This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Khatm-e-Nubuwwat.
The Belief in the Finality of Prophethood: In the Light of the Consensus of the Ummah
After the statements of the Quran, Sunnah, consensus of the Companions, and understanding of the Salaf, further testimonies from the consensus of the Ummah are presented below, so that this issue becomes very clear and no room for doubt remains.
Just understand this much that in the windows of history, there is not a single Muslim who holds the belief that after the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ there is any possibility or chance of another prophet.
This Shariah is the final Shariah, its Prophet is the last Prophet, there is no Shariah after it, nor any Prophet after you ﷺ. After this is the Day of Judgment, after this the resurrection will take place. However, before that, thirty liars will come who will claim prophethood and say: O people! Come, follow us. And Muslims will recognize their falsehood; there will be no need to ask for evidence because obvious matters are not proven by evidence, they reveal themselves. The belief in the finality of prophethood has been ingrained in the nature and senses of a Muslim; even if a Muslim has no evidence, he cannot imagine accepting anyone as a prophet after Muhammad ﷺ.
I have asked everything from God by asking You
My hands do not rise after this prayer
But here there are heaps of evidence, mountains of texts, and the luminous, shining stars of the consensus of the Ummah are shining and twinkling at all times and moments that: لا نبي بعد محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، لا أمة بعد أمة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم.
◈ Allama Taftazani (may Allah have mercy on him) (793 AH) says:
ما اتفق عليه المجتهدون من أمة محمد عليه الصلاة والسلام فى عصر على أمر فهذا من خواص أمة محمد عليه الصلاة والسلام، فإنه خاتم النبيين فلا وحي بعده
“The consensus of the Mujtahids of the Ummah on any matter at any time is a characteristic of the Muhammadan Ummah ﷺ. The Holy Prophet ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets, and after him, revelation has ceased.”
Reference: (Sharh al-Talwih ala al-Tawdih: 100/2)
◈ Allama Abu Hamid Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) (505 AH) writes:
إن الأمة فهمت بالإجماع من هذا اللفظ ومن قرائن أحواله أنه أفهم عدم نبي بعده أبدا وعدم رسول الله أبدا وأنه ليس فيه تأويل ولا تحصيص، فمنكر هذا لا يكون إلا منكر الإجماع .
“The consensus of the Ummah has understood from the word لا نبي بعدي and other indications that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has completely negated the possibility of prophethood or messengership after him in any era. There can be no interpretation or specification of this; whoever denies it denies the consensus.”
Reference: (Al-Iqtisad fi al-I'tiqad: 137)
◈ The exegete Ibn Atiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (542 AH) says:
هذه الألفاظ عند جماعة علماء الأمة خلفا وسلفا متلقاة على العموم التام مقتضية نصا أنه لا نبي بعده صلى الله عليه وسلم .
“According to the scholars of the Ummah, both Salaf and Khalaf, these words are general and are a text that there is no prophet after the Holy Prophet ﷺ.”
Reference: (Tafsir Ibn Atiyyah: 388/4)
◈ Qadi Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him) (544 AH) states:
نزول عيسى المسيح وقتله الدجال حق صحيح عند أهل السنة؛ لصحيح الآثار الواردة فى ذلك، ولأنه لم يرد ما يبطله ويضعفه، خلافا لبعض المعتزلة والجهمية، ومن رأى رأيهم من إنكار ذلك، وزعمهم أن قول الله تعالى عن محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: وخاتم النبيين ، وقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم : لا نبي بعدي، وإجماع المسلمين على ذلك وعلى أن شريعة الإسلام باقية غير منسوخة إلى يوم القيامة يرد هذه الأحاديث، وليس كما زعموه؛ فإنه لم يرد فى هذه الأحاديث أنه يأتى بنسح شريعة ولا تجديد أمر نبوة ورسالة، بل جاء ت بأنه حكم مقسط، يجيء بما يجدد ما تغير من الإسلام، وبصلاح الأمور والعدل، وكسر الصليب، وقتل الخنزير، أن إمام المسلمين منهم كما قال عليه السلام .
