The Characteristics of the Messenger, the Seal of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ)

Allah Almighty chose His distinguished servants for the guidance and direction of His people. These special individuals were called Prophets and Messengers. The first human and the first Prophet was Prophet Adam (عليه السلام). In every era, every age, and among every nation, the Prophets and Messengers of Allah continued to be sent. As stated in the Noble Qur’an:

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولٌۭ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ٤٧

For every people there is a messenger. So, when their messenger comes, the matter is decided between them with justice, and they are not wronged. (10:47)

And for every nation, a messenger was sent.

إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا ۚ وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌۭ ٢٤

Surely We have sent you with truth as a bearer of good news and as a warner, and there was no community without a warner having passed among them. (35:24)

In the end, our beloved Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ) appeared. The chain of prophethood concluded with him. All the perfections and virtues that Allah Almighty had granted to the previous noble prophets were also gathered in the sacred person of the Last Prophet (ﷺ).

A famous couplet by the renowned Sufi poet Hazrat Amir Minai goes:

“Husn-e-Yusuf, dam-e-Isa, yad-e-Bayza dari
Aanche khooban hama darand, to tanha dari”

This couplet is in Persian, and its meaning is:

“The beauty that was granted to Prophet Yusuf (عليه السلام), the miraculous breath of Prophet Isa (عليه السلام), and the radiant hand of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام)—all these qualities, which were dispersed among many, are found united in you alone.”

The unique characteristics of the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) are as follows:

(1) Universal Prophethood (Internationalism)

Before the Seal of the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ), the prophets and messengers who were sent came for specific nations, specific regions, and different eras. In fact, one could say that each tribe had its own prophet. Thus, at the same time, multiple prophets could be appointed. However, the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) is universal and for all humanity until the Day of Judgment.

Allah Almighty states:

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)

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٠٧

And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds. (21:107)

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةًۭ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٢٨

We did not send you (O prophet,) but to the entire mankind, as a bearer of good news and as a warner, but most people do not know. (34:28)

The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا سَيَّارٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ صُهَيْبٍ الْفَقِيرُ ـ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا، فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْمَغَانِمُ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي، وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me. -1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey. -2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due. -3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me. -4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection). -5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind. (Sahih al-Bukhari 335)

The distinct and unparalleled attribute of the Final Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ), is clearly manifest before us: today, there is no region on the face of the earth where Muslims are not present. There is hardly any institution of communication or publication in the world from which the mention of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is not elevated.

(2) Abrogation of Previous Divine Laws

Allah the Exalted has declared:

۞ مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ءَايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍۢ مِّنْهَآ أَوْ مِثْلِهَآ ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ ١٠٦

Whenever We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or one equal to it. Do you not know that Allah is powerful over everything? (2:106)

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمِ دِينًۭا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٨٥

Whoever seeks a faith other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. (3:85)

According to the instructions of the Noble Qur’an, at the time of the arrival of Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ), none of the previous divine laws (Shari’ahs) truly remained in their original form. And even if anyone claims their existence in a distorted form, they too are abrogated. The eras of the Shari’ahs of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) and Prophet ‘Isa (عليه السلام) had come to an end. Now it is the era of the Shari’ah of Muhammad (ﷺ) and the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ). Whoever professes the Kalimah of Tawheed becomes a Muslim, and whoever denies it is a disbeliever. The success and salvation of all humanity now depend solely on adherence to the Shari’ah of Muhammad (ﷺ).

(3) The Completion of Religion

The religion of Islam began with Prophet Adam (عليه السلام), and it was perfected with the arrival of the Seal of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ). The complete religion granted to him is sufficient for the guidance of all mankind.

Allah the Exalted says:

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَـٰمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ۗ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍۢ لِّإِثْمٍۢ ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٣

Prohibited for you are: carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and those upon which (a name) other than that of Allah has been invoked (at the time of slaughter), animal killed by strangulation, or killed by a blow, or by a fall, or by goring, or that which is eaten by a beast unless you have properly slaughtered it; and that which has been slaughtered before the idols, and that you determine shares through the arrows. (All of) this is sin. Today those who disbelieve have lost all hope of (damaging) your faith. So, do not fear them, and fear Me. Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as Dīn (religion and a way of life) for you. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger, having no inclination towards sin, then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful. (5:3)

(4) Protection of the Book

Regarding the protection and preservation of this Book (the Noble Qur’an), Allah the Exalted has stated:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ ٩

We, Ourselves, have sent down the Dhikr (the Qur’ān), and We are there to protect it. (15:9)

