Finality of Prophethood and Its Implications
The concept of the finality of prophethood is a fundamental principle of Islamic belief, firmly rooted in the Qur'an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah declares in the Qur'an:
مُحَمًدًا مَا كَانَ أَبَائِكُمُ مُنِ رَجُلاً وَلَكَنَ رَسُولًا لَكُمُ وَخِاتَّمًا النُبُيَنُ
"Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets."
📔 Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40)The term "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam an-Nabiyyin) unambiguously establishes that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the last prophet. This verse signifies the conclusion of the chain of prophethood and the completion of the divine message through Islam, a universal and final religion. The finality of prophethood is also affirmed in another verse where Allah proclaims:
هَذَا الدَيِن أَكَمَلَتُ لَكُمُ دَينُكُمُ وَأَتَمُمَمُتُ نُطِمَّتُيَّةٌ مَلَئَكِّمُ النُبُيَة
"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion."
📔 Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:3)This perfection of religion negates the need for any further prophets or revelations, emphasizing that Islam is sufficient for all of humanity until the end of time. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself reiterated the finality of his mission in several authentic narrations. In a profound metaphor, he described his role as completing the edifice of prophethood:
تَمَثِلَ مُثَّلَاكُمُ وَالَإُنَّبُيِّا؟ مُثَّلَكُمُ دَاخَلِتُ البَّيَّتُ دَونَ أَرَبَّطَّهُا دَسَ لَبِنَّا؟ فِّإُنِّي لاَبِنِّا الَتُيِةٌ
"The example of myself and the prophets before me is that of a man who built a house and beautified it, except for a missing brick in a corner. People go about it and wonder at its beauty but say, 'If only this brick were put in its place!' I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets."
📔 Sahih al-Bukhari (3535); Sahih Muslim (2286)He also explicitly warned the Muslim Ummah against false claimants to prophethood, saying:
سَّيَّكُونَ فِيَّ أَمَتَيَ المُشُرَكَ ثَّلِاثِيَنَ، يُسُمُيَّعُ ثَّلِاثِيَنَ فِّيَّ النُبُيَوَةُ
"There will arise in my Ummah thirty great liars, each of them asserting that he is a prophet, but I am the Seal of the Prophets; there is no prophet after me."
📔 Sunan Abu Dawood (4252)The "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light" challenges this foundational doctrine by claiming that prophethood continues after Muhammad (ﷺ). They argue that "Khatam an-Nabiyyin" signifies the highest rank of prophethood rather than its conclusion. This interpretation, however, is linguistically and contextually flawed. The Qur'an consistently uses the term "Khatam" to denote finality, as seen in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:7), where it describes the sealing of hearts. Furthermore, the unanimous consensus of Islamic scholarship over the past 14 centuries affirms that "Seal of the Prophets" means the end of prophethood.
Ahmadi teachings often cite Hadith regarding the return of Jesus (Isa, عليه السلام) and the coming of the Mahdi to support their claims. However, the return of Jesus is not a new prophethood but a continuation of his previous mission. The Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that Jesus would descend as a follower of Islam, upholding the Shari'ah of Muhammad (ﷺ). The Qur'an and Sunnah leave no room for new prophets or new revelations, as the religion of Islam has been perfected.
The Qur'an warns against divisions within the Muslim community, stating:
ءنَرَ الَرَوو͎ كَلَ يفَصَلىَ َمل٬َين رَُمًg͌ النَبيۯ لٮeوم٥ا
"Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects-you, [O Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything"
📔 (Surah Al-An'am, 6:159)By asserting the continuity of prophethood, Ahmadi teachings create division and contradict the unity fostered by the finality of prophethood. Their claims directly undermine the theological and social fabric of Islam, leading to confusion and schism among Muslims.
The implications of the finality of prophethood are profound. It affirms that the Qur'an and the Sunnah provide comprehensive guidance for all aspects of life, negating the need for new prophets or doctrines. This principle preserves the integrity of Islamic teachings and protects the Ummah from false claimants. Moreover, it serves as a unifying force, ensuring that Muslims remain steadfast on the path outlined by Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ).
In conclusion, the finality of prophethood is a cornerstone of Islam, clearly established in the Qur'an and Hadith. It ensures the completeness and perfection of the Islamic message, safeguarding it from distortion. Claims of new prophets, such as those propagated by the "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light," are refuted by the explicit words of the Qur'an and the unequivocal statements of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Muslims are called to uphold this belief, recognizing that Islam is the final and eternal guidance for humanity.