A Review of the Debate between Batalavi and Chakrhalavi — Page 13
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD 13 To further explain, where God Almighty has revealed that the Holy Prophetsaw is Khatamul-Anbiya', [the Seal of the Prophets] He has also indicated that he is the spiritual father of those who are righteous and only by following him can they achieve self-fulfilment and be blessed with divine discourse and revela- tion. For, in the Holy Quran God Almighty says: مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَا اَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّنَ That is, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and Khātamul-Anbiya'. Quite clearly the Arabic word lākin is applied here as an adversative particle or to compensate for what has been expressed in the previous clause. In the first part of this verse the fact of the Holy Prophet, peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, physically fathering any male offspring is negated and the word läkin compensates this negative clause with the declaration that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is Khātamul-Anbiya'. This means that after him the blessings of independent Prophethood would be ter- minated, and henceforth the excellence of Prophethood would only be bestowed on such a person whose deeds were testified to by the seal of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and this person would thus become his spiritual son and heir. Hence, where the fact of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, being the physical father of [male] 1. Sūrah al-Ahzāb, 33:41 [Publisher]