes in the Finality of
Prophethood and all the fundamentals beliefs of Islam. These beliefs are
the identity of a complete Muslim. He should follow the sunnah of Prophet
Muhammad PBUH and his life will become trouble-free as Muhammad
PBUH is the complete guide for a Muslim being. Hazrat Adam is the first
Prophet and Muhammad PBUH is the Last and there will be no Prophet
after him but if anyone dares to claim that he would be called as a kafir and
will not be forgiven.