It is evident from the above verse that the Holy Qur’an is a book whose protection Allah Almighty Himself has taken upon His own responsibility—an undeniable, living proof of which lies before us today. The previous divine scriptures had already fallen prey to tampering, alterations, and distortions. Both the wording and meanings of those earlier scriptures were changed to such an extent that false and fabricated beliefs overwhelmed the original teachings, making it not just difficult but absolutely impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Allah Almighty arranged the protection of this Book in the following ways:

1. The method of its revelation itself guaranteed its preservation.

2. The method of its memorization and transmission.

3. The recitation of the Qur’an.

4. The vast number of Huffaz (memorizers) of the Qur’an.

5. Its recitation in prayers.

6. Teaching and learning the Qur’an is a foremost duty of Muslims.

7. The disciplines of Qur’anic recitation (Qira’ah) and pronunciation (Tajweed) are well-established sciences.

8. Its wide-scale publication.

9. The science of Tafsir (exegesis), whose door shall remain open until the Day of Judgment.

As the poet beautifully said:

Why should Islam not be distinct among the world’s religions?
There, religion is in books—here, the Qur’an lives in hearts.

5. The Preservation of the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Since the Sunnah is the explanation of the Holy Qur’an, it remains a source of guidance for all of humanity until the Day of Resurrection. This is why Allah Almighty made elaborate arrangements for the preservation of the Sunnah alongside the Qur’an. It has not only been preserved in written form, but it is also the remarkable and unparalleled achievement of the Muslim Ummah that it has modeled itself upon the entire blessed life of its guide and Messenger (ﷺ). Such a practical embodiment is not found in any other civilization.

(1) The blessed verse states:

وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ ٤

and We raised high your name. (94:4)

(2) It is stated in the blessed Hadith

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا شَيْئًا فَبَلَّغَهُ كَمَا سَمِعَ فَرُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أَوْعَى مِنْ سَامِعٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

Narrated Simak bin Hard: “I heard ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud narrating from his father who said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: ‘May Allah gladden a man who hears something from us, so he conveys it as he heard it. Perhaps the one it is conveyed to is more understanding than the one who heard it.'” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2657)

(6) The Comprehensiveness of the Teachings of Muhammad (ﷺ):

The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) are profoundly comprehensive, simple, and practical. They shed light on every aspect of human life. His teachings are not confined to a few rituals or acts of worship; rather, they present a universal and complete code of life. The teachings of the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (ﷺ), are so all-encompassing that people of every nation, region, and era—until the Day of Judgment—can derive guidance from them.

(7) The Universality of the Seerah of Muhammad (ﷺ):

When one reflects upon the pure life of the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (ﷺ), it becomes evident that he is an ideal for all of creation. He is a complete and perfect human being, the leader of all humanity, and the supreme commander of the caravan of Prophethood. His noble example (Uswah Hasanah) serves as an unmatched model for people of every era. Whether it is individual life or collective affairs—political or economic, social or moral—the Seerah of Muhammad (ﷺ) stands as the best example for mankind in every aspect and dimension of life.

As Allah the Exalted says:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ٢١

There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah – for the one who has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah profusely. (33:21)

(8) The Entire Earth is a Place of Prostration:

Islam is the only religion in the world that designates the entire surface of the earth as a place of prostration. In Islam, it is not necessary to have a specific location for worship; prayers can be offered anywhere on earth. In contrast, other religions have designated places of worship beyond which worship is not permitted. A poet has beautifully expressed this concept:

“Wherever Your name was mentioned, I bowed my head in prostration.”

(9) Maqam-e-Mahmood (The Praiseworthy Station):

One of the most distinguished characteristics of the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) is that Allah Almighty has promised him Maqam-e-Mahmood—the Praiseworthy Station. This promise is mentioned in Surah Bani Isra’il:

“‘It may be that your Lord will raise you to a Praiseworthy Station.’”
(Al-Isra 17:79)

This is a rank and station that has not been granted to any other Prophet besides the Messenger (ﷺ).

(10) Hawdh al-Kawthar (The Fountain of Kawthar):

Another prominent distinction of Muhammad (ﷺ) is that on the Day of Judgment, he will be granted Hawdh al-Kawthar. It is the name of a river in Paradise. On the Day of Resurrection, the Messenger (ﷺ) will give water from this fountain to his Ummah. The Holy Qur’an mentions it in the following words:

“Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar.”
(Al-Kawthar 108:1)

إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ ١

(O Prophet,) surely We have given to you Al-Kauthar. (108:1)

(11) Finality of Prophethood:

One of the most prominent attributes of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is that he is the last prophet of Allah Almighty. After the Seal of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), no prophet will come until the Day of Judgment. In the Holy Qur’an as well, he (ﷺ) has been addressed with the title “Seal of the Prophets.” Allah the Exalted says:

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)

رسالت خاتم النبیین حضرت محمد مصطفیٰ کی خصوصیات