Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 158
158 Maulana Muhammad Qasim states further: If finality of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet be considered in the light of his excellent attributes and of his having reached the apex of excellence, as I have already stated, but not chronologically, and which height no one can ever aspire to reach, the point of his superiority over all persons becomes established over those who have passed away and also over those who come after him. if we accept this view it shall not at all contravene his finality, even though someone in the future did rise to the high status of prophethood. (Tahzeerun Nas, p. 28) Maulana Muhammad Qasim of Nanauta (d. 1297AH/ 1880AD) states: According to the layman the Messenger of Allah, peace and bless(seal), is supposed to have apings on him, being the KHATAM peared after all the previous prophets. But men of understanding and the wise know it very well that being the first or the last, chronologically, does not carry any weight. How could, therefore, the words of the Holy Quran Bi4t lw iy ilie Messeriger of. 411ah and the seal of the Prophets (33:41) mean to glorify him? But I know very well that none from among the Muslims would be prepared to agree with the common men. (Tahzeerun Nas, p. 3) Qari Muhammad Tayyab, Manager, the Darul Uloom of Deoband states: Just as there is from among the angels and satans a person par excellence who excels everyone of its kind in beneficence and cannot be surpassed-Gabriel in the case of the angels and Iblis the accursed in the case of satans apportions them evils and wickedness. Similarly there is a Khatam for the prophets and a Khatam for Dajjaals, and they are both supreme in their respective spheres. From among the prophets there is he who is the acme of perfection and at the same time bestower of perfection to others. His name is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be on him. (Talimati Islam aur Masihi Aqwam, pp. 223-224) Abul Hassan Sharif (d. 406AH), God be pleased with him, was a renowned scholar and he has explained in the following words what Khataman-Nabiyyeen means: This has been spoken metaphorically and means that God Almighty has appointed the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, over the books of all the previous prophets and he authenticates teachings and verifies these in the same way as documents are verified with the affixing of the seal to make these authentic. (Talkhisul Bayaan Fi Majazatul Quran, p. 191) Hazrat Ayesha Ummul Momineen, the Truthful, God be pleased with her and who has been universally accepted to have taught half of the Islamic faith to the Muslims, said: O ye Muslims! do proclaim that the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, was the Khataman-Nabiyyeen but never say that there shall be no prophet after him. (Durri Manshoor, Vol. 5, p. 204) Shaikh-ul-Imam, Ibni Qateebah (d. 267AH), after quoting what Hazrat Ayesha, the Truthful, had said, comments: This statement (of Hazrat Ayesha) does not go against what the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, had said, i. e. La Nabi B'adi. Because what the Holy Prophet actually meant was that no prophet would come after him who would abrogate his Code of Law. (Tawil Mukhtaliful Ahadith, p. 236)