Life of Ahmad — Page 838
REMOVES A MISCONCEPTION as 838 Prophets even to interpret and apply it in its truest and original sense. I shall now deal with the Hadith on this subject. 'The Holy Prophet sa said to Ali ibn-i-Ab i Ta lib ra : 'You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that L a Nabiyya Ba‘d i. ' 218 The last words are translated as: There is no Prophet after me. On the basis of these words it is contended that if it were really possible for any one to become a Prophet, no one could have been more deserving of it than Ali ra who was not only a near relation of but also succeeded the Holy Prophet as as the fourth Khal i fa. The words were uttered when the Holy Prophet sa was going to Tab u k and appointed Ali ra to be the Am i r at Medina after him. Ali ra was desirous of participating in the battle and did not wish to stay behind. The Holy Prophet sa , therefore, reminded Ali ra of the importance of his work by referring to Aaron as who was appointed Am i r of the Israelites when Moses as went to Mount Sinai. Aaron as was the brother of Moses as and a Prophet of God. Ali ra was a cousin but not a Prophet. The Holy Prophet sa could not be blunt but he must not be misunderstood in such matters, therefore, he added that he was not leaving a Prophet behind him. The word ba‘d means behind. 219 The context shows that the idea was to tell Ali ra that he was being left behind like Aaron as but that he was 218 Abu D a ’ u d, Tirmidh i , Mishk a t. 219 Lane’s Lexicon Book I. , p. 225.