Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet and the last messenger. Hence neither any type of prophet nor messenger would come after him. This is the Muslim world’s belief. Even though, in the different phases of the history, someone appeared claiming themselves that each of them is a prophet or messenger (or both.) It is the fate of these kinds of people, to try to find proofs for their messenger-ship/ prophet-hood in the Quran and fail to prove it.
One of their proofs is the combination of Quran 3/81 and Quran 33/7. The Qadianis, Rashad Khalifa and Harun Yahya use this combination as the proof of their arguments, which we will discuss later.
These three sects are different in their stands on the finality of prophet-hood and messenger-ship. At first we examine the belief of the Qadianis : 1. Messenger and Prophet are two equal terms. 2. Muhammad is neither the last prophet nor the last messenger, in its general meaning. 3. But he is the last law-bringing prophet and messenger. 4. There is a chance to come prophet/s and messenger/s after Muhammad. 5. No new Scripture would be given after Quarn. 6. No new Law would be given after the law brought by Prophet Muhammad. 7. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian is a prophet and a messenger who came after Prophet Muhammad. 8. He is the Mahdi foretold by Prophet Muhammad. 9. He is also the Messiah foretold by the prophet Muhammad. 10. And they do not expect any prophet or messenger after Mirza. (Ref: Many books by Qadianis)Secondly, RK’s belief: 1. prophet and messenger are two different terms. 2. Prophet is a term for the Book-given. 3. All messengers do not bring books. 4. All prophets are messengers. 5. But all messengers are not prophets. 6. Muhammad is the last prophet. 7. No new Book would be given after Quarn. 8. Muhammad is not the last messenger. 9. There is a chance to come a messenger after Muhammad. 10. This messenger is foretold in the covenant in the Quran 3/81. 11. RK is that messenger of covenant. (http://www.submission.org/)Thirdly, HY’s belief: 1. prophet and messenger are two different terms. 2. Prophet is a term for the Book-given. 3. All messengers do not bring books. 4. All prophets are messengers. 5. But all messengers are not prophets. 6. Muhammad is the last prophet. 7. No new Book would be given after Quarn. 8. Muhammad is not the last messenger. 9. There is a chance to come a messenger after Muhammad. 10. This messenger is foretold in the covenant in the Quran 3/81. 11. The messenger foretold by Jesus (Quran 61/6) is also the same messenger. 12. The name of this messenger would be Ahmad (As it is in Quran 61/6). 13. The Mahdi predicted by Prophet Muhammad is also the same messenger. 14. The Mahdi would not claim that he is Mahdi and a messenger.HY writes: “One of the verses in the Qur’an pointing to the coming of Mahdi refers to “a messenger who will appear after Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
“Through this verse, Allah tells us that He has made a covenant with the prophets that they would believe in and help a messenger who will come after them:
“Remember when Allah made a covenant with the prophets: “Now that We have given you a share of the Book and Wisdom, and then a messenger comes to you confirming what is with you, you must believe in him and help him.” He asked, “Do you agree and undertake my commission on that condition?” They replied, “We agree.” He said, “Bear witness, then. I am with you as one of the witnesses.” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 81)
“The names of the prophets referred to in this verse, those reported to have made that covenant, are revealed in another verse:
“When We made a covenant with all the prophets—with you and with Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and ‘Isa son of Maryam—We made a binding covenant with them. (Surat al-Ahzab, 7)
“It is revealed in the verse that a covenant has been made with Prophets “Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus” and with “Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace),” as the term “with you” implies.“This revelation in the verse shows that “this messenger whose coming is described is not Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), but is a messenger who will come after the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” And Allah knows best. This messenger, whom Allah reveals will come after Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), may well be “Mahdi,” the glad tidings of whose coming are related also in the sayings of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). And Allah knows best.“The way that the messenger whose coming has been promised has also received a promise of assistance from Jesus (pbuh), as reported in verse 7 of Surat al-Ahzab, further reinforces this view. That is because as we know, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is reported in the hadith of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) as returning to Earth in the End Times and following and supporting Mahdi:
