The Belief in the Finality of Prophethood and Its Importance
Allah, the Almighty, sent approximately 124,000 prophets for the guidance of humanity, starting from Prophet Adam (علَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and culminating in the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). With the advent of Prophet Muhammad, prophethood came to an end, and he is regarded as the last of the prophets. No prophet will be sent after him. This belief is known in Islamic jurisprudence as the belief in the finality of prophethood.
The belief in the finality of prophethood is one of the fundamental and essential beliefs of Islam. Without faith in this belief, one cannot be considered a Muslim. If this belief is compromised, a person’s faith is nullified. Therefore, Allah has made the belief in the finality of prophethood an essential part of faith in the Qur’an, alongside beliefs in monotheism, prophethood, the Day of Judgment, and resurrection.
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ToggleThe Qur’an and the Belief in the Finality of Prophethood
When viewed as revelation, the entire Qur’an stands as proof of Prophet Muhammad’s finality of prophethood. This is because the Qur’an is the final revelation, and after its revelation, the door to new revelations was permanently closed. If there were to be another prophet after Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the door to revelation would not have been closed, as revelation is a characteristic of prophethood. This proves the truth of the belief in the finality of prophethood, supported by the initial verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, which states:
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ٤
and who believe in what has been revealed to you and what has been revealed before you; and they have faith in the Hereafter. (2:4)
This verse makes it mandatory to believe in the revelation sent to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the previous revelations. If new revelations were possible after Prophet Muhammad, belief in them would also be necessary. Since the verse only mentions belief in the revelations before and during Prophet Muhammad’s time, it indicates that the series of revelations ended with him. As Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said:
انقطع الوحي وتم الدين
Revelation has ceased and the religion is complete.
Belief in the cessation of revelation after the Qur’an and the completion of the religion is a core part of our faith. Contrary beliefs are considered disbelief. Imam Ibn Hajar Makkī (رحمة الله عليه) wrote in his fatwas:
“Anyone who believes in the continuation of revelation after Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is, by the consensus of Muslims, a disbeliever.”
Universality of Prophethood
There is no need for any new revelation or prophet until the Day of Judgment, as the existing revelation is deemed sufficient for all times. This is because the revelation is meant for the guidance of people until the end of time, as stated by Allah:
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٥٢
And it is nothing else but a Reminder for all the worlds. (68:52)
That is why people are commanded to follow the Qur’an until the end of time. Allah says:
ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٣
(O humankind,) follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any masters other than Him. Little you heed to advice! (7:3)
Scope of Prophethood
The scope of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood indicates that he is the final prophet. Allah has described the extent of his prophethood in several places in the Qur’an. For example, in Surah Al-A’raf:
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ١٥٨
(O Prophet Muhammad) Say, “O people, I am a messenger of Allah (sent) to you from the One to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and brings death. So, believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Ummiyy (unlettered) prophet, who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him, so that you may find the right path.” (7:158)
Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (رحمة الله عليه) commented on this verse:
هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ مَبْعُوثُ إِلَى جَمِيعِ خلق الله
This verse indicates that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent to all of creation.
In Surah Al-Ahzab, Allah specifically names Prophet Muhammad and declares him the final prophet:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا ٤٠
MuHammad is not a father of any of your men, but he is a messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets. And Allah has the Knowledge of every thing. (33:40)
Belief in the Finality of Prophethood in Hadith
We can cite five hadiths about the belief in the finality of prophethood:
1. Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مَثَلِى وَمَثَلَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى بَيْتًا فَأَحْسَنَهُ وَأَجْمَلَهُ، إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ مِنْ زَاوِيَةٍ، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَطُوفُونَ بِهِ، وَيَعْجَبُونَ لَهُ، وَيَقُولُونَ هَلَّا وُضِعَتْ هَذِهِ اللَّبِنَةُ ؟ قَالَ: فَأَنَا اللَّبِنَةُ وَأَنَا خَاتِمُ النَّبِيِّينَ .
The example of me and the prophets before me is like a man who built a house and made it beautiful and complete, except for a single brick in a corner. People would walk around it, marveling at it, and say, ‘Why was this brick not placed?’ I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
2. Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) also narrated:
نَحْنُ الْآخِرُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَنَحْنُ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ، بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِنَا، وَأُوتِينَاهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ.
We are the last (or final) ones on the Day of Judgment, but we will be the first to enter Paradise. The previous nations were given their scriptures before us, and we were given ours after them.
3. He also narrated:
كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ، كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيُّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِيُّ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِى، وَسَيَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ فَيَكْفُرُونَ» قَالُوا: فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا ؟ قَالَ: «اوفُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الأَوَّلِ فَالأَوَّلِ، أَعْطُوهُمْ حَقَهُمْ ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّا اسْتَرْعَاهُمْ . الصحیح المسلم
The Children of Israel were governed by their prophets. Whenever a prophet died, another would succeed him. There is no prophet after me, but there will be many successors (caliphs). (Sahih Muslim)
4. Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهَاتَيْنِ ۔
I was sent with the Hour like these two (indicating with his two fingers).
5. Jabir bin Mut’im (رضي الله عنه) reported:
أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، وَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ، وَأَنَا الْمَاحِي الَّذِي يُمْحَى بِيَ الْكُفْرُ، وَأَنَا الْحاشِرُ الَّذِي يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَقِبی، وَأَنَا الْعَاقِبُ وَالْعَاقِبُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ نَبِيٌّ –
I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am Al-Mahi by whom Allah will erase disbelief, I am Al-Hashir by whom people will be gathered on the Day of Judgment, and I am Al-Aqib, the last prophet.”
The belief in the finality of prophethood is a universally agreed, foundational, and critical belief in Islam. The entire structure of Islam rests on this belief. It is such a sensitive belief that any doubt or deviation can result in a loss of faith and exclusion from the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). After Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), there will be no new prophet, be it legislative, non-legislative, shadow, or incarnate. Anyone who claims to be a prophet after him is considered a disbeliever, apostate, heretic, and must be punished.