The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 43
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI. It is further contended that the Holy Prophet said that he was last of the prophets. The complete Hadith in which he employed this expression is: "I am the last of the prophets and this mosque of mine is the last of the mosques". . It should be obvious that by saying that his mosque was the last one, he did not mean that no mosques will be built later. He only meant that no mosque will replace his mosque and his mosque will be a model for later ones. Similarly, the expression 'last of prophets' means that he was most unique and greatest of prophets or that he was the last law bearing prophet. Hadhrat Ali is reported to have said that "the Holy Prophet is Khataman Nabiyyeen and I am Khatam-alAulya" (Seal of Saints). Obviously he meant that he was the best of saints, like the Holy Prophet was best of prophets. He could not have meant that there will be no saints in Islam after him. . Hadhrat Sheikh Akbar Muhyuddin Ibne Arabi, an eminent authority of Islam, is of the view that: "The Prophethood that terminated with the person of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, was the law bearing prophethood and not just prophethood itself". (Futuha-te-Makkiyya, Vol. II, p. 73). He wrote further: "Prophethood would continue to be open to the people till the day of judgment, though law bearing has terminated, yet law making is but one element of prophethood". (FutuhateMakkiyya, p. 100). Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddis of Dehli who was acclaimed as the Reformer of the 12th century of the Hijra, has stated. that it was law bearing prophethood which ended with the Holy. Prophet. (Tafhima-te-Ilahiyya, no. 35). Then there is also the common sense approach. The religious leaders among orthodox Muslims (Ulema) get very excited due to this doctrine. At times they declare members of the Ahmadiyya. Movement as heretics and incite mobs to violence and riots. They declare that Ahmadis deny finality of Prophethood and this is an offence to Islam and an insult to the Holy Prophet. A lot of this controversy and fury is due to obsession with literal words without regard to their meanings. The masses hardly understand the meaning 43