Khataman Nabiyyeen – Interpretations by Eminent Learned Scholars of Islam — Page 9
Maulana Muhammad Qasim of Nanauta (d. 1297 AH/ 1880AD) states:. According to the layman the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings on him, being the KHATAM (seal), is supposed to have appeared after all the previous prophets. But men of understanding and the wise know it very well that being the first or the last, chronologically, does not carry any weight. How could, therefore, the words of the Holy Quran But he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets (33:41) mean to glorify him? But I know very well that none from among the Muslims would be prepared to agree with the common men. ” (Tahzeerun Nas, p. 3). The words in italics deserve a special attention. What is the difference between the wise and the layman-the man in the street? What is it that the Muslims shall not accept? Does the concept of the Ahmadiyya Community agree with the concept of the wise and the Muslims or with the concept of the man in the street?. Maulana Muhammad Qasim states further: 'If finality of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet be considered in the light of his excellent attributes and of his having reached the apex of excellence, as I have already stated, but not chronologically, and which height no one can ever aspire to reach, the point of his superiority over all persons becomes established over those who have passed away and also over those who come after him. If we accept this view it shall not at all contravene his finality, even though someone in the future did rise to the high status of prophethood. (Tahzeerun Nas, p. 28). The above quote makes it quite clear that the Maulana did not believe that a new prophet would appear and he also held the common concept that Prophet Jesus son of Mary shall come back. But this concept of his was not based on the idea that the coming of a new prophet would contravene the finality of the. Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him. On the contrary, he believed that the theme of finality was based on his high status and not for chronological reason. He believed that even if a new prophet did come after him he must necessarily be from among his own followers, who would bow down humbly before his master and that he would not be a law-bearing prophet. He 9