Truth about Khatm-e-Nabuwat — Page 37
spiritual father of countless children and among Apostles the Seal of Prophets under whose wings Prophets and apostles shall receive tution: he therefore is not without issue and is on the contrary the founde:r of a glorious spiritual dispensation and chief among the forerunners and succeeding generations. This is the historic background against which the verse, under reference was revealed, with the word· 'Seal of Prophets' as its greatest highlight. It is deeply to be regretted that the expression which is so eloquent of the illustrious status of the Holy Prophet (peace of Allah be on him and His blessings) has been miscon• strued as "the terminator of Divine grace". It is interpreted as drying up the stream of prophethood after him and that irrespective of the fact whether a person be his disciple, follower, and servant, there is no more any one worthy of being a prophet. But we will presently r,,rove this as wholly incorrect, as both according to Arabic idiom and the background against which it was revealed, it is susceptible of only two interpretations: Fir8tly, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your males but as the Messenger of Allah he is the spiritual father of all ·the faithful, even Seal of Prophets and as such a father to them, (Prophets) as well and there shall not be a prophet henceforth as does not bear his certifying seal. " Secondly, "Muhammad is father of none of your males but as the "Messenger of Allah" he is the spiritual father of all the faithful and as a Prophet he holds a position of such eminence. as is unexcelled and in virtuous station he stands unique, at the last point of the pinnacle of excellence. " According to Arabic idiom both the above constructions are correct, but. , the former is far·more so, in view of the content-matter of tlie verse and its ·87