MEANING OF KHATM-E-NUBUWWAT

What does Khatm-e-Nubuwwat signify and why is it significant? delineate its attributes regarding the persona of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)?

Ans. Khatm-e-Nubuwwat signifies the termination of Prophethood, which commenced with Hazrat Adam Alaih-i-Salam and concluded with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Muhammad (ﷺ) stands as the last Prophet, with no Prophet succeeding him. In Islamic Shariah, adherence to this belief is referred to as “Faith in Khatm-e-Nubuwwat.”

Allah Almighty says in Quran:

مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَاۤ اَحَدٍ مِّنْ رِّجَالِكُمْ وَ لٰكِنْ رَّسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَ خَاتَمَ النَّبِیّٖنَؕ-وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَیْءٍ عَلِیْمًا۠(۴۰)

(The Holy Prophet) Muhammad is not the father of any man amongst you. Yes, he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of all the Prophets. And Allah knows everything.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Surah Al-Ahzaab, Verse 40)

The belief that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the last of the Prophets, and that no prophet will be sent after him, is an essential and foundational belief in Islam. Denying this principle contradicts the Quran, the consensus of the Companions, and the unanimous view of Islamic scholars. Denying the finality of Prophethood is to reject the belief of all Muslims from the time of the Prophet until today.

Those who deny the finality of Prophethood create numerous unfounded, false, and misleading interpretations of the phrase “خَاتَمَ النَّبِیّٖنَ” in this sacred verse, going against the teachings of the Quran, Hadith, and the unanimous opinions of the Companions, Tafseer scholars, Hadith experts, researchers, theologians, and the entire Muslim Ummah.

In light of Tafseer literature and the opinions of Tafseer scholars, the definitive interpretation of “خَاتَمَ النَّبِیّٖنَ” is “the Final Prophet.” Here are a few excerpts from several commentaries:

• In the renowned Tafseer-ul-Lubab fi ‘Uloom-ul-Kitab, Abu Hafs Siraaj-ud-Deen Umar Bin Ali Hanbali Dimashqi (d. 775 AH) quoted Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, who said: “No male descendants of the Prophet (ﷺ) lived to adulthood.” After this, he mentions: “It is said that the one after whom no prophet will come is extremely merciful to his Ummah and desires their guidance deeply, almost as if he is the father of the Ummah with no other children.” (Al-Lubab fi Uloom al-Kitab, vol. 15, p. 558, Taht-al-Ayah 40). This commentary asserts that, after Allah Almighty, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the most compassionate towards the Ummah, a fact supported by numerous proofs, including the following Quranic verse:

عَزِیْزٌ عَلَیْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِیْصٌ عَلَیْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ(۱۲۸)

heavy upon him is your suffering, he immensely desires your wellbeing; utmost kind, merciful