“And when Jesus son of Maryam said, “Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah which came before me and giving you the good news of a messenger after me whose name is Ahmad.” When he brought them the clear signs, they said, “This is downright magic.” (Surat as-Saff, 6)
“Prophet Jesus (pbuh) imparts the tidings that this messenger who will come after him will be called “Ahmad.” Examination of the Qur’an as a whole shows that those verses referring to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) either use the name “Muhammad” or else just the term “prophet.” Nowhere in the Qur’an is the name “Ahmad” used for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The name appears only once in the Qur’an, in a verse revealing the glad tidings of a messenger. This supports the idea that the name “Ahmad” refers to Mahdi who will come in the End Times, as well as our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). And Allah knows best. In addition, as in the previous verse, the fact that it is Prophet Jesus (pbuh) who imparts the name of the messenger is another piece of evidence reinforcing this interpretation.” (Pages 76, 77 The Mahdi a Discendant porphet Abraham [PBUH] can be downloaded from: http://api.fmanager.net/api_v1/xmlapi.php?dev-t=EDCRFV&with=mod=file,id=30805)
Now we can examine the arguments of these three in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah.The topic of the Quran 3/81 is a covenant of Allah with his prophets concerning the forthcoming of a messenger after them and the belief in him. Allah took this covenant from the prophets before Muhammad and enjoined all of them to believe in him. In this matter, all the Islamic scholars, ancient and modern are wonderfully unanimous. All prophets except Muhammad were sent to a particular nation, locality and time. The last coming prophet Muhammad has been sent to all nations, whole world and up to the end-time. So each and every nation has to believe in him. This wants to be understood by all of them and agreed up. The prophecy concerning Prophet Muhammad which found in the previous scriptures are reminders of this covenant. This is a Quranic verse which indicates the universality and uppermost position of Prophet Muhammad among all prophets. This verse was found by the three above mentioned fractions to misuse as a proof of their defective Risalah (messenger-ship) arguments.
If it was the message of this verse to indicate a messenger comes after Muhammad, this matter should have clearly stated by Islamic scholars including classical Mufassirs (Quran commentators.) and the Muslim world should have taught in the childhood lessons of their belief in the messenger-ship. They might have been expecting a messenger after Muhammad. But nothing happened like this in the history of Islam.
In this context, we have to examine their using of Quranic verse 33/7 to interpret the verse 3/81. And remember We took from the prophets their covenant as (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus the son of Mary: we took from them a solemn covenant. (Quran 33/7)
Quran did not clarify that the covenant taken from the five prophets including Muhammad is the same covenant told in the verse 3/81. Prophet Muhammad did not explain thus. And none of the renowned Mufassirs has this opinion. If Allah had taken only one covenant form his prophets which stated in verse 3/81 we would have to believe that the covenant told in the verse 33/7 is the same as in the verse 3/81. On the contrary, The Quran states that Allah took different covenants and pledges from prophets. It is the only chance, which one among these covenants is apposite to the context of this verse, it is the covenant meant here. When Allah enjoined Muhammad to marry the divorcee of his adopted son, he hesitated to do it by fearing the censure of the public. See the verses 37, 38 and 39 of the same Chapter (33). And some indications concerning this matter and as the reminders to the responsibility of the prophet can be seen in verses one to six of this chapter. And in the eighth verse, it was indicated that this covenant is in order to question the prophets about their responsibilities. If Allah reminds him a covenant in this context what would be it? Nothing other than which indicates the responsibility of the prophet to obey each and every orders of Allah without fear and hesitation. And it is unsuitable to the context to indicate a covenant which would be obeyed by his future followers concerning a messenger or prophet would come after him. What a weak support found by the false messengers and prophets and their spokesmen!
If it was supposed that the covenant in the verse 3/81 was taken from Muhammad too, it is sure that at least one messenger has to come after him, and the Muslims have to believe in him. At the same time, there is a chance of emerging false prophets / false messengers behind this covenant, so, there must be a clause to help us to be cautious against it. In the absence of this clause this covenant would be incomplete and causing trouble.
An attribute to the messenger in the verse is the only indication in this way. The indication helps to identify the one who would be sent is that مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ ‘confirming/fulfilling that which is with you’. What does it mean?
