Truth about Khatm-e-Nabuwat — Page 124
we will quote below, are decisive evidence of the efforts made by Hazrat Ali (Allah bless him) and Hazrat Ayesha (Allah be pleased with her) to re- form this wrong tendency and inculcate correct views. Since this wrong tendency was then in the form of a tiny seed and was limited to a small section of t:he new converts who were probably tar oft' from the centre of Islam, it was not considered as serious; nor could adequate attenion be puid to it under the circumstances then prevailing. The result was that, with the passage of time, the wrong notion that every grace has terminated with the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) and that no one can be favoured with any form of prophethood after him became confirmed in the minds of a section till these notions became more deep-rooted and wide-spread as the early period of the Prophet (Allah bless him) receded in terms of time. A group of Muslim divines and reformers in every period. as we will. by the grace of God, prove, h'lve been drawing the attention of the Muslim masses towards this conception and this co11flictof views has continued throughout to the darkest period about which the warning that •f~'~--=-r~·o--,;. . . ;~~ "the learned among them will be worst of all under the canopy of heaven" had gone forth till this erroneous conception took hold of the entlre mass of Muslims and with the exception of the enlightened elect, the bulk of the people adhered to the view that all Lhe former as well as, future dis• pensations had ended up with the person of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him) and that the doors of all cate- gories of prophethood had been closed henceforward. This is the true picture of the process which led from a small beginning in the form of a seed, of 124