“The descent of Sayyiduna Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام and his killing of the Dajjal are established from the Shariah texts, and this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah. There is no evidence that these are weak or false. The Jahmiyyah and some Mu'tazilah say that the hadiths about the descent of Sayyiduna Isa عليه السلام contradict the Quranic verse, the belief in the finality of prophethood, and the consensus that the Muhammadan Shariah will remain until the end of time. They also contradict the hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said: There is no prophet after me. But these objections of the Jahmiyyah are false because Sayyiduna Isa will not come as a lawgiver or a new prophet, but will come as a ruler and just one who will rectify the matters of Islam that are being changed, will break the cross and kill the pig, while the Imam of the Muslims will be from among them, as the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said.”
Reference: (Ikmal al-Mu'allim bifa'id Sahih Muslim: 493/8)
The exegete Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) (671 AH) writes:
قد روي من طريق التواتر من غير أن يحتمل تأويلا بإجماع الأمة قوله عليه الصلاة والسلام : لا نبي بعدي .
“There is consensus of the Ummah on the prophetic statement: There is no prophet after me. There is no possibility of any interpretation in this.”
Reference: (Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 29/11)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (728 AH) says:
محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتم الأنبياء لا نبي بعده فعصم الله أمته أن تجتمع على ضلالة .
“Muhammad ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets, there is no prophet after him, Allah has protected the Muhammadan Ummah ﷺ from agreeing upon misguidance.”
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa: 368/3, 329/27)
He further writes:
إنه صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتم النبيين ولا نبي بعده وقد جمع الله فى شريعته ما فرقه شرائع من قبله من الكمال؛ إذ ليس بعده نبي فكمل به الأمر كما كمل به الدين فكتابه أفضل الكتب وشرعه أفضل الشرائع ومنهاجه أفضل المناهج وأمته خير الأمم وقد عصمها الله على لسانه فلا تجتمع على ضلالة، ولكن يكون عند بعضها من العلم والفهم ما ليس عند بعض .
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets, there is no prophet after him. Allah has gathered in the Shariah of the Prophet ﷺ all the perfect qualities that were scattered in the previous Shariahs, because there is no prophet after him. Where the religion was completed by his coming, the office of prophethood was also completed. His book is superior to all books, his Shariah is superior to all Shariahs, and his methodology is superior to all methodologies. Likewise, his Ummah is better than all other Ummah. Allah has made his Ummah infallible in this regard so that it will never unite upon misguidance. Some people of this Ummah will have knowledge and understanding that others do not have.”
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa: 159/33)
Allama Ibn al-Wazir (may Allah have mercy on him) (840 AH) says:
إن الأمة أجمعت على انقطاع الوحي بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنه لا طريق لأحد من بعده إلى معارضة ما جاء به فمن ادعى ذلك وجوز تغيير شيء من الشريعة بذلك، فكافر بالإجماع .
“There is consensus of the Ummah that the chain of revelation has been cut off after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there is no room left for opposition to his Shariah. Whoever claims otherwise or speaks of change in any part of the Shariah is unanimously a disbeliever.”
Reference: (Ithar al-Haqq: 72)
Allama Tahtawi (may Allah have mercy on him) (1231 AH) says:
ويشترط لصحة الإيمان به صلى الله عليه وسلم معرفة اسمه إذ لا تتم المعرفة إلا به وكونه بشرا من العرب وكونه خاتم النبيين اتفاقا لورود ذلك القواطع المتواترة .
“Based on mutawatir and definitive texts, it is a condition for the correctness of faith to know the noble name of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, because without the name there is no recognition. It is also a condition to know that he ﷺ is a human being, that he belongs to the Arabs, and that he is unanimously the Seal of the Prophets.”
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Tahtawi p. 10)
Allama Ibn Ashur (may Allah have mercy on him) (1393 AH) says:
آلآية نص فى أن محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتم النبيين وأنه لا نبي بعده فى البشر ، لأن النبيين عام، فخاتم النبيين هو خاتمهم فى صفة النبوءة، ولا يعجر على نصية الآية أن العموم دلالته على الأفراد ظنية لأن ذلك لاحتمال وجود مخصص، وقد تحققنا عدم المخصص بالاستقراء . وقد أجمع الصحابة على أن محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتم الرسل والأنبياء وعرف ذلك وتواتر بينهم وفي الأجيال من بعدهم ولذلك لم يترددوا فى تكفير مسيلمة والأسود العنسي فصار معلوما من الدين بالضرورة فمن أنكره، فهو كافر خارج عن الإسلام ولو كان معترفا بأن محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم رسول الله للناس كلهم. وهذا النوع من الإجماع موجب العلم الضروري كما أشار إليه جميع علماء نا .