We have to search in the Quran for the answer: The Quran says that Prophet Muhammad is one who confirms and fulfills the former books. Concerning Jews and Christians the Quran says that Muhammad is the prophet and messenger written (predicted) in the Torah and the Gospel with them (See Quran 7/157) and they identified him as they identify their own children (See Quran 3/146). A messenger or prophet comes and fulfils prophesies in the Quran is to be believed by Muslims, and only he is the confirming the Book with us.
None can argue that the Quran contains prophesy concerning me or someone else, which helps Muslims to identify him as their own children. So, HY compelled to point out some portents of the last-day in the Quran, and even something other than this too as the portents of a messenger Mahdi. According to RK he is the messenger of the covenant in Quran 3/81. (See the foot note to 3/81 in his Quran translation and commentary and Appendix 2 to the same.) And his own finding on the so-called interlocking of the magical number 19 in the Quran is to prove this claim, and he claims that he was appointed by the God to reveal the magic of 19. If Allah proposed to do so He might have revealed it through the Quran itself or through Prophet Muhammad, especially the miracle of the Quran, which leads people to belief, is very important at all times.
According to RK the matter of miracle is different. By the experiment using his own formula of 19, he reached at the stage of questioning the reliability of the existing Quran. In his Quran translation he removed two verses (128 and 129) from the chapter 9, charging these two are inserted false verses. (See appendix 29 to his Quran translation. http://www.submission.org/Q-T.html ) There might be a chance of his being of an instrument in the hands of someone who wish to ruin the reliability of the Quran.
The name of Mahdi is not mentioned in the Quran, so there is no chance to search for his portents in it as do HY in his some works. Prophet Muhammad told that he is Muhammad and Ahmad.(Bukhari, Muslim) so, the Messenger Ahmad predicted by Jesus is none other than the Prophet Muhammad himself. This is the view of all classical Quran commentators. And name of Mahdi also would Ahmad or Muhammad, according to traditions.
Nabi and Rasul
Rasul (Messenger) and Nabi, (Prophet) are two words in the terminology of Islam. Muslim scholars discussed much on whether any difference in between these two or not. Some of them give Messengers a position above the Prophets. ‘All messengers are prophets, but all prophets are not messengers’ this is their formula. While some others give the prophets a position above the messengers, ‘All prophets are messengers, but all messengers are not prophets’, and this is their formula. But none of them could establish their arguments with clear-cut evidence.
RK and HY agree that Muhammad is the last prophet, but they agree him not as the last messenger. According to RK and HY only the new-book-given is a prophet, we have to examine this in the light of the Quran. It says: It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but truly righteous is he who believes in ALLAH, the Last Day, the angels, the Book and the Prophets, …… (2/177) while we read at 2/285: This Messenger of OURS (Muhammad) believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; all of them believe in ALLAH, in HIS angels, in HIS Books, and in HIS Messengers, …..In both verses Quran teach the main elements of belief in Islam, four elements are stated in the both quoted portions. 2/177 enjoins us to believe in the prophets as the fourth element, while 2/285 enjoins to believe in the messengers as the fourth. This clearly explains that these two terms bear the same meaning, one who sent by the Allah, with or without a new Book or Law.
All those who sent by Allah is not equal, some of them are more important. Quran says: These messengers have WE exalted some of them above others; among them there are those to whom ALLAH spoke and some of them HE exalted in degrees of rank and WE gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs and strengthened him with the spirit of holiness. (2/253)See one more verse: And thy Lord knows best those that are in the heavens and the earth. And WE exalted some of the Prophets over others and to David WE gave a Book. (17/55)
In these two verses Quran reveals the same thing. All of Allah’s prophets and messengers are not equal, but Allah exalted some of them above than others. This is not the matter I like to focus here. But in the first verse Quaran used the term messengers while in the second the term prophets, and states the same thing. In the first verse: Moses (to whom Allah spoke), and Jesus mentioned, both are book-given. While in the second verse David is mentioned, he also a book-given. In both verses Allah has shown examples for prophets as well as messengers only the book-givens. If the argument of RK and HY was correct, Allah should have not shown Moses and Jesus as the example for messengers.
