THE TRADITIONS:
I shall now deal with Hadith (Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) on this subject. The Holy ProphetSAW said to Ali Ibn Abi Talibra:
"You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that *Laa Nabiyya Ba'adi".
(Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Mishkat)
The last words are translated as: there is no prophet after me. On the basis of these words it is contended that if it were really possible for anyone to become a prophet, no one could have been more deserving than Hadhrat Alira, who was not only a near relation of but succeeded the Holy ProphetSAW as the 4th Khalifa. The words were uttered when the Holy ProphetSAW was going to Tabook and appointed Hadhrat Alira as the Ameer at Medina after him. Hadhrat Alira was desirous of participating in the battle and did not wish to stay behind. The Holy ProphetSAW, therefore, reminded Hadhrat Alira of the importance of his work by referring to Hadhrat Aaronas who was appointed Ameer of the Israelites when Mosesas went to Mount Sinai. Hadhrat Aaronas was the brother of Hadhrat Mosesas and a prophet of God. Hadhrat Alira was a cousin but not a prophet. The Holy ProphetSAW could not be blunt but he must not be misunderstood in such matters. Therefore, he added that he was not leaving a prophet behind him. The word Ba'ad means behind. (see Lane's Lexicon Book I, p. 225)
The context shows that the idea was to tell Alira that he was being left behind like Hadhrat Aaronas but he was not a prophet. The words cannot refer to any remote future. They were used and meant for that particular occasion. The word Ba'ad is often used in this sense. In verse 7:149 of the Quran this word is translated by Pickhall as `after I had left you'. The word Ba'ad is also used in the sense of Ma'a, i.e., with. (Lane's Lexicon Book I, p. 225) In this sense the sentence La Nabiyya Ba'adee would mean that there was no prophet with him.
It is curious to note that in the Shia traditions the words used are Laisa Ma'ee Nabiyyun, i.e., there is no prophet with me (Amalee). In other traditions the words reported are quite clear. The Holy ProphetSAW added "except that thou art not a prophet". (Tabaqati Kabeer, Vol. V., p. 15) There is another tradition which is very clear: "Dost thou not desire to be what Aaron was to Moses except that thou art not a prophet". (Biharul Anwar, Kitabul Manaqib, Vol. 9, Iran) Taking the word Ba'ad to mean after, we can interpret the sentence in another way. If we go into the idiom of language we find that the words are not to be taken in their literal sense. There is another tradition where the Holy ProphetSAW says: "When Chosroe dies there will be no Chosroe after him, and when Kaiser dies there will be no Kaiser after him." (Bukhari, Vol. IV, p. 91, Egypt) This is explained in Faithful Bari, Vol. VI as follows: "No Chosroe will administer the affairs of State as well as this Chosroe has done." Obviously it cannot mean that there will be no king after the Chosroe or Kaiser.
Muhyuddin Ibn Arabi interprets La Nabiyya Ba'adi by saying that there shall be no prophet who will cancel or go against the Islamic law of Hadhrat Muhammad SAW. (Fotoohati Makkiya Vol. I, p. 569; Vol. II, pp. 3, 64, 417)
Imam Muhammad Tahir Gujrati also says the same thing. (Takmala Majmaul Bihar, p. 85) Imam Sha'arani also interprets these words in the same way. (Al-Yawaqeet Wal Jawahir, Vol. II, p. 22)
Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan states the same. (Iqtarabus Sa'a, p. 162)
Hazrat Ayeshara, whose position is well known, says: "Say he is the Seal of the Prophets but do not say that there is no prophet after him". (Takmala Majmaul Bihar, p. 88) Imam Soyooti writes that Mogheera also expressed the same opinion. (Durri Mansoor) The other Hadith brought forward is:
Lau Kaana Ba'adi Nabiyyeen Lakaana Umaro.
"If there were a prophet after me, it would have been Umar."
The word Ba'ad as stated earlier also means with', and there is nothing here which should confine its meaning toafter'. Therefore, the tradition should be translated as: "If there were a prophet with me it would have been Umar." In another tradition, the Holy ProphetSAW says: "If I were not raised it would have been you, O Umar." (Mirqat, Vol. V, p. 539) Another saying is: "If I was not raised, Umar would have been raised among you." (, p. 103) These traditions would only show that Umarra had an aptitude for a prophet, like Hadhrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) who brought the Islamic law. Therefore, the Hadith in question would mean that if a prophet were to bring a new law, it could have been Umarra. It cannot mean that there can be no prophet after Hadhrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him). In another tradition, the Holy ProphetSAW clearly implies the opposite. He says: "If Ibrahim (his son) had lived, he would have been a Prophet." (Ibn Maja, Vol. I, p. 237)
He could not say this if it were absolutely impossible for anyone to become a prophet. This shows clearly that the Holy Prophet was clear in mind as to the continuity of prophethood after him. Another tradition points to the same effect when he says: "Abu Bakr is best of men after me except a prophet should appear." (Kanzul Ummal)
The next Hadith that is brought forward is: "I am Aqib and he is one after whom there is no prophet." (Tirmidhi) The authenticity of this Hadith is very much questioned. Mulla Ali Qari, who is a recognized critic of Hadith, definitely declares that the last portion of this Hadith is spurious. He says it appears to be the interpretation put upon the word Aqib by some reporter. (Mirqat, Vol. V, p. 367)
The next Hadith in support of this belief is: "I am the last of the Prophets and you are the last of peoples." (Muslim) The meaning of this is explained by another Hadith which runs as follows: "and my mosque is the last mosque." (Muslim, Kitabul Haj Fazlis Salat, p. 531) It is clear that the Holy Prophet did not mean that there was to be no prophet after him, otherwise we shall have to conclude that he did not want the Muslims to build any other mosques. Obviously, what he means is that the religion brought by him is perfect and no one can cancel or modify it after him.
The use of the word Akhir (last) in this sense is quite common in the Arabic language. Imam Soyooti calls Ibn Taimiyya as the last of Mujtahideen (original thinkers and Jurists). (Al-Intibah Wan Nazir, Vol. III, p. 310, Hyderbad) An Arab poet uses the word Akhir (last) in the sense of perfect and unique, in Himasa, Babul Adab.
It is clear from the foregoing that it is not Ahmadies alone who are interpreting the expression Khataman Nabiyyeen (Seal of Prophets) in a manner allowing the appearance of a prophet after the Holy ProphetSAW, who does not bring any new Shariah (Law) and does not attain prophethood independently but through complete obedience to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him). Even recognized Muslim saints of different countries, ages, and clines, and even the Holy Prophet himself, have understood the expression in the like manner.
The Ahmadiyya belief, beyond any shadow of doubt, is par excellence that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) is Khataman Nabiyyeen, i.e., the Seal of the Prophets. In him the excellences of prophethood have reached their perfection and therefore, the door to receiving prophethood independently is closed since his appointment to this office. Henceforth, every kind of Grace is attainable only through serving him.
His advent, thus has not closed the stream of Divine Grace but its course has been channelized through his person which is now, so to say, the new Headwork. A prophet, henceforth, shall appear only through allegiance to him, by receiving light from his light and as his shadow and reflection, and not otherwise. Hence, "all prophethood except Muhammadan prophethood has ended. No law-giving prophet shall ever come, and a prophet without law may, but only such as is primarily a follower of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him). I am both a follower and a Prophet." (Tajalliyate Ilahiyya by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, pp. 24-25)