“This verse is a text on the finality of prophethood of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; there is no prophet after him. The word النبيين has been said for all prophets, and خاتم means the one who seals the attribute of prophethood. To say that the generality indicates only some of its members is speculative and trying to undermine this belief is completely wrong. The general indication applies to all its members unless specified otherwise. It is known from the induction of the Shariah texts that there is no specification in this matter. There is consensus of the Companions on Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ being the Seal of the Messengers and Prophets, which is proven with mutawatir transmission in that time and later times. Therefore, the Companions did not hesitate even a little in declaring Musaylimah and Aswad Ansi as disbelievers. This is among the necessities of religion. Whoever denies this will be a disbeliever, even if he considers Muhammad ﷺ the Prophet of all mankind. This type of consensus provides certain knowledge, as all our scholars have explained.”
Reference: (Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir: 45/22)
Allama Amir San'ani (may Allah have mercy on him) (1182 AH) says:
إنه صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتم الرسل والأنبياء وشريعته باقية إلى آخر الدنيا وهذا أمر مجمع عليه وأما نزول عيسى صلى الله عليه وسلم آخر الزمان، فهو ينزل متبعا لشريعته صلى الله عليه وسلم غير مبعوث .
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the Seal of the Messengers and Prophets, and his Shariah will remain until the end of the world, and there is consensus on this. Sayyiduna Isa عليه السلام will descend as a follower of the Shariah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, not as one who is sent with a new Shariah.”
Reference: (Al-Tanwir Sharh al-Jami' al-Saghir: 466/3)
Allama Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) (1420 AH) says:
لما كان عليه الصلاة والسلام خاتم النبيين وكان رسولا عاما إلى جميع الثقلين اقتضت حكمة الله سبحانه أن تكون شريعته أوفى الشرائع وأكملها وأتمها انتطاما لمصالح العباد فى المعاش والمعاد، فهو عليه الصلاة والسلام خاتم الأنبياء والمرسلين، كما قال تعالى : مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَاۤ اَحَدٍ مِّنْ رِّجَالِكُمْ وَ لٰـكِنْ رَّسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَ خَاتَمَ النَّبِيّٖنَ وتواترت الأحاديث عن رسول الله عليه الصلاة والسلام بأنه خاتم النبيين، وهذا أمر بحمد الله مجمع عليه ومعلوم بالضرورة من دين الإسلام، وقد أجمع المسلمون على أن من ادعى النبوة بعده فهو كافر كاذب يستتاب، فإن تاب وإلا قتل كافرا .
“Since the Holy Prophet ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets and a Messenger to all jinn and humans, divine wisdom demands that his Shariah be the most perfect among all Shariahs in organizing the economic and social interests of humans. Muhammad ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets. Allah says: مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَاۤ اَحَدٍ مِّنْ رِّجَالِكُمْ وَ لٰـكِنْ رَّسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَ خَاتَمَ النَّبِيّٖنَ Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. Likewise, the finality of prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ is proven by mutawatir hadiths. Praise be to Allah, this is a matter of consensus and among the necessities of religion. The consensus of Muslims is that whoever claims prophethood after the Holy Prophet ﷺ is a disbeliever and a liar; he will be asked to repent, and if he repents, it is fine, otherwise, that disbeliever will be killed.”
Reference: (Majmu' Fatawa Ibn Baz: 222/2-223)
Revelation has ceased:
In the discussion of the finality of prophethood, it becomes clear that when prophethood itself ceases, then where will revelation remain? After prophethood, the chain of revelation also ends. Therefore, Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
ألا وإن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قد انطلق وقد انقطع الوحي .
“Beware! The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has departed from this world and the chain of revelation has been cut off.”
Reference: (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 41/1, and its chain is Hasan)
He further said:
إن الوحي قد انقطع .
“The revelation has ceased.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2641)
When Sayyida Umm Ayman (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked why she was crying, she said she was crying because the chain of revelation from the heavens had been cut off.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2454)
Allama Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) (456 AH) writes:
اتفقوا أنه مد مات النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقد انقطع الوحي وكمل الدين واستقر وأنه لا يحل لأحد أن يزيد شيئا من رأيه بغير استدلال منه ولا أن ينقص منه شيئا، ولا أن يبدل شيئا مكان شيء ولا أن تحدث شريعة وأن من فعل ذلك كافر .