The argument of RK and HY that is only the book-given can be called a prophet and others are only messengers cannot be proved by the Quran. Quran introducing messengers and says they are given books: It says: Verily, WE sent Our Messengers with manifest Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance that nation may act with justice; and WE sent down iron, wherein is material for violent warfare and diverse uses for mankind, and that ALLAH may know those who help HIM and HIS Messengers without having seen Him. Surely, ALLAH is Powerful, Mighty. (57/25)One more verse: And if they accuse thee of lying, even so were accused of lying Messengers before thee who came with clear Signs and Books of wisdom and the illuminating Book. (3/184)Here, messengers are introduced, as bringers of the Books.
Harun the brother of Prophet Moses also called a prophet, while he was not given any book by Allah. The Book Torah was given to Moses, not to Harun. In an article in his website RK questioned this view, by indicating Quran 37/117. And WE gave them (Moses and Harun) the Book that made everything clear; RK says that both Moses and Harun was given the book. But, those-who-given-book-to-them is a common term in the Quran, which points out the people of the Books. If we consider all the book-givens are prophets the number of prophets would be many billions. Really they have been not given books, but they are the followers of a book-given prophet and messenger. So the Quran can say ‘And WE gave them (Moses and Harun) the Book’, if it was not personally given to Harun too.
Quran says about the leaders of the Jews: Surely, WE sent down the Torah wherein guidance and light was. By it did the Prophets, who were obedient to US, judge for the Jews, as did the godly people and those learned in the Law, because they were required to preserve the Book of ALLAH, and because they were guardians over it. (5/47) Allah sent down the Torah, and then all prophets judged with it, and the Godly people and the learned also did so, and that is agreed by this verse here. So according to the argument of RK and HY a question arises that what did do all messengers came to that community? By what did they judge the people? According the view of RK and HY, messengers are more in number than prophets. Our answer is this: It is clear that the messengers and prophets are the same, so, Allah used only the word prophet here and meant all sent by Him.
Muhammad is the last as the prophet and the messenger
The Quran 33/40 states that Muhammad is the last prophet. See 17 different translation of the 33rd chapter of the Quran to the English at http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/33/, seven of the translators clearly state that the meaning of the Arabic term ‘Khaatham annabiyyin’ is ‘the last or final of all prophets’, while the others translate it as the ‘seal of the prophets. The most famous of them, Abdullah Yusuf Ali translated it into ‘the seal of the prophets’, then he commented it, the term means ‘the last of the prophets’. Rashad Kalifa is one among who translated ‘the last prophet, in his Quran translation. And HY also translated it in the same manner in one of his works. "… Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Final Seal of the Prophets." (Surat al-Ahzab: 40), the Prophet Muhammad (saas) was sent to mankind as the last prophet. (See introduction to ‘THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAAS))
The Qadianis agree neither this meaning nor this interpretation. They have their own interpretation that Muhammad is the seal of prophets, and prophets and messengers will come after him ‘bearing the seal of Muhammad’, but, without new books or new laws. If you ask them the proof thereof they do not answer you clearly from Quarn or Sunnah, but you may get explanations by their own logics. While all the classical commentators, such as Imams Ibn Katheer, Razi, Thabri, Qurtubi, Shaukani, and Zamakhshari etc. explained this term as equivalent to ‘the last and final of all prophets, and there would be no prophet or messenger after him till the destruction of this world’.
We came to know from the above mentioned facts that Muhammad is believed by all Muslims as the last prophet and the last messenger. And the prophet Muhammad himself clearly stated it as follows: My similitude in relation to the prophets who came before me like a man erected a building, adorned it and completed it, but he left the place of a brick vacant, in the corner. People looked around the building and marveled at its beauty, but wondered why a brick was missing? I am the brick and I am Khatham annabiyyin (the last of the Prophets.) (Bukhari, Ahmad) Please note that the term ‘Khatham annabiyyin’ in this tradition cannot be translated other than to ‘last of the prophets’.RK removed ‘Wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah’ the second part of the Kalimathu –sshahadah, and he does not believe in hadiths. But HY is a member of Ahlu ssunnah wal-jama’ah, a follower of Quarn and Hadiths. We can read about the finality of messenger-ship in Hadith: The Messenger-ship and Prophet-hood has come to an end. There shall be neither Messenger nor Prophet after me. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad)
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One of their proofs is the combination of Quran 3/81 and Quran 33/7. The Qadianis, Rashad Khalifa and Harun Yahya use this combination as the proof of their arguments, which we will discuss later.
