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Finality of the Prophethood
============
Introduction
============
The following article is a response to an individual questioning whether or
not the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is indeed the Final Messenger sent by
Allah (SWT) to mankind. He cited some verses from the Quran, and questioned
if they do in fact refer to a Prophet and/or Messenger AFTER the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&HF).
In response to the following verses, I render MY OWN, RELATIVE
understanding of the verses. I am NOT a scholar in Islam, and VERY FEW
people are; as such, I take full responsibility for what I say here, and I
emphasize that MY ANSWER is NOT to be TAKEN as EXHAUSTIVE, DEFINITIVE, OR
ABSOLUTE.
I was NOT able to access books of Tafsir (Quranic Commentaries) to
ascertain some meanings, but my assurance to you is that there is NO
MESSENGER after the FINAL MESSENGER, Muhammad (PBUH & His Family), as WILL
be demonstrated, Allah (SWT) Willing. Again, I restate that the following
is MY OWN UNDERSTANDING. It should NOT be taken as a perfect
representation of the Islamic belief and/or Shi'i ideology.
> Here are some of the perplexing verses:
>
> 33. O children of Adam! there shall come to you Apostles from among >
> yourselves, rehearsing my signs to you; and whoso shall fear God and do
> good works, no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they be put to
> grief. (The Heights (al-Araf)
The verse you quote is numbered incorrectly; the correct number is [7:35].
The verse does NOT suggest another Messenger at all. The way I
understand it is that Allah (SWT) is making a statement about the
Messengers which He (SWT) sends to His (SWT) creation. As such, the
warning to the people is that if a Messenger, like Moses, Jesus, or
Muhammad (PBUH&HF), among others, should emerge from amongst you, then
follow him. For those who follow him, they shall not grieve, but those that
don't, shall indeed suffer. The verse is really saying that throughout the
ages, there shall come Messengers sent by Allah (SWT) as a Mercy to His
(SWT) creation; whosoever follows these Messengers and abides by the
message which they (the Messengers) bring, shall grieve not, nor fear
nothing.
Let me elaborate some more. In Arabic, ONE WORD can have MANY, MANY
meanings that sometimes SEEM totally conflicting. As such, ANY translation
of the Quran is NOT acceptable as the platform whence an argument
concerning a verse is to be launched. We MUST return to the Arabic
original. I will surrender to your postulate that Prima Facie
(superficially) the verse does suggest that a Messenger shall emerge, but
deep in the inner meaning of the verse, it is NOT so. If we MOMENTARILY
disregard the LITERAL RELIGIOUS meaning of Rasool, we can forward the
statement that if a friend of yours is a believing individual, and he
approaches you in a sincere fashion advising you to do righteous deeds and
to avoid wicked acts, then that friend of yours is a Rasool. Moreover, keep
in mind that in Arabic, ANY individual sent with a message to someone else
is also called a RASOOL (Messenger). Here is how the American Heritage
Dictionary defines "Messenger:"
meszsenzger n. 1. One that carries messages or performs errands, as:
a. A person employed to carry telegrams, letters, or parcels. b. A
military or official courier. c. An envoy to another person, party, or
government. 2. A bearer of news. 3. A forerunner; a harbinger. 4. A
prophet. 5. Nautical. A chain or rope used for hauling in a cable. In
this sense, also called messenger line. -- meszsenzger tr.v.
meszsenzgered, meszsenzgerzing, meszsenzgers. To send by messenger.
Given the above definition, we can contend that any "carrier" from a king
to another king is also called a Messenger or a Rasool (in Arabic). This,
I believe, clarifies the verse for you. Let us examine some other verses:
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the
Messenger of Allah, and the SEAL OF THE PROPHETS: And Allah has full
knowledge of all things. [33:40]"
It is clear from the above verse that Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is the SEAL of the
Prophets. Notice that if we abide by the meaning of a Prophet (Nabi), and
understand that a Nabi's status is lower than that of a Rasool
(Messenger), we can discern that Muhammad (PBUH&HF), by virtue of the what
the verse states, is the Seal of both the Prophets and the Messengers. By
stating that he (PBUH&HF) is the Seal of the Prophets, Allah (SWT) has made
it evident that NOT even a Prophet (Nabi) will come after Muhammad
(PBUH&HF). That is, if Allah (SWT) had said that Muhammad was the Seal of
*Messengers*, He (SWT) would leave the door open for people to say that
Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is NOT the seal of the prophets then -- because a
Prophet is a step below a Messenger. But by stating that he (Muhammad)
(PBUH&HF) is the seal from the bottom up, Allah (SWT) has clarified the
point that NOBODY will come after Muhammad (PBUH&HF).
