Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Is The Last Prophet and Messenger

By

Bassam Zawadi

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) (M.I. Zahid, Finality of Prophethood, Source)

 

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)

 

Sheikh Albani in his book Erwaa' Al Ghaleel, no.2473, 8th narration says regarding the above hadith...

 

ÃÎÑÌå ÃÍãÏ ( 3 / 267 ) æÇáÊÑãÐí ( 2 / 44 ) æÞÇá : " ÍÏíË ÍÓä ÕÍíÍ " æÇáÍÇßã ( 4 / 391 ) æÞÇá : ÕÍíÍ Úáì ÔÑØ ãÓáã ææÇÝÞå ÇáÐåÈí æåæ ßãÇ ÞÇáÇ .                                         

 

Collected by Ahmad (267/3) and Al Tirmidhi (44/2) and said: "This hadeeth is hasan (good) saheeh (authentic)" and Al Hakim (391/4) said, "It is authentic on the conditions of Muslim" and Al Dhahabi agreed with him and it is like he said.

 

So as we can see, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made it clear that the line of Prophets and Messengers has come to an end and this hadith has been authenticated and collected by the top hadith scholars. Since we have the claim that Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared that he is the final messenger, this misconception has officially been refuted.

 

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