With Love to Muhammad (sa) - The Khatam-un-Nabiyyin — Page 233
Opinion of the Sah ā ba ra , Ā ’immah, and Mujaddid ī n rh 233 18. As demonstrated, Hazrat Maul ā n ā R ū m rh clearly writes in Mift ā h Al-‘ Ū l ū m Sharah Mathnaw ī : Strive hard in the path of service so that you may achieve prophethood while remaining an ummat ī [a follower of the Holy Prophet sa ]. 19. The founder of Madrassat-ul-‘ Ū l ū m Deoband, Hazrat Maulw ī Muhammad Q ā sim Nanautw ī says in Tahz ī r-un- Nas , Page 3: The general public may conceive that “Kh ā tam-un-Nabiyy ī n” means that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be on him) was the last of the prophets but people of knowledge and understanding know very well that being the first or last does not necessarily connote excellence. The words َّٖ اﻟﻨَّﺒِني ََ وَﺧَﺎمت ِّٰ اهلل َ رَّﺳُﻮْل ْ وَﻟٰـﻜِﻦ 225 are designed to convey the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of All ā h be on him) exalted and unequalled status and this alone is the correct interpretation. Kh ā tamiyyat is not in any way rejected or denied if a prophet appears after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be on him). However, if Kh ā tamiyyat is only taken to mean the last prophet, this would be a disparaging interpretation. Such an interpretation would not be acceptable to followers of Isl ā m. 225. . . but he is the Messenger of All ā h and the Seal of the Prophets. –S ū rah Al- Ahz ā b, 33:41