"We have not sent thee but as a (Messenger) to ALL MANKIND, giving
them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men know
not. [34:28]"
Again, we may forward the contention by Allah (SWT) that Muhammad was sent
as a Messenger to ALL MANKIND. Why then would Allah (SWT) send anyone
after him (PBUH&HF) as a new Messenger?
"For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this City, Him Who
has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: And I am commanded
to be of those who bow in Islam to Allah's Will, -- and to rehearse
the Quran: And if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of
their souls, and if any stray, say: I am only a Warner. [27:91]"
Again, listen to what the above verse concludes with: "And if any accept
guidance, they do it for the good of their souls, and if any stray, say: I
am only a Warner. [27:91]" This is in conformity with my statement at the
beginning of this article: You are AT LIBERTY to accept or to reject faith
and guidance; however, you may reject it at the expense of injury to your
soul, or you may accept it and reap its benefits.
"It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of
Truth. That HE MAKE IT PREVAIL OVER ALL RELIGION, even though the
pagans may detest (it). [61:9]"
The clear assertion by Allah (SWT), in the above verse, that He (SWT)
"...make it prevail over all religion..." indicates that this is the FINAL
and complete religion. This is also in conformity with the statement that
Islam is the Truth without form, it is THE primordial religion of mankind,
which will NEVER change:
"So set thou thy face truly to the religion being upright, the NATURE
in which Allah has made mankind: NO CHANGE (there is) in the work
(wrought) by Allah: that is the TRUE RELIGION: But most among mankind
know not. [30:30]"
"...For Allah hath indeed sent down to you a Message,-- A Messenger,
who rehearses to you the Signs of Allah containing clear explanations,
that he may lead forth those who believe and do righteous deeds from
the depths of Darkness into Light. [65:11]"
The above verse, although not directly related to the topic of a final
messenger, it, nonetheless, outlines the mission of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH&HF); and asserts that he (PBUH&HF) is a guide sent to "...lead forth
those who believe and do righteous deeds from the depths of Darkness into
Light."
> Perhaps ALL REVELATIONS have a fixed time, we read:
> 32. Every nation hath its set time. And when their time is come, they >
> shall not retard it an hour; and they shall not advance it. (The Heights
> (al-Araf))
Again, the correct number for the verse is [7:34], not 32. (Which
translation are you using?)
I don't know how you interpreted the above verse to allude to a Fixed
Revelation. Unless your claim is that a revelation is valid only for a
limited time, AND that there are NO timeless truths, I fail to see your
point. Moreover, if we assume that a revelation is indeed fixed, then it
must be that we are now waiting for a New Revelation to come. Obviously,
that would DIRECTLY and UNDOUBTEDLY contradict the Islamic Belief System.
Now, let's the examine the verse in detail:
"To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not
an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in
anticipation). [7:34]"
The verse is dealing with the dimension of time that engulfs every nation
or generation. In that frame of time, they are supposed to achieve
whatever good they can; if they do so, they shall not grieve, otherwise
they shall suffer the consequences. For example, you as a person, will
exist only for a FIXED TIME on this Earth, then you shall perish. In that
time, if you strive to perform good deeds, then you have nothing to worry
about in the hereafter; otherwise you shall account for your actions. Now,
your existence on Earth is FIXED: you came into being at a certain time
(which you had NO choice in), and you will leave at a certain time; there
is nothing you can do to change that. If you add suicide to the formula,
the meaning of the verse would change to: when the necessary conditions for
death are gathered, then no delay or advancement can there be. That is, if
the NECESSARY CONDITIONS or factors that cause death have been met, then
the individual who is trying to commit suicide will SURELY die, there is
NOTHING he can do after those conditions have been met, nor can he change
his mind and return to life. Again, keep in mind that Time moves ONLY in
ONE direction.
Another explanation is that offered by Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his
translation of the Quran:
"I do not know whether "generation" would not be more appropriate
here. If so, it would refer to the Time-Spirit, for it affects a whole
number of people living contemporaneously, and while we deal
grammatically with a group, we really have in mind the individual's
composing the group. Anyway, the lesson is what is suggested in the
following verses. There is only a limited time for an individual or
for a group of people. If they do not make good during that time of
probation, the chance is lost, and it cannot come again. We cannot
retard or advance the march of time by a single hour or minute.
