The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 664
CH. 33 AL-AḤZĀB PT. 22 were considered by her to be لانبي بعده past or future, can be regarded as true unless his prophethood bears the seal of the Holy Prophet. The prophethood of every past Prophet must be confirmed and testified to by the Holy Prophet and nobody can attain to prophethood after him except by being his (follower). All claims to prophethood must be judged and tested by reference to the revelation received by the Holy Prophet and to his teachings. (2) That the Holy Prophet was the best, the noblest and the most perfect of all the Prophets and that he was also a source of embellishment for them (Zurqānī, Sharaḥ Mawāhibul- Ladunniyya). (3) That the Holy Prophet was the last of the Law-bearing Prophets. This interpretation has been accepted by many eminent Muslim theologians, saints and savants such as Ibn 'Arabi, Shāh Wali-Allah, Imām 'Ali Qārī, Mujaddid Alif Thānī, etc. According to these great scholars and saints. no Prophet can come after the Holy Prophet who should abrogate his Millah or should not be in his Ummah (Futūhāt, Tafhīmāt, Mukātabāt & Yawāqīt wal Jawāhir). 'A'ishah, the talented spouse of the Holy Prophet, has removed all ambiguity about the meaning of the expression. She is reported to have said: contradictory to each other in meaning and significance. (4) That the Holy Prophet was the last of the Prophets, but only in this sense that all the qualities and attributes of prophethood found their most perfect and complete consummation and expression in him; in the sense of being the last word in excellence and perfection is of common use. Moreover, the Quran clearly speaks of the advent of Prophets after the Holy Prophet. The following two verses leave no ambiguity on this point: And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs and the Righteous. And excellent companions are these (4:70). O children of Adam! if Messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing My Signs come unto you, then whoso shall fear God and do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve (7:36). The Holy Prophet himself was clear in his mind as to the continuity of prophethood after him. He is reported to have said: "If Abraham i. e. Say (his son) had lived long, he would have been a Prophet" (Mājah, Kitābul-Janāi'z), and, "Abu Bakr is best of men after me, except that a Prophet should appear" (Kanzul- and | ‘Ummāl). that he (the Holy Prophet) is but do not say that there will be no Prophet after him (Manthūr). This saying of 'A'ishah makes it quite clear that the expression 2578