The Belief in the Finality of Prophethood in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
The Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ) have clearly stated the belief in the Finality of Prophethood, categorically denying the possibility of any prophet being sent after the Seal of the Prophets (ﷺ). In this regard, the first verse that is often referred to is the following, which is known as the Verse of the Finality of Prophethood.
Verse of the Finality of Prophethood
Translation Muhammad (ﷺ) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets, and Allah is All-Aware of everything. This sacred verse is a definitive text and a clear proof in this chapter, which explicitly presents the Messenger of Allah as the final prophet and the seal of the prophets. The first part of the verse indicates that Muhammad (ﷺ) had no male offspring. This is significant in the context of the concept of the finality of prophethood, as in previous times, the lineage of prophets continued through their progeny. Since the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) had no male descendants, how could the line of prophethood continue? Thus, the absence of male offspring subtly implies that he is the Seal of the Prophets. The verse of the finality of prophethood makes this issue clear and evident. However, the Holy Quran does not stop there; the Lord of the Worlds has clearly expressed this grand theme at several places in His Book, under different titles. The theme may vary, but the concept remains established and clear. Another verse, in Surah Al-Fath, states:
Translation Allah is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might make it prevail over all religions, even though the polytheists may detest it. Allah’s testimony is sufficient.
This verse describes the dominance of the religion of Muhammad (ﷺ) over all other religions and faiths. If we assume that another prophet was to be sent, he would bring a separate religion, which would also be the truth, as a prophet always brings the true religion. In that case, what would be the meaning of the dominance of the religion of Muhammad (ﷺ) over that prophet’s religion? Such an interpretation is not applicable here. This brings us to the issue of the finality of prophethood. The dominance of Muhammad’s (ﷺ) religion implies that no other religion will be established, nor will it be possible to achieve divine pleasure and blessings except through adherence to it. Since this is the case, what would be the benefit of sending another prophet? In other words, prophethood ended with Muhammad (ﷺ), and after him, the advent of any other prophet is not possible until the Day of Judgment. The phrase ‘And sufficient is Allah as a Witness’ further illuminates this matter, meaning the testimony of the Book of Allah, i.e., the preservation of the Holy Quran until the Day of Judgment, is a clear proof that after the bearer of this Book, there will be no need for another prophet, as the guidance of this Book is everlasting.
In the Light of Hadith
The belief in the finality of prophethood is present in the Hadith just as it is in the Quran. It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “My example and the example of the prophets before me is like a person who built a house and adorned it beautifully, but left a place for one brick in a corner. People started to wander around it and wondered at its beauty, asking why this brick was not placed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘I am that last brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets.’ In another hadith, it is narrated from Hazrat Jubair bin Mut’im (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘I am Muhammad and Ahmad. I am Al-Mahi, meaning Allah will erase disbelief through me. I am Al-Aqib, and Al-Aqib is he after whom there is no prophet.
In the light of the consensus of the Ummah
After the Book (Quran) and Sunnah, the consensus (Ijma) of the Ummah is also a strong evidence. When it is considered, it becomes clear that there has always been a consensus among the entire Ummah, from the Companions to the present time, that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final Prophet of Allah, and after the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), there can be no emergence of any new prophets until the Day of Judgment. Allama Ibn Hajar Makki writes in his Fatwa, ‘Anyone who holds the belief in revelation after Muhammad (ﷺ) will be declared a disbeliever without the consensus of the Muslims.’
In light of the verses of the Quran, Hadiths, and this consensus, it is as clear as the sun at midday that the leader of all prophets, the seal of the prophets, is Muhammad (ﷺ), and no prophet will come after him until the Day of Judgment. Whoever denies or doubts this is certainly outside the fold of Islam and the Muslim community. Those who claimed or will claim prophethood after the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), whether they veil their false claims with terms like ‘shadowy and partial prophethood’ or claim to be real prophets, in both cases, they will be deemed as liars, disbelievers, apostates, and outside the fold of Islam, and will be among the evident enemies. In the hereafter, they will have no abode other than Hell, as is the case of Musailamah the Liar mentioned in history, and more recently Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani. Their being disbelievers, apostates, and liars is an absolute and certain matter, leaving no room for doubt or suspicion. In addition to the verses and Hadiths mentioned, there are numerous other verses and Hadiths that clearly support this unanimously agreed-upon belief of the Muslim Ummah. As the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said in a Hadith, ‘If there were to be a prophet after me, it would have been Umar (رضي الله عنه), but we suffice with the fact that for a seeker of truth, this is quite enough.’ May Allah Almighty protect the entire Muslim Ummah from the deceptions of the Qadiani fabricators and enrich us with the zeal for the religion and the honor of Islam.