("Hour" in the text expresses an indefinite but short period of
time.)"
> To each age its Book. (The Thunder (al-Rad))
The above verse is misquoted, here's the exact verse:
"We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and
children: And it was never the part of a messenger to bring a Sign
except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is an
APPOINTMENT. [13:38]"
Now, the verse in Arabic does indeed mention "Kitab -- Book," but the
translation of MEANING is NOT a literal BOOK. Remember that I said a word
in Arabic may have MANY meanings; as such, one of the meanings of the word
Kitab means the collection and gathering of conditions to cause or form
something. For example "Kitab-al-Mowt --- The Book of Death" means the
collection and gathering of all the conditions and factors that cause
death. Just like a normal book is a collection of ideas, so is this
symbolic book, referred to above, a collection of conditions that cause an
event to occur. As such, we find that the word APPOINTMENT is a better
word for the TRANSLATION OF MEANING.
> 45. Neither too soon, nor too late, shall a people reach
> its appointed time - (The Believers (al-Muminun))
The correct verse is:
"No people can hasten their term, nor can they delay (it.) [23:43]"
The verse has the exact meaning as the verse:
"To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not
an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in
anticipation). [7:34]"
I have already explained that verse above -- please consult that
aforementioned part for elaboration.
> "And to you there came Joseph in times gone by, with Clear Signs, but ye
> ceased not to doubt of the (mission) for which he had come: at length,
> when he died, ye said: `No apostle will God send after him.' Thus doth
> God leave to stray such as transgress and live in doubt (Quran Surah
> 40:34)
If you are trying to state that people are mislead in believing that there
are NO more Messengers and/or Prophets after Muhammad (PBUH&HF), then I
ASSURE you that you are wrong. The verse is talking about the FIXED Time-
Frame of Joseph's (AS) existence and what was to come immediately after
him. It is NOT that Allah (SWT) has told the people of Joseph (AS) that NO
Messenger will come after Joseph (AS) and then changed His (SWT) mind, and
sent a Messenger!
In the case of Islam and Muhammad (PBUH&HF), we are CLEARLY told that NO
MORE MESSENGERS will be sent by He (SWT) Who created the Universe and
Sustains it. There is a clear distinction here: the people of Joseph (AS)
said that there will not come a prophet or messenger after Joseph (AS),
whereas Allah (SWT) NEVER said such a thing! It was the concoction of the
people to say that Allah (SWT) will NOT send another messenger. Now, in
the case of Muhammad (PBUH&HF), the people have been NOTIFIED by Allah
(SWT) that there shall come NO Messenger after Muhammad (PBUH&HF). Therein
lies the distinction in this verse.
Another point worthy of mentioning is that: why do we wait until the
Messenger dies to rethink our existence and actions? Why does remorse
begin AFTER a Messenger's death? Why can't we follow that Messenger when he
was alive? The lesson clearly stated here is that we shouldn't wait until
the milk is spilled and then weep and cry over it, we should prevent the
milk from being spilled in the first place (if you know what I mean!?).
Again, the verse alludes to Allah's (SWT) Mercy in that even if a Messenger
dies, Allah (SWT) is still merciful enough to send another one. However,
in the case of Muhammad (PBUH&HF), the WARNING is LOUD and CLEAR that
Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is the FINAL Mercy to mankind from Allah (SWT).
> Ah! alas for (My) servants! There comes not an apostle to them but they
> mock Him! (Quran Surah 36:30)
What do you intend by quoting this verse? The meaning is abundantly clear,
unless your intention is that there has come to us an apostle after
Muhammad (PBUH&HF) and we mocked him!!! Now, I question if you really
meant that? The verse is clear, but let me make it a bit clearer:
Obviously, the verse states that the Messengers of Allah (SWT) are indeed
mocked by ignorant men, and that Allah (SWT) has indeed sent messengers to
mankind, but mankind has transgressed and mocked these men.
Now, let me add something else: Muhammad (PBUH&HF) was sent as a Messenger,
and it is CLEAR that his (PBUH&HF) message contained the affirmation that
he (PBUH&HF) is the FINAL Messenger; if we state that there may come a
messenger after him (PBUH&HF), then we are MOCKING him (PBUH&HF), and, as a
result, mocking Allah (SWT)! Such is the concept of mockery referred to in
the above verse. Also, as I said above, ANY person that calls people to
the righteous path is considered a Rasool (within the confines of the
definition of a messenger (rasool) as a "carrier" or a "caller to
righteousness" as stated above. He is NOT, however, an inspired individual
sent by Allah (SWT)). As such, if people mock him, then they have also
mocked a messenger, as the above verse suggests.