These three sects are different in their stands on the finality of prophet-hood and messenger-ship. At first we examine the belief of the Qadianis : 1. Messenger and Prophet are two equal terms. 2. Muhammad is neither the last prophet nor the last messenger, in its general meaning. 3. But he is the last law-bringing prophet and messenger. 4. There is a chance to come prophet/s and messenger/s after Muhammad. 5. No new Scripture would be given after Quarn. 6. No new Law would be given after the law brought by Prophet Muhammad. 7. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian is a prophet and a messenger who came after Prophet Muhammad. 8. He is the Mahdi foretold by Prophet Muhammad. 9. He is also the Messiah foretold by the prophet Muhammad. 10. And they do not expect any prophet or messenger after Mirza. (Ref: Many books by Qadianis)Secondly, RK’s belief: 1. prophet and messenger are two different terms. 2. Prophet is a term for the Book-given. 3. All messengers do not bring books. 4. All prophets are messengers. 5. But all messengers are not prophets. 6. Muhammad is the last prophet. 7. No new Book would be given after Quarn. 8. Muhammad is not the last messenger. 9. There is a chance to come a messenger after Muhammad. 10. This messenger is foretold in the covenant in the Quran 3/81. 11. RK is that messenger of covenant. (http://www.submission.org/)Thirdly, HY’s belief: 1. prophet and messenger are two different terms. 2. Prophet is a term for the Book-given. 3. All messengers do not bring books. 4. All prophets are messengers. 5. But all messengers are not prophets. 6. Muhammad is the last prophet. 7. No new Book would be given after Quarn. 8. Muhammad is not the last messenger. 9. There is a chance to come a messenger after Muhammad. 10. This messenger is foretold in the covenant in the Quran 3/81. 11. The messenger foretold by Jesus (Quran 61/6) is also the same messenger. 12. The name of this messenger would be Ahmad (As it is in Quran 61/6). 13. The Mahdi predicted by Prophet Muhammad is also the same messenger. 14. The Mahdi would not claim that he is Mahdi and a messenger.HY writes: “One of the verses in the Qur’an pointing to the coming of Mahdi refers to “a messenger who will appear after Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
“Through this verse, Allah tells us that He has made a covenant with the prophets that they would believe in and help a messenger who will come after them:
“Remember when Allah made a covenant with the prophets: “Now that We have given you a share of the Book and Wisdom, and then a messenger comes to you confirming what is with you, you must believe in him and help him.” He asked, “Do you agree and undertake my commission on that condition?” They replied, “We agree.” He said, “Bear witness, then. I am with you as one of the witnesses.” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 81)
“The names of the prophets referred to in this verse, those reported to have made that covenant, are revealed in another verse:
“When We made a covenant with all the prophets—with you and with Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and ‘Isa son of Maryam—We made a binding covenant with them. (Surat al-Ahzab, 7)
“It is revealed in the verse that a covenant has been made with Prophets “Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus” and with “Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace),” as the term “with you” implies.“This revelation in the verse shows that “this messenger whose coming is described is not Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), but is a messenger who will come after the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” And Allah knows best. This messenger, whom Allah reveals will come after Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), may well be “Mahdi,” the glad tidings of whose coming are related also in the sayings of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). And Allah knows best.“The way that the messenger whose coming has been promised has also received a promise of assistance from Jesus (pbuh), as reported in verse 7 of Surat al-Ahzab, further reinforces this view. That is because as we know, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is reported in the hadith of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) as returning to Earth in the End Times and following and supporting Mahdi:
“And when Jesus son of Maryam said, “Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah which came before me and giving you the good news of a messenger after me whose name is Ahmad.” When he brought them the clear signs, they said, “This is downright magic.” (Surat as-Saff, 6)