“The consensus of the Muslims is that after the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the chain of revelation has been cut off, the religion has been completed, and after that, it is not permissible for anyone to add or subtract from the religion by their own opinion, to change any ruling, or to establish a new Shariah. Whoever does so is a disbeliever.”
Reference: (Maratib al-Ijma’: 174)
He further writes:
إذ قد انقطع الوحي بموته ومن أجاز ذلك، فقد أجاز كون النبوة بعده ومن أجاز ذلك فقد كفر وحل دمه وماله .
“After the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the chain of revelation has been cut off. Whoever believes in the possibility of revelation is also believing in the possibility of prophethood, and whoever believes in the possibility of prophethood is a disbeliever; his blood and wealth are lawful.”
Reference: (Al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam: 79/4)
At one place, he explicitly states that after the Shariah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), all other Shariahs have been abrogated:
نسخ عز وجل بملته كل ملة وألزم أهل الأرض جنهم وإنسهم اتباع شريعته التى بعثه بها ولا يقبل من أحد سواها، وأنه عليه السلام خاتم النبيين لا نبي بعده .
“With the nation of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah has abrogated all other nations, and it is incumbent upon jinn and mankind to follow the Shariah upon which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sent. Allah does not accept any Shariah other than this. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Prophet, and there is no prophet after him.”
Reference: (Al-Muhalla: 28/1)
He also writes:
إن الوحي قد انقطع مد مات النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم برهان ذلك أن الوحي لا يكون إلا إلى نبي، وقد قال عز وجل : مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَآ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡ رِّجَالِكُمۡ وَلٰـكِنۡ رَّسُوۡلَ اللّٰهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيّٖنَ .
“After the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the chain of revelation has been cut off. The proof of this is that revelation only comes to a Prophet. Allah’s command is: مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَآ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡ رِّجَالِكُمۡ وَلٰـكِنۡ رَّسُوۡلَ اللّٰهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيّٖنَ Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last Prophet.”
Reference: (Al-Muhalla: 46/1)
Elsewhere, he states:
النبوة هي الوحي من الله تعالى بأن يعلم الموحى إليه بأمر ما يعلمه لم يكن يعلمه قبل ، والرسالة هي النبوة وزيادة، وهى بعتته إلى خلق ما بأمر ما، هذا ما لا خلاف فيه والخضر عليه السلام نبي قد مات، ومحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم لا نبي بعده، قال الله عز وجل حاكبا عن الخضر وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي فصحت نبوته، وقال تعالى : وَلٰـكِنۡ رَّسُوۡلَ اللّٰهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيّٖنَ ؕ .
“Prophethood is the name of that revelation which Allah sends to His servant to inform him of something he did not know before. Messengership is a name for an additional attribute beyond prophethood, which is that the Messenger brings a new Shariah. There is no disagreement on this. Khidr (peace be upon him) was a Prophet and has passed away; after Muhammad (peace be upon him), there is no Prophet. Allah, the Lord of Glory, narrated the story of Khidr (peace be upon him) and quoted Khidr’s statement that he did not do this of his own accord. This proves his prophethood. Allah’s command is: Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah and the last Prophet.”
Reference: (Al-Muhalla: 71/1)
Allama Al-Mawardi (may Allah have mercy on him) (450 AH) writes:
إنه خص بانتهاء الوحي وختم النبوة حتى لا ينزل بعده وحي ولا يبعث بعده نبي فصار خاتما للنبوة مبعونا إلى الخلق كافة حتى بعث إلى الإنس والجن .
“It is the special characteristic of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) that after him, revelation and prophethood ended; after him, there will be no descent of revelation. You are the Seal of the Prophets and all creatures, including jinn and mankind, to whom you were sent.”
Reference: (Al-Hawi al-Kabir: 9/9)
O Ummah of Muhammad! Beware, do not fall into the deception of any deceiver, do not let anyone’s treachery, anyone’s smooth talk, or any liar’s attractive interpretations leave a disgraceful stain of doubt in your hearts. Every child of the universe is born with the nature that if given the power of speech and asked مَنْ نَبِيُّكَ؟, then on his tongue will be the slogan لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَ محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم.