==========
Conclusion
==========
In conclusion, I hope that these answers clarify many points, and I repeat
my apology for the late response. Let me also state that an answer to your
references of a possible prophet after Muhammad (PBUH&HF) requires that we
examine creation from several facets: sociological, evolutionary,
political, historical, scientific, religious, and philosophical, among
others. This, clearly, is beyond the scope of this paper. Nonetheless,
Islamically, that contention is NULL and VOID.
Let me also add that all the above is MY OWN explanation of the verses.
Nonetheless, certain Truths are integral to Islam, and CANNOT be
compromised (like the FACT that Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is the Final Messenger
of Allah (SWT)).
========================
Side Comments to a Bahai
========================
A Baha'i contributor presented Baha'i views about the Seal of Prophets
quoting from Islamic sources. Here I mainly focus on Shi'i point of view in
this matter. He wrote in his article that:
>
> Clearly, the concept of no Nabi, or prophet, appearing after Muhammad
^^^^^^^
> must have been associated with His immediate successorship, and had
> nothing to do with coming of future Messengers from God. Otherwise,
It is not clear to me though. You are using induction which is logically
incorrect. If Quran wanted to say that "Mohammad is the last Nabi among his
children," he could say so! When such thing is not specified and nothing is
exempted, then it covers every human being. There is no Prophet after
Mohammad (PBUH&HF).
More over, your Logic is convoluted. Here you are saying that There will be
no prophet from the household of Mohammad (PBUH&HF). In another place, you
say that Mahdi is from the Family of Prophet (which is actually the belief
of ALL Muslims who have the knowledge of their own books). In another place
you say that "the Bab" was the promised Mahdi. In the other place you say
that Bab was a messenger. The conclusion from the above sentences is that
according to you, Mahdi who was the descendant of Mohammad, was a
messenger. This *contradicts* what you just said above, that the verse
(33:40) is saying Mohammad was the last Prophet among his family!!!
How nice is the verse 4:82 of Quran which describes that one can find many
contradictions in something that is not from Allah (i.e., a man-made
religion). A British-made religion is not any better.
>
> Many of the Shi'ah commentators believe in a literal meaning of the
> term Khatam-u-Nabieen (Seal of the Prophets, after Whom no other
> Messengers of God shall come), however, there are other commentators
> ^^^^^^^^^^^
> who believe differently:
I did not see anything differently from the following tradition!
>
> Ibn-i Babuyih known as Sheikh Sadoogh, another highly respected Shi'ah
> scholar/theologian argues in his book, Ekmaal-ud-Din vol I:
>
> "All the Messengers of God who appeared prior to Muhammad, were
> succeeded by a Nabi (i.e. a prophet). Adam was a Rasool (Messenger of
> God), and His successor was Shais the Nabi (Seth the prophet). Noah
> was a Messenger of God and His successor was Saam the Nabi (Shem the
> prophet). Abraham, Moses, Jesus and David (peace be upon Them!), were
> also God's Messengers, Whose successors were Isaac, Jashua, Simon (St.
> Peter) and Solomon Who were all prophets. However, the successors of
> Muhammad, Rasool-Allah (the Messenger of God), were not called Nabis
> (prophets). They were referred to as Imams. Therefore, Ali was not a
> Nabi, Hasan was not a Nabi, Hossein was not a Nabi, etc...., since,
> with the Manifestation of Muhammad, the usage of the term Nabi was
> abandoned (i.e. He was Khatam-u-Nabieen), and ended.
As you can see, Shaykh Sadooq is confirming that there will be neither
prophet nor messenger after Mohammad (PBUH&HF). How could he explain more
simple than that?!
> Allamih Majlesi in Bahar'ul-Anvar Vol 13, p.323 mentions one of the
> discourses of Imam Ali. In that discourse Ali says:
>
> "I am the Commander of the faithful. I am the King among the
> pious..... I am the Khatam'u-Vasieen [which can be either taken as
> "The Seal of the guardians and successors", or, as "The Ornament of
> the Guardians and successors".] and the heir of the prophets and the
> representative of the God of the worlds."
>
> This Hadith is referd to as the Hadith Nuraniah as is reported by
> several people such as Ibn Babyih (Sheikh Sadooq) in "Uyoon'ul-Akhbar
> Ar-Rida".
