This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Khatm-e-Nubuwwat.
Belief in the Finality of Prophethood: In the Light of the Companions' (May Allah be pleased with them) Statements
It is necessary that the keepers of the secrets of Shariah and the knower of the sciences of Prophethood express the opinions and beliefs of the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them), those people who had taken the cup of Shariah from the hands of the Master of Shariah and drunk from it, whose entire being was immersed in the silver of Shariah and made it fragrant like Kafur. Those people who were direct disciples of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him), whom the Messenger of Allah appointed as the guardians of the garden of Islam, entrusted with the responsibility of propagating the Shariah. This responsibility is the greatest proof that every belief and practice of Islam must be taken from these noble personalities, and not from anyone else. They will be asked about the meaning and interpretation of the words of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him). Consider their opinions:
◈ Our Master Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him):
What significant deeds did the inheritors of Prophethood perform regarding the finality of Prophethood, and what was their belief about it? Read the decision of Sayyiduna Siddiq Akbar رضي الله عنه, which he made concerning Musaylimah the Liar and his followers. An army was sent towards Musaylimah, a battle took place, and eventually Musaylimah was killed. The decision to kill the false claimant of Prophethood was made by the consensus of the Companions; no Companion appeared to oppose this decision. Sayyiduna Wahshi bin Harb رضي الله عنه narrates:
خرج مسيلمة الكذاب، قلت : لأخرجن إلى مسيلمة، لعلي أقتله فأكافئ به حمزة، قال : فخرجت مع الناس، فكان من أمره ما كان، قال : فإذا رجل قائم فى ثلمة جدار كأنه جمل أورق ثائر الرأس، قال : فرميته بحربتي، فأضعها بين ثدييه حتى خرجت من بين كتفيه، قال : ووثب إليه رجل من الأنصار فضربه بالسيف على هامته .
"When the turmoil of Musaylimah the Liar intensified, the thought came to my heart that I should kill Musaylimah so that the burden of the killing of Sayyiduna Hamza رضي الله عنه would be lifted from my head. I joined the army fighting against him, and I saw a man standing in a crack of the wall, he was wheat-colored like a gray camel and his hair was disheveled. I pierced my spear through his chest, then an Ansari cut off his head with a sword."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4072)
Reflecting on this incident, it becomes clear that there is no room for disagreement on the belief in the finality of Prophethood, let alone the possibility of the coming of any prophet. After the collective interaction of the Companions, some sayings of the Companions are also narrated so that no ambiguity remains.
◈ Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه :
Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said in a sermon:
يا أيها الناس ، ألا إنا إنما كنا نعرفكم إذ بين ظهرانينا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، وإذ ينزل الوحي، وإذ ينبئنا الله من أخباركم، ألا وإن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قد انطلق وقد انقطع الوحي .
"O people! When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was present, we used to know your condition, because then revelation was being sent down and Allah would inform us about you. Beware! The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has passed away and the chain of revelation has been cut off."
Reference: (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 41/1 and its chain is Hasan)
Once he said:
إن أناسا كانوا يؤخذون بالوحي فى عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وإن الوحي قد انقطع .
"In the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, people were held accountable through revelation, but now the revelation has ceased."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2641)
◈ Sayyida Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها :
After the passing of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said to Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه:
انطلق بنا إلى أم أيمن نزورها، كما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يزورها، فلما انتهينا إليها بكت، فقالا لها : ما يبكيك؟ ما عند الله خير لرسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقالت : ما أبكي أن لا أكون أعلم أن ما عند الله خير لرسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولكن أبكي أن الوحي قد انقطع من السماء، فهيجتهما على البكاء، فجعلا يبكيان معها .
"Let us go to Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها, the Prophet ﷺ used to visit her as well. When they went to Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها, she began to cry. They asked: Why are you crying? What is with Allah is better for the Prophet ﷺ. She said: I know that what is with Allah is much better for the Prophet ﷺ, but I am crying because the revelation from the heavens has ceased." Upon hearing this, the eyes of Sayyiduna Umar and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنهما also became moist."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2454)
◈ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه says:
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آخر الأنبياء .
"Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the last Prophet."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1394)
◈ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه:
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه says:
لو بقي لكان نبيا ولكن لم يكن ليبقى لأن نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم آخر الأنبياء .
"If Ibrahim had lived, he would have been a prophet, but he was not meant to live, because you ﷺ are the Prophet of the Last Age."
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 135/3, chain of narration Hasan)
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abi Awfa رضي الله عنه:
Ismail bin Abi Khalid رحمه الله says that I asked Abdullah bin Abi Awfa رضي الله عنه:
رأيت إبراهيم بن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال : مات صغيرا، ولو قضي أن يكون بعد محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم نبي عاش ابنه، ولكن لا نبي بعده .
"Have you seen the son of the Prophet ﷺ, Ibrahim?" He said: "He died in childhood. If there had been any possibility of a prophet coming after the Noble Prophet ﷺ, then his son would have lived, but there is no prophet after you ﷺ."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6194, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1510, Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani: 6638, Tarikh Ibn Asakir 1353)
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنه:
He used to say:
"Choose good words in sending blessings, who knows, they might be presented to the Prophet ﷺ." People said: Teach us those words. He said: Then recite:
اللهم اجعل صلاتك، ورحمتك، وبركاتك على سيد المرسلين، وإمام المتقين، وخاتم النبيين، محمد عبدك ورسولك، إمام الخير، وقائد الخير، ورسول الرحمة، اللهم ابعثه مقاما محمودا، يغبطه به الأولون والآخرون، اللهم صل على محمد، وعلى آل محمد، كما صليت على إبراهيم، وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد، وعلى آل محمد، كما باركت على إبراهيم، وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد .
"O Allah! Send mercy and blessings upon the Chief of the Messengers, the Leader of the God-fearing, and the Seal of the Prophets, the noble Muhammad ﷺ, who is Your servant, Messenger, Leader of good, Commander of good, and Messenger of mercy. O Allah! Grant him the Praiseworthy Station, which the first and the last envy. O Allah! Bless Muhammad ﷺ and his family as You blessed Ibrahim (AS) and his family; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad ﷺ and his family as You blessed Ibrahim (AS) and his family; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah: 906, Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani: 115/9, Musnad Al-Shashi: 611, Al-Da'awat Al-Kabir by Al-Bayhaqi: 177 and its chain is authentic)
◈ Our Master Utbah bin Ghazwan (RA):
Sayyiduna Utbah bin Ghazwan رضي الله عنه said in the sermon:
إنها لم تكن نبوة قط إلا تناسخت
"The chain of prophethood has now ended."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2967)
