Meaning of the Finality of Prophethood
The belief in the finality of prophethood is that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the last prophet and messenger of Allah. Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, was the first link in the chain of prophethood, and after him, Allah sent prophets to every nation. But this chain ended with Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. After him, no prophet will come until the Day of Judgment, because his prophethood and messengership are sufficient for every era and every nation. After him, neither a shadow prophet nor a manifest one will come. Denying this belief is disbelief.
Divine Commands
Allah Almighty said:
{وَمَا اَرْسَلْنَاکَ اِلَّا کَافَّۃً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِیرًا وَّنَذِیرًا وَّلٰکِنَّ أَکْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعْلَمُونَ}
“(O Prophet!) We have sent you as a bringer of good tidings and a warner to all people, but most people do not know.”
Qadi Iyaz, may Allah have mercy on him, states that the Ummah is unanimous that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was sent as a messenger for all of humanity. The meaning of the finality of prophethood is clear and there is no room to alter it or to include the possibility of any shadow or apparent prophet.
Statements of the Exegetes
Imam Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, says in the interpretation of this verse:
Allah Almighty says, O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! We have sent you not only to the polytheists of your own people but to the Arabs, non-Arabs, and all humans. You, peace be upon you, are a bringer of glad tidings and a warner for every human until the Day of Judgment.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, states that Muhammad, peace be upon him, came as a messenger for both humans and jinn, and after him no prophet will come. It is Allah’s blessing that the proofs of your prophethood, peace be upon you, remain clear to every person until the Day of Resurrection.
The Universality of the Prophethood of Muhammad
Allah Almighty says:
{قُلْ یَا أَیُّھَا النَّاسُ اِنِّی رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ اِلَیْکُمْ جَمِیعًا}
“(O Prophet!) Say, ‘O people! I am the Messenger of Allah to you all.'”
Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, states that this address includes all humanity, Arabs and non-Arabs, red and black; the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was sent as a Messenger for all.
Prophetic Hadiths
The Universal Mission of the Prophet, peace be upon him
Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
’وَکَانَ النَّبِيُّ یُبْعَثُ إِلٰی قَوْمِہٖ خَاصَّۃً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلٰی النَّاسِ عَامَّۃً‘
“Previously, a prophet was sent only to his own people, but I have been sent to all humanity.”
In Sahih Muslim’s narration, there is further clarification:
’کَانَ کُلُّ نَبِيٍّ یُّبْعَثُ إِلٰی قَوْمِہٖ خَاصَّۃً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلٰی کُلِّ أَحْمَرَ وَأَسْوَدَ‘
“Every prophet was sent specifically to his own people, but I have been sent to every red and black.”
The Argument Against Jews and Christians is Complete
Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
’وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِیَدِہٖ، لَا یَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِّنْ ہٰذِہِ الْـأُمَّۃِ یَہُودِيٌّ وَّلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، ثُمَّ یَمُوتُ وَلَمْ یُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِہٖ؛ إِلَّا کَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ‘
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if any Jew or Christian from this Ummah hears my message and then dies without believing in my teachings, he will go to Hell.”
Explanation by Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله
Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله states that the meaning of the Prophet Muhammad’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم statement is that whoever comes during the time of the Prophet or after him until the Day of Judgment, obedience to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم is obligatory upon them. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم mentioned Jews and Christians to warn about others as well, because the Jews and Christians possess divine scriptures. Since this ruling applies to the People of the Book, those who do not have any scripture are even more included in this ruling.
Opinion of the Scholars
Allama Ibn Hazm رحمه الله
Allama Ibn Hazm, may Allah have mercy on him, states that Allah Almighty’s command
{وَلٰکِنْ رَّسُوْلَ اللّٰہِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِیِّیْنَ}
and the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him:
’لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي‘
“There is no prophet after me”
Despite hearing this, some people say things that are against the belief in the finality of prophethood. How is it possible for any Muslim to accept the existence of a prophet on earth after Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him? Except for Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, whose descent will be near the Day of Judgment, and this is mentioned as an exception in the authentic hadiths narrated by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
He further states that according to Allah Almighty’s command
{قُلْ اَبِاللّٰہِ وَآیَاتِہٖ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ کُنْتُمْ تَسْتَھْزِؤُوْنَ}
those who mock Allah, His Messenger, or the verses of the religion are disbelievers. It is also agreed upon that whoever denies something proven from the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also becomes a disbeliever.
Allama Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him
Allama Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that some people think that with the descent of Hazrat Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, the Shariah will come to an end so that Hazrat Isa عليه السلام will not be considered a prophet. But this idea is against the Ahadith and the Quran. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
’لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي‘
“There is no prophet after me.”
Hazrat Isa عليه السلام will descend near the Day of Judgment, but he will be a follower of the Shariah of Hazrat Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, not bring a new Shariah.
Allama Qastalani, may Allah have mercy on him
Allama Qastalani, may Allah have mercy on him, writes that it is an honor from Allah Almighty for Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that he was made the Seal of the Prophets and the completion of the religion was upon him. It is clear in the Quran and Sunnah that no prophet will come after him, peace be upon him. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
’لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي‘
“There is no prophet after me.”
And if anyone claims otherwise, he is a liar and the Antichrist. The descent of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, will occur, but he will follow the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Mulla Ali Qari, may Allah have mercy on him
Mulla Ali Qari, may Allah have mercy on him, states that the meaning of “Khatam an-Nabiyyin” is that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the one who ends the chain of all prophets. After him, no prophet will come, nor will any revelation be sent down to anyone. The descent of Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, will be according to the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, which is not against the belief of the finality of prophethood.
Allama Manawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Allama Manawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that there is consensus on the belief of the finality of prophethood and it is a principle that does not require any proof. The claim of some misguided sects that prophethood will continue until the Day of Judgment is unacceptable. Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, will descend as a prophet, but he will be a follower of the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Summary
The consensus of the scholars is that Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet, and any claim of prophethood after him is false. The descent of Prophet Jesus will occur near the Day of Judgment, and he will follow the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad ; he will not bring any new Shariah.
