(This article might be useful as an adjunct to Kamran Hakim's article already posted on this web site.  Perhaps this document can be expanded later with some further explanations from the text.  This was prepared for use as a handout in a verbal presentation so the commentary or comments on these points is missing.)

Textual

1. Khátam (ring, ornament) vs Khátim (final, end)
1. Á’ishah said "Say ‘khátam an-nabiyyin’, and do not say ‘there is no prophet after him’. – Ad-Durr al-Manthúr, vol. 5, p. 204
2. "Sealer of the Prophets" – one who gives the seal of approval to the preceding prophets:

"He [Muhammad] has become like a seal for them [the prophets] by which they are sealed and they are adorned by his being from among them." (Tuhfat al-Ahwádhí bi-Sharh at-Tirmidhí, vol. 9, p. 70)
3. Finality only until the Day of Judgement (ref. Jámi al-Bayán, vol. 6, p. 183)
2. Rasúl (Messenger, Apostle) vs Nabí ("one who prophesied")

 

 

Shahada : "Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Asshhadu Anna Muhammadun rasulu’llah

Also mention in the Book (the story of) Moses: for he was specially chosen, and he was an apostle [rasúl] (and) a prophet [nabí]. And we called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for mystic (converse). And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, (also) a prophet [nabí]. (Qu’ran 19:51-53)

[This image --someone could clear up and re-post for us -- shows Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad as both Rasul and Nabi, while Joseph and Aaron are limited to Nabi.  Hud and Sali are shown only in the Rasul category.]

1. This verse addresses the question of Muhammad marrying the divorced wife of his adopted son, Zayd.

 

 

Behold! Thou didst say to one who had received the grace of God and thy favour: "Retain thou (in wedlock) thy wife, and fear God." But thou didst hide in thy heart that which God was about to make manifest: thou didst fear the people, but it is more fitting that thou shouldst fear God. Then when Zaid had dissolved (his marriage) with her, with the necessary (formality), We joined her in marriage to thee: in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them. And God's command must be fulfilled.

There can be no difficulty to the Prophet in what God has indicated to him as a duty. It was the practice (approved) of God amongst those of old that have passed away. And the command of God is a decree determined.

(It is the practice of those) who preach the Messages of God, and fear Him, and fear none but God. And enough is God to call (men) to account.

Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Apostle of God, and the Seal of the Prophets: and God has full knowledge of all things. (Qu’ran 33:37-40)

Az-Zamakhshari, al-Kashsháf, vol. 2, p. 433

‘Muhammad is not the father of any man among you’ – in other words that he is not in reality (i.e. physically) the father of any among you such that the normal relationship that exists between a father and son would obtain between him and that person with respect to the prohibition on marriage to a daughter-in-law.

‘But’ he is ‘the Messenger of Allah’ – and every Messenger is the father of his people in respect of the honour and esteem that is due to him from them and the compassion and friendly admonitions that are due to them from him, but not with regard to the other obligations that pertain between fathers and sons. And Zayd is [the same as] any man among you, who are not in reality (i.e. physically) his sons. His position is the same as your position and his adoption was by way of singling him out and drawing him near and nothing else.

‘And’ he is the ‘Seal of the Prophets’- which means that had he (Muhammad) had any son who reached the age of manhood, he (the son) would have been a prophet and he (Muhammad) would not have been the ‘Seal of the Prophets’; for it is related of him (Muhammad) that he said concerning Ibráhím (Muhammad’s son) when he died: ‘had he lived, he would have been a prophet.’

2. There is a Jewish tradition that a line of prophets – based on lineal descent – continued the work of each Messenger. This verse was revealed to state that Zayd will not be a prophet after Muhammad because "Muhammad is not the father of any man among you" and that there will be no prophet to succeed Muhammad.

 

 

"The Children of Israel used to be ruled by prophets. Whenever a prophet died another prophet would succeed him. But there will be no prophets after me, rather there will be caliphs (khulafá, successors), who will be many." (Al-Bukhárí, Book 24, no. 661)

"The Apostle of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said to ‘Alí: ‘You are in the same position in relation to me that Aaron (Hárún) was to Moses, except that there will be no prophet after me." (Kitáb Fadá’il as Sahábah, ch. 996, vol. 4, no. 5913)

3. It is understood that the revelation of Muhammad is fuller and more complete than Moses and so there was no need for prophets to follow on after Muhammad to explain his teachings and ensure that the people kept to them.

1. The designation "Seal of the Prophets" is not based on time.

 

 

"I was the Seal of the Prophets in the presence of Allah at a time when Adam was still a clod of clay." (Ibn Kathír, Tafsír al-Qur’ánI, vol 3, p. 494)

"I am the last of the Messengers and my mosque is the last of the mosques." (Kitáb al-Hajj, no. 3211, vol. 3, pp. 697-8)

"It is clear and evident to thee that all the Prophets are the Temples of the Cause of God, Who have appeared clothed in divers attire. If thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes, thou wilt behold them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and proclaiming the same Faith. Such is the unity of those Essences of being, those Luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendour. Wherefore, should one of these Manifestations of Holiness proclaim saying: ‘I am the return of all the Prophets,’ He verily speaketh the truth. In like manner, in every subsequent Revelation, the return of the former Revelation is a fact, the truth of which is firmly established." (Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp 153-154).

2. Muslims also believe that Christ will return. Since Christ is considered both a rasúl and a nabí, the designation of "Seal of the Prophets" cannot mean that there will be no more rasúl or nabí. Some would argue that when Christ return, He will follow the Shari’ah laws and therefore should no longer be considered as either a rasúl or a nabí. But this is in contradiction to the Traditions.

 

 

"Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts)." (Hadith, Bukhari Vol 3, Book 43, No. 656)

The doctrine of Muhammad being the final prophet was adopted as official Islamic doctrine in the early years of the 4^th Islamic century, mainly as a counter to the numerous revolts that had occurred and were still occurring against the caliphate in the name of various persons claiming to be prophets. By making the doctrine of the finality of prophethood in Muhammad a central tenet in Islam, the Muslim authorities were able to stem the tide of revolts so successful that in the centuries since that time there have only been a handful of such claimants.
 
 

Other Passages in the Qu’ran

1. Fixed Term of Islam

 

 

"Every nation [ummah] hath its set time [ajal]. And when their time is come, they shall not retard it an hour; and they shall not advance it. O children of Adam! there shall come to 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." (Qur’an, 7:34-35)

"...it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as God permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed). God doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book." (Qur’an 13:38-39)

2. There will continue to be a series of Messengers, Allah is consistent.

 

 

"(Such has been) the practice (approved) of God already in the past: no change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of God." (Qu’ran 48:23, cf. 17:77, 30:30, 33:62, 35:43)

3. The infinite nature of the Word of Allah – the Qur’an could not possibly contain all the teaching of Allah for all eternity.

 

 

"Say: If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid." (Qur’an 18:109)

"And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the words of God be exhausted (in the writing): for God is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom" (Qur’an 31:27)

"Behold! God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: ‘I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help.’ God said: ‘Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.’" (Qur’an 3:81)

"And remember We took from the prophets their covenant: As (We did) from thee (Muhammad): from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant." (Qur’an 33:7)