Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 155
155 APPENDIX VII INTERPRETATION OF KHATAM-UN-NABIYYIN BY EMINENT MUSLIM SCHOLORS Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad While discussing the subject of prophethood and of Imamat, a sage of very great eminence, the sixth Imam of the Shia sect who lived in the first century of Islam (d. 148AH/765AD), Hazrat Ja'far Sadiq, peace be on him, said: Hazrat Abu Ja'far, while discussing the Quranic verse: For verily We granted the Book to the children of Abraham …. , said that God vouchsafed to the children of Abraham Messengers, Prophets and Imams. But what is ironical is that people believe in what God blessed the children of Abraham yet they deny this blessing for the progeny of Muhammad. The very eminent saint, the sun of the world of mysticism, Hazrat Maulana Jalalud Din Rumi, God's mercy be on him, born 6(AAH/1207AD, d. 672AH/1273AD, says: Strive hard in the path of virtue in a manner so that you may be blessed with prophethood and you still be a follower. (Mathtiavi Maulana Rum, Chapter 1, p. 53) A highly distinguished Commentator from Spain and the great Sheikh Hazrat Mohyi ud Din Ibni Arabi (d. 638AH/1240 AD), says: Prophethood among mankind shall continue till the end of days though Law-bearing prophethood has ceased. Law-bearing prophethood is merely a kind of prophethood. The most distinguished Sufi of Spain, the great Sheikh Hazrat Mohyiud Din lbn Arabi (d. 638AH), says: The height of Muhammad's exaltedness is expressed by the fact that through the "Darud" prayer he has raised his own progeny to the level of prophets and he was granted the superiority over Hazrat Abrahim through the fact that the Law he brought shall never be abrogated. (Fatuhaati Makkiyya, Vol. 1, p. 545) The Chief of the Mystics and the Sheikh of his time, Hazrat Al-Sheikh Bali Afandi (d. 960AH), has said:. . . Khatamar Rusul" is he after whom no prophet with a new law shall be born. (Sharah Fusustil flakam) A very renowned Sufi and a very famous writer and speaker, Hazrat Imam Abdul Wagab Sh'erani (d. 976AH/ 1568AD), says: Let it be known that the order of prophethood has not totally ceased: it is the Law-bearing prophethood which has discontinued. (Al Yawaqeet waIJawahar, Vol. 111, p. 35) The saint among the saints, the Imam and the Reformer of the second millenium, Hazrat Sheikh Ahmad Farooqi of Sarhind (d. 1034 AH/ 1624 AD), has stated: