Seal of the Prophets

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Seal of the Prophets (Khatam-an-Nabiyyin) is a title given to Muhammad by a verse in the Qur'an 33:40. Muslims traditionally interpret this verse as meaning that Muhammad was the last of the prophets.

1 History of the concept in traditional Islam
2 Hadith
3 Views of Muslim Saints
4 Views of other religions and sects
5 External links

[edit] History of the concept in traditional Islam

The main Qur'anic reference to this phrase comes from the chapter (surah) titled Al Ahzab; "The Confederates" or "The Allies". In this chapter, God answers criticism of Muhammad's marriage to Zaynab, who was divorced from to Zaid, his adopted son. Since the Qur'an already distinguished between adopted and natural children, God, in response to the accusations, said:

"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the prophets. And God is ever Knower of all things." - Qur'an: "The Allies", verse 40.

While the primary focus of this narrative is to answer accusations that his marriage to Zaynab was immoral according to Arabic custom, (cf. note on adoption) this phrase is nonetheless taken as being especially significant. Much has been made over the years that the term "Khatam" meaning seal, or ornament is used in the Qur'an, and not the related "Khatim", which is more commonly used to mean final or last. Some Muslims argue that this choice of wording implies that Muhammad was not merely the last prophet, but also that no other prophets have or could appear without his "seal of approval" or the like. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Hadith

Sunnis claims to quote the Hadith of Umar and prophecy as proof of Muhammad's being the last prophet, while both Shi'a and Sunni quote the Hadith of position.

[edit] Views of Muslim Saints

From the study and contemplation of the Darud we have arrived at the definite conclusion that there shall, from among the Muslims, certainly be persons whose status, in the matter of prophethood, shall advance to the level of prophets, if Allah pleases. But they shall not be given any book of law. (Hazrat Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Futuhat al-Makkiyya, Vol.1, p.545)

The prophethood which came to an end with the advent of the Holy Prophet was Tashri'ee Nabuwat, i.e., a prophethood with a new book and a new Law. There is no room for such prophethood after the Holy Qur'an. This is the correct meaning of the Hadith which contains the Holy Prophet's saying that there is to be no prophet after him. The Hadith only conveys that after the Holy Prophet there can be no prophet who will replace his Shariah with another one. Henceforth whenever any prophet comes he will be subordinate to him and his Shariah. (Hazrat Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Futuhat al-Makkiyya, Vol.2, p.3, Egyptian edition)

The prophethood that terminated with the person of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, was the law bearing prophethood and not just prophethood itself. (Hazrat Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Futuhat al-Makkiyya, Vol. 2, p. 73)

Prophethood would continue to be open to the people till the day of judgement, though law making has terminated, yet law making is but one element of prophethood. (Hazrat Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Futuhat al-Makkiyya, Vol. 2, p. 100)

Let it be known that the order of prophethood has not totally ceased: it is the Law-bearing prophethood which has discontinued. (Hazrat Abdul Wahab Sh’erani, Al Yawaqeet wal Jawahar, Vol. 3, p. 35)

After the demise of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or even during his own lifetime, it is not an impossibility for someone to be exalted to the position of a simple prophet. But a prophet with a new Law is, indeed, forbidden. (Hazrat Maulana Abul Hasanat Abul Hayee, Dafe ul Waswas, p.16)

O ye Muslims! Do proclaim that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was the Khataman Nabiyeen, but never say that there shall be no prophet after him. (Hazrat Ayesha quoted in Hazrat Jalaluddin Suyuti’s Durr i Manthur, Vol.2, p.24)

Following the advent of the Khatamur-Rasul, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, the attainment of prophethood by one of his followers, as a reflection and in service of the Holy Prophet, will in no way offend against or be in conflict with his status as Khatamur Rasul. No doubts need be entertained in this regard. (Hazrat Ahmad Sirhindi, Maktoobat, No.'s 301 and 432, Vol. 1)

The meaning of the Holy Prophet being the Khataman Nabiyeen is that there shall not now appear a person whom God may appoint with a new Law for mankind, that is to say, there shall be no prophet who shall come with a new Law. (Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah of Delhi, Tafheemati Ilahiyyah, p.53)

There cannot be an independent prophet after the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who is not his follower and his adherent. (Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah of Delhi, Al Khairul Katheer, p. 111).

Strive hard in the path of virtue in a manner so that you may be blessed with prophethood and you still be a follower. (Hazrat Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi, Mathnawi Ch.1 p. 53)

Allah raised prophets, messengers and Imams from the progeny of Hazrat Ibrahim, peace be on him. It is strange and unbelievable that while acknowledging these blessings among the progeny of Hazrat Ibrahim, peace be on him, people tend to deny this possibility in the case of the progeny and followers of Hazrat Muhammad. (Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq, Al-Saafi Sharah Osoolul Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 119)

How can the glory and superiority of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, 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. (Hazrat Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ali Hussain al Hakim of Tirmidhi, Kitab Khatamal Anbiyya p.241)

[edit] Views of other religions and sects

[edit] Manichaeism

Before Muhammad, the term was used in Manichaeism, a Persian faith whose founder Mani claimed to be the Seal of the Prophets and the Last Prophet. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, also claimed to be the last prophet in a series of 24 Tirthankars.

[edit] Christianity

In Christianity, Jesus is considered to be synonymous with God and prophets are dependent beings. Prophets could, therefore, continue to appear after Jesus, whereas God is not expected to return incarnate until the "time of the end". (See Eschatology.) Examples of prophets after Jesus can be found in the Book of Acts, where the prophet Agabus appears (Acts 21:10) and are mentioned elsewhere in that book (Acts 13:1). </br>

[edit] Ahmadiyyat

In recent history, the interpretation of the term “seal of the prophets” has been a cause of much contention between the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The differences arose due to differences in the definition and usage of the terms “seal” and “prophet”. Since the split in the Ahmadiyya community, the interpretation of this phrase has been a common source of contention between Muslims of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the rest of Islam.

[edit] Bahá'í

The Bahá'í religion regards Muhammad as the seal of the prophets, but does not interpret this term as meaning that no further messengers from God are possible. In particular, Bahá'ís regard the end-times prophecies of Islam (and other faiths) as being symbolic, and see the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh as symbolically fulfilling these prophetic expectations. The latter of these is the founder of the Bahá'í religion, which considers Islamic law to have been superseded by its own. These interpretive and legal differences have caused the Bahá'ís to be seen as heretics and apostates by many Muslims.