“Prophet Jesus (pbuh) imparts the tidings that this messenger who will come after him will be called “Ahmad.” Examination of the Qur’an as a whole shows that those verses referring to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) either use the name “Muhammad” or else just the term “prophet.” Nowhere in the Qur’an is the name “Ahmad” used for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The name appears only once in the Qur’an, in a verse revealing the glad tidings of a messenger. This supports the idea that the name “Ahmad” refers to Mahdi who will come in the End Times, as well as our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). And Allah knows best. In addition, as in the previous verse, the fact that it is Prophet Jesus (pbuh) who imparts the name of the messenger is another piece of evidence reinforcing this interpretation.” (Pages 76, 77 The Mahdi a Discendant porphet Abraham [PBUH] can be downloaded from: http://api.fmanager.net/api_v1/xmlapi.php?dev-t=EDCRFV&with=mod=file,id=30805)
Now we can examine the arguments of these three in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah.The topic of the Quran 3/81 is a covenant of Allah with his prophets concerning the forthcoming of a messenger after them and the belief in him. Allah took this covenant from the prophets before Muhammad and enjoined all of them to believe in him. In this matter, all the Islamic scholars, ancient and modern are wonderfully unanimous. All prophets except Muhammad were sent to a particular nation, locality and time. The last coming prophet Muhammad has been sent to all nations, whole world and up to the end-time. So each and every nation has to believe in him. This wants to be understood by all of them and agreed up. The prophecy concerning Prophet Muhammad which found in the previous scriptures are reminders of this covenant. This is a Quranic verse which indicates the universality and uppermost position of Prophet Muhammad among all prophets. This verse was found by the three above mentioned fractions to misuse as a proof of their defective Risalah (messenger-ship) arguments.
If it was the message of this verse to indicate a messenger comes after Muhammad, this matter should have clearly stated by Islamic scholars including classical Mufassirs (Quran commentators.) and the Muslim world should have taught in the childhood lessons of their belief in the messenger-ship. They might have been expecting a messenger after Muhammad. But nothing happened like this in the history of Islam.
In this context, we have to examine their using of Quranic verse 33/7 to interpret the verse 3/81. And remember We took from the prophets their covenant as (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus the son of Mary: we took from them a solemn covenant. (Quran 33/7)
Quran did not clarify that the covenant taken from the five prophets including Muhammad is the same covenant told in the verse 3/81. Prophet Muhammad did not explain thus. And none of the renowned Mufassirs has this opinion. If Allah had taken only one covenant form his prophets which stated in verse 3/81 we would have to believe that the covenant told in the verse 33/7 is the same as in the verse 3/81. On the contrary, The Quran states that Allah took different covenants and pledges from prophets. It is the only chance, which one among these covenants is apposite to the context of this verse, it is the covenant meant here. When Allah enjoined Muhammad to marry the divorcee of his adopted son, he hesitated to do it by fearing the censure of the public. See the verses 37, 38 and 39 of the same Chapter (33). And some indications concerning this matter and as the reminders to the responsibility of the prophet can be seen in verses one to six of this chapter. And in the eighth verse, it was indicated that this covenant is in order to question the prophets about their responsibilities. If Allah reminds him a covenant in this context what would be it? Nothing other than which indicates the responsibility of the prophet to obey each and every orders of Allah without fear and hesitation. And it is unsuitable to the context to indicate a covenant which would be obeyed by his future followers concerning a messenger or prophet would come after him. What a weak support found by the false messengers and prophets and their spokesmen!
If it was supposed that the covenant in the verse 3/81 was taken from Muhammad too, it is sure that at least one messenger has to come after him, and the Muslims have to believe in him. At the same time, there is a chance of emerging false prophets / false messengers behind this covenant, so, there must be a clause to help us to be cautious against it. In the absence of this clause this covenant would be incomplete and causing trouble.
An attribute to the messenger in the verse is the only indication in this way. The indication helps to identify the one who would be sent is that مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ ‘confirming/fulfilling that which is with you’. What does it mean?
We have to search in the Quran for the answer: The Quran says that Prophet Muhammad is one who confirms and fulfills the former books. Concerning Jews and Christians the Quran says that Muhammad is the prophet and messenger written (predicted) in the Torah and the Gospel with them (See Quran 7/157) and they identified him as they identify their own children (See Quran 3/146). A messenger or prophet comes and fulfils prophesies in the Quran is to be believed by Muslims, and only he is the confirming the Book with us.
