Life of Ahmad — Page 833
as REMOVES A MISCONCEPTION 833 The context of a verse is a most important factor in determining its true meaning. If we look into the context of the words we are further assured of the same meaning. The verse runs as follows: 'Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and Kh a tamun Nabiyy i n. ' God is obviously refuting an objection, viz. Muhammad sa has no male issue. Elsewhere we read in the Quran: 'Surely it is thy enemy and not thou who shall be childless and without posterity. ' (Al-Kauthar 108:4). These words are said to have been revealed when Al ‘ As Ibn W a ’il called the Holy Prophet sa Abtar (having no children or posterity) on the death of his son Al- Q a sim. 208 As an answer to this taunt of the enemies, God declared in the verse under discussion that the line of his physical male descendants is no doubt cut off by the death of his sons but as Muhammad sa is a Messenger of God he possesses devoted followers who shall form a continuous and long line of spiritual descendants to keep his memory and name and teachings alive for ever and ever. The followers of a Prophet are often described as his spiritual children. The meaning of the words Kh a tamun Nabiyy i n must fit in with this context. To say that Muhammad sa is the last of the Prophets and that there shall be no Prophet 208 Jal a ludd i n’s Commentary , under Kauthar 108:4