** The Last Prophet and Messenger**
There seems to be confusion amongst some people who think that the Muhammad (peace be upon him) is only the last Prophet but not the last messenger. They argue that the Quran only says that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Prophet (Surah 33, verse 40) but doesn’t say he is the last messenger. This is false, due to the fact that if the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Prophet then it automatically concludes that he is the last messenger.
Allama Ibn Kathir (died A.H. 774) writes in his well- known commentary, "Hence this verse is a clear proof of the fact that no prophet will come after Muhammad (PBUH) and when it is said that no prophet will come after him it is a foregone conclusion that no messenger will succeed him either, for the office of a messenger holds prominence over the office of a prophet. Every messenger is a prophet, but all prophets are not messengers. Any one who lays a claim to prophethood after Muhammad (PBUH) is a liar, a disruptionist, an imposter, depraved and a seducer despite his wonderous jugglery and magical feats. Any one who would make this claim in future till the end of the world belongs to this class. (Vol. 3, pp. 493-494)
Allama Alusi (died 1270 A.H.) in his commentary, Ruh-ul-Ma’ani, writes: “The word ‘Prophet’ is common, but the word ‘Messenger’ has a particular significance. Hence when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is called the ‘Seal of Prophets,’ it necessarily follows that he is also the ‘Seal of Messengers.’ The implication of the Holy Prophet’s position as ‘the Last of all Prophets and Messengers of God’ is that by his(PBUH) elevation to the dignity of Prophethood in this world, the same dignity has henceforth been abolished and no man can attain that dignity now.” (Vol. 22, p. 32)
Just in case someone tries to argue back that this is only the opinions of scholars and it holds no weight then the following authentic hadith will end the argument. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) affirmed: **“The chain of Messengers **and Prophets has come to an end. There shall be no Messenger nor Prophet after me.” (Sunan Al Tirmidhi, Kitab: ur-Rouya Bab: Zahab-un- Nubuwwa, Hadith No.2198, Source)
Re: THE LAST PROPHET AND MESSENGER
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of ALLAH and the Seal of the Prophets, and ALLAH has knowledge of everything". ( 33 : 40 ) Al-Quran.
Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w):
My position in relation to the Prophets who came before me, can be explained by the following example: A man erected a building and adorned this edifice with great beauty, but he left an empty niche, in the corner where just one brick was missing. People looked around the building and marveled at its beauty, but wondered why a brick was missing from that niche? I am like unto that one missing brick and I am the last in the line of the Prophets. (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirimzi, Masnad Ahmed, Abu Dawood)
ALLAH has bestowed upon me six favors which the former Prophets did not enjoy: I have been endowed with the gift of pithy and perfect speech; I was granted victory owing to my awe; The spoils of war were made lawful unto me; The whole earth has been made the place of worship for me and it has become the means of purification for me also. In other words, in my religion, offering of prayers is not confined to certain specified places of worship. Prayers can be offered at any place over the earth. And in case water is not available, it is lawful for my people to perform ablutions with earth (Tayammum) and to cleanse themselves with the soil, if water for bathing is scarce; I have been sent by ALLAH to carry His Divine message to the whole world; And the line of prophets has come to its final end in me. (Muslim, Tirimzi, Ibn-e-Majah)
I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am the effacer and infidelity shall be erased through me; I am the assembler. People shall be assembled on Doomsday after my time. And I am the last in the sense that no Prophet shall succeed me. (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirimzi, Mishkawt)
You (Hazrat Ali) are related to me as Haroon was related to Musa. But no Apostle will come after me.
(Bukhari, Muslim); Musnad recorded the similar Hadith ending in, "Behold there is no Prophethood after me".If ever there arose a person from among my people who would hold communion with ALLAH, it would be none else but Umar Bin Khattab. (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirimzi)
We are the last (Ummah) but will precede all on the Day of Resurrection except that the Book was given to them before us. (Bukhari, Muslim)
The tribe of Israel was guided by Prophets. When a Prophet passed away, another Prophet succeeded him. But no Prophet will come after me; only Caliphs will succeed me. (Bukhari)
I am the last in line of the Prophets of ALLAH and my Masjid is the last Masjid. (Muslim)
The chain of Messengers and Prophets has come to an end. There shall be no Messenger nor Prophet after me.
(Tirimzi, Masnad Ahmed)There will arise thirty impostors in my Ummah and each one of them will pronounce to the world that he is a Prophet, but I am the last in the line of the Prophets of ALLAH and no Prophet will come after me. (Abu Dawood, Tirmizi)
ALLAH will send no Apostle after me, but only Mubasshiraat (Good vision or pious vision). (Masnad Ahmed, Nisai, Abu Dawood
No Prophet will come after me and there will, therefore, be no other community of followers of any new Prophet. (Baihaqi, Tibrani
ALLAH has sent into the world no Apostle who did not warn his people about the appearance of Dajjal (Anti-Christ, but Dajjal did not appear in their time). I am the last in the line of Prophets and you are the last community of believers. Without doubt, then, Dajjal shall appear from amongst you. (Ibn-e-Majah
I am Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet of ALLAH. I am Muhammad, the unlettered prophet of ALLAH. I am Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet of ALLAH. There will be no Prophet after me. (Masnad Ahmed]
Re: THE LAST PROPHET AND MESSENGER
He(p.b.u.h) is the seal of the prophets' or in other words the last of the prophets', which means that no messenger not even a Prophet will be sent to carry out reforms in the sphere of law which might have been omitted. The phrase used in the place of is **seal of the prophets'** is **khatam Al Nabiyyin'. **In Arabic lexicon and linguistic usagekhatam' means to affix seal, to close, to come to an end, and to carry something to its ultimate end. For example
Khatam Al kitab means `the letter has been enclosed and sealed so that it is finally secured.
khatam 'ala al qaib means `The heart has been sealed so that it cannot percieve anything new nor can it forswear what it has already imbibed'
Khatam kulli Mashrubin means the final taste that is left in the mouth when the drink is over
Khatam-i-Qur'an means the closing verses of the Qur'an
Khatim ul Akhiruhum means
The last man in the tribe'The last in the line of the Prophets'
For all these reasons all linguistic commentators agree that khatam Al nabiyyin literally means
The dictionary meaning of the word `khatam' does not refer to the post office stamp which is afiixed on an outgoing stamp like SOME claim, but its literal meaning is the seal which put on the envelope to secure its contents.
Re: THE LAST PROPHET AND MESSENGER
Sunan Abu Dawud Book 37, Number 4310:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (pbuh) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (pbuh). He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognize him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizya. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him.