Truth about Khatm-e-Nabuwat — Page 121
of his prophethood converge on the point of hia central position in the spiritual realm. All the ear- ly excelleuces terminated in his person and all the lights shall henceforward issue forth through him. His person may be compared to a transformer to which one current of electricity passes and is rad, iated forth another, in a sense a different one. In order to define the character of His singular and grand station, the Quran has used the comprehensive term. . the Seal of Prophets". The traditions reveal t h i s incomparable lofti- ness through the employment of various par- ables and terms. The Holy Prophet (peace of Allah be on him) at time claimed 'I am the last prophet' at others •There is no prophet after me' ; on some occasions he se. id "prophethood and apostleship end- ed with me" and on another he said, "I am the last brick in the Palace of Prophethood. " In fact all these expressions carried one meaning and de- monstrated one reality' which was none other than that expressed by the Holy Quran in the compre- hensive term "-. J--. "11 ~l. i. " which meant that the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him) was the central point in the spiritual realm. All the former lines ter- minated in his person and henceforward every line shall issue forth from his person in new form. The holy group of the honoured companions of the blessed Prophet (peace of Allah be on him), being direct disciples of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him), generally comprehended this rare truth and were too well-informed about its underlying philosophy to entertain any misconceptions in this , respect. But when after the death of the Holy Pro- phet (Allah bless him) people from the far-flung parts of Arabia and t'rom foreign countrit>s joined Islam in growing numbers, and the era of 121