The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 140
140. Essence of Islam-III that the Prophethood of Muḥammad is bestowed on. Muḥammad by way of reflection and on none other. The meaning of the verse: ما كان مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلكِن رَّسُولَ اللهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيَّن 108 is that: لَيْسَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّنْ رِّجَالِ الدُّنْيَا وَ لَكِنْ هُوَ أَبٌ لِرِجَالِ الْآخِرَةِ لَأَنَّهُ خَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ لَا سَبِيلَ إلى فَيُوْضِ اللَّهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَوَسُّطِه 109. In short, my Prophethood and Messengership is because of my being Muḥammad and Aḥmad and not because of my own self, and I have been given this name by virtue of my utter devotion to the Holy Prophets. Thus there is no contravention of the Seal of Prophethood, but the supposed descent of Jesus from heaven would certainly amount to such contravention. . It should also be remembered that the literal meaning of 'Nabi' is one who discloses the unseen in consequence of being informed of it by God. Therefore, wherever this connotation is established, the title of Prophet would be justified. A Prophet is necessarily a Messenger, for if he is not a Messenger, he cannot be the recipient of knowledge of the unseen as indicated by the verse: 110 لا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبةٍ أَحَدًا إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُول ) 108 Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the. Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. '-Al-Aḥzāb, 33:41 [Publisher] 109 'Muḥammad is not the father of any man of the world, but he is the father of men of the hereafter because he is Seal of the Prophets, and there is no way of receiving Divine grace except through him. ' [Publisher] 110 He reveals not His secrets to anyone, except to him whom He