None can argue that the Quran contains prophesy concerning me or someone else, which helps Muslims to identify him as their own children. So, HY compelled to point out some portents of the last-day in the Quran, and even something other than this too as the portents of a messenger Mahdi. According to RK he is the messenger of the covenant in Quran 3/81. (See the foot note to 3/81 in his Quran translation and commentary and Appendix 2 to the same.) And his own finding on the so-called interlocking of the magical number 19 in the Quran is to prove this claim, and he claims that he was appointed by the God to reveal the magic of 19. If Allah proposed to do so He might have revealed it through the Quran itself or through Prophet Muhammad, especially the miracle of the Quran, which leads people to belief, is very important at all times.
According to RK the matter of miracle is different. By the experiment using his own formula of 19, he reached at the stage of questioning the reliability of the existing Quran. In his Quran translation he removed two verses (128 and 129) from the chapter 9, charging these two are inserted false verses. (See appendix 29 to his Quran translation. http://www.submission.org/Q-T.html ) There might be a chance of his being of an instrument in the hands of someone who wish to ruin the reliability of the Quran.
The name of Mahdi is not mentioned in the Quran, so there is no chance to search for his portents in it as do HY in his some works. Prophet Muhammad told that he is Muhammad and Ahmad.(Bukhari, Muslim) so, the Messenger Ahmad predicted by Jesus is none other than the Prophet Muhammad himself. This is the view of all classical Quran commentators. And name of Mahdi also would Ahmad or Muhammad, according to traditions.
Nabi and Rasul
Rasul (Messenger) and Nabi, (Prophet) are two words in the terminology of Islam. Muslim scholars discussed much on whether any difference in between these two or not. Some of them give Messengers a position above the Prophets. ‘All messengers are prophets, but all prophets are not messengers’ this is their formula. While some others give the prophets a position above the messengers, ‘All prophets are messengers, but all messengers are not prophets’, and this is their formula. But none of them could establish their arguments with clear-cut evidence.
RK and HY agree that Muhammad is the last prophet, but they agree him not as the last messenger. According to RK and HY only the new-book-given is a prophet, we have to examine this in the light of the Quran. It says: It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but truly righteous is he who believes in ALLAH, the Last Day, the angels, the Book and the Prophets, …… (2/177) while we read at 2/285: This Messenger of OURS (Muhammad) believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; all of them believe in ALLAH, in HIS angels, in HIS Books, and in HIS Messengers, …..In both verses Quran teach the main elements of belief in Islam, four elements are stated in the both quoted portions. 2/177 enjoins us to believe in the prophets as the fourth element, while 2/285 enjoins to believe in the messengers as the fourth. This clearly explains that these two terms bear the same meaning, one who sent by the Allah, with or without a new Book or Law.
All those who sent by Allah is not equal, some of them are more important. Quran says: These messengers have WE exalted some of them above others; among them there are those to whom ALLAH spoke and some of them HE exalted in degrees of rank and WE gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs and strengthened him with the spirit of holiness. (2/253)See one more verse: And thy Lord knows best those that are in the heavens and the earth. And WE exalted some of the Prophets over others and to David WE gave a Book. (17/55)
In these two verses Quran reveals the same thing. All of Allah’s prophets and messengers are not equal, but Allah exalted some of them above than others. This is not the matter I like to focus here. But in the first verse Quaran used the term messengers while in the second the term prophets, and states the same thing. In the first verse: Moses (to whom Allah spoke), and Jesus mentioned, both are book-given. While in the second verse David is mentioned, he also a book-given. In both verses Allah has shown examples for prophets as well as messengers only the book-givens. If the argument of RK and HY was correct, Allah should have not shown Moses and Jesus as the example for messengers.