>
> This tradition of Imam Ali is a very interesting. One must be fair in
> one's judgment. If we are to take, in this tradition, the term
> "Khatam" as "the Seal", "the ender", "one who completes", then one is
> obliged to accept that Ali was "the seal of the guardians, and
> successors", after Muhammad, Who is the Seal of the prophets. Yet,
> Shi'ahs believe that after Muhammad there was supposed to be twelve
> Imams, only the first of Whom was Ali. So, assuming that the term
> Khatam in Khatam'u-Vasieen must have a similar meaning to the term
> Khatam in Khatam'u- Nabieen, then one is to question why were there
> more Imams after Ali. How are we to reconcile the existence of the
> other Imams, Who came after Ali, based on this interpretation? Let
> this be food for thought for the possessors of pure heart and open
> mind.
>
> NOTE: I hope Shi'ah friends contemplate on the meaning of this
> quotation and its theological implication.
>
Good question. First I should say that in most of the traditions in this
regard, the term "Sayyid al-Wasiyyin" (the master of executors) has been
used for Imam Ali, and not the above phrase (the ender of executors).
Every Prophet had an executor. Prophet Mohammad was the master of all other
Prophets. Naturally his executor (wasi) is the master of all other
executors (of previous prophets).
However there is no contradiction in the above tradition. Out of twelve
Imams, only Imam Ali (AS) was the executor (wasi) of prophet (PBUH&HF).
Because each person can only have one immediate executor (wasi). Prophet
Mohammad was the last Messenger, thus his executor is the last executor
among the executors of prophets. This is because there shall not come any
prophet after Prophet Mohammad.
Imam Hasan (AS), the second Imam, was the immediate executor (wasi) of Imam
Ali. However we could say Imam Hasan (AS) was indirect executor of Prophet
too. The third Imam was immediate executor of the second Imam and so on.
Thus in this sense, Imam Ali was the last immediate executor among the
executors of prophets. I hope this is enough "food for thought for the
possessors of pure heart and open mind".
>
> "O children of Adam, verily apostles from among you shall come unto you,
> 2^^^^^^^^3^^^^^^^^^^^^^^4^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> who shall expound my signs unto you: whosoever therefore shall fear
> God and amend, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they
> be grieved."
> Qur'an 7:35
>
> 2) Appearance of future Apostles of God is explicitly mentioned here.
>
> 3) These Apostles (more that one Apostle -i.e. Mahdi and Isaa bin
> Maryam) must come from among the Muslim ummah.
>
> 4) These Apostles SHALL COME in the future.
>
You got it wrong my friend. You are quoting Quran out of context. Please
read the verses before the above verse (7:11-35). Particularly see verses
11, 19, 26 and 27. All of them are the commands of Allah to Prophet Adam
(AS) who was the first Prophet. Allah is saying O' sons of Prophet Adam,
there shall come many prophets after Prophet Adam (a total of 123999
prophets after Prophet Adam).
About Jesus (AS): He was a Prophet and came BEFORE prophet Mohammad
(PBUH&HF). Prophet Jesus will return but he is not a new Prophet for he is
older than Prophet Mohammad. Prophet Jesus also does not bring any new law
for people. Christianity was expired when Prophet Mohammad came. Prophet
Jesus will come as a follower of Imam Mahdi and will be his assistant. He
will pray behind him. So Jesus (AS) is not a new prophet. He is an old one
who has lived long.
Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his relief) is going to establish a world-wide
government and all people throughout the world will live peacefully under
his Government. Bahais believe that "the Bab" (Mirza Ali-Muhammad) was the
Imam Mahdi who claimed as such in May 1844 A.D. (1260 AH). He was executed
in Iran shortly after (in July 1850 AD).
The above paragraph is enough for an elementary-school-age child to reject
the Bahais. Because if he was really Imam Mahdi, then when did he establish
the world-wide government in all corners of the world? "The Bab" could not
even govern the city in which he was living! He was executed by people for
his blasphemy six years later.
Imam Mahdi brings neither new religion nor new religious law. He does not
cancel any regulations set by Prophet Mohammad. However there are some
authentic traditions which state that although Imam Mahdi does not bring
any new law when he comes, some people say: he is bringing a new religion.
Those traditions further explain that it is as a result of many innovations
set by pseudo-scholars into to the religion of Islam. Imam Mahdi comes to
reject any innovations and to revive the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad which
was corrupted by people after him. As a result of ignorance of people to
the true Sunnah of Prophet, they think he is bringing a new religion.
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