The argument of RK and HY that is only the book-given can be called a prophet and others are only messengers cannot be proved by the Quran. Quran introducing messengers and says they are given books: It says: Verily, WE sent Our Messengers with manifest Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance that nation may act with justice; and WE sent down iron, wherein is material for violent warfare and diverse uses for mankind, and that ALLAH may know those who help HIM and HIS Messengers without having seen Him. Surely, ALLAH is Powerful, Mighty. (57/25)One more verse: And if they accuse thee of lying, even so were accused of lying Messengers before thee who came with clear Signs and Books of wisdom and the illuminating Book. (3/184)Here, messengers are introduced, as bringers of the Books.
Harun the brother of Prophet Moses also called a prophet, while he was not given any book by Allah. The Book Torah was given to Moses, not to Harun. In an article in his website RK questioned this view, by indicating Quran 37/117. And WE gave them (Moses and Harun) the Book that made everything clear; RK says that both Moses and Harun was given the book. But, those-who-given-book-to-them is a common term in the Quran, which points out the people of the Books. If we consider all the book-givens are prophets the number of prophets would be many billions. Really they have been not given books, but they are the followers of a book-given prophet and messenger. So the Quran can say ‘And WE gave them (Moses and Harun) the Book’, if it was not personally given to Harun too.
Quran says about the leaders of the Jews: Surely, WE sent down the Torah wherein guidance and light was. By it did the Prophets, who were obedient to US, judge for the Jews, as did the godly people and those learned in the Law, because they were required to preserve the Book of ALLAH, and because they were guardians over it. (5/47) Allah sent down the Torah, and then all prophets judged with it, and the Godly people and the learned also did so, and that is agreed by this verse here. So according to the argument of RK and HY a question arises that what did do all messengers came to that community? By what did they judge the people? According the view of RK and HY, messengers are more in number than prophets. Our answer is this: It is clear that the messengers and prophets are the same, so, Allah used only the word prophet here and meant all sent by Him.
Muhammad is the last as the prophet and the messenger
The Quran 33/40 states that Muhammad is the last prophet. See 17 different translation of the 33rd chapter of the Quran to the English at http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/33/, seven of the translators clearly state that the meaning of the Arabic term ‘Khaatham annabiyyin’ is ‘the last or final of all prophets’, while the others translate it as the ‘seal of the prophets. The most famous of them, Abdullah Yusuf Ali translated it into ‘the seal of the prophets’, then he commented it, the term means ‘the last of the prophets’. Rashad Kalifa is one among who translated ‘the last prophet, in his Quran translation. And HY also translated it in the same manner in one of his works. "… Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Final Seal of the Prophets." (Surat al-Ahzab: 40), the Prophet Muhammad (saas) was sent to mankind as the last prophet. (See introduction to ‘THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAAS))
The Qadianis agree neither this meaning nor this interpretation. They have their own interpretation that Muhammad is the seal of prophets, and prophets and messengers will come after him ‘bearing the seal of Muhammad’, but, without new books or new laws. If you ask them the proof thereof they do not answer you clearly from Quarn or Sunnah, but you may get explanations by their own logics. While all the classical commentators, such as Imams Ibn Katheer, Razi, Thabri, Qurtubi, Shaukani, and Zamakhshari etc. explained this term as equivalent to ‘the last and final of all prophets, and there would be no prophet or messenger after him till the destruction of this world’.
We came to know from the above mentioned facts that Muhammad is believed by all Muslims as the last prophet and the last messenger. And the prophet Muhammad himself clearly stated it as follows: My similitude in relation to the prophets who came before me like a man erected a building, adorned it and completed it, but he left the place of a brick vacant, in the corner. People looked around the building and marveled at its beauty, but wondered why a brick was missing? I am the brick and I am Khatham annabiyyin (the last of the Prophets.) (Bukhari, Ahmad) Please note that the term ‘Khatham annabiyyin’ in this tradition cannot be translated other than to ‘last of the prophets’.RK removed ‘Wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah’ the second part of the Kalimathu –sshahadah, and he does not believe in hadiths. But HY is a member of Ahlu ssunnah wal-jama’ah, a follower of Quarn and Hadiths. We can read about the finality of messenger-ship in Hadith: The Messenger-ship and Prophet-hood has come to an end. There shall be neither Messenger nor Prophet after me. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad)
Sallallahu ‘ala Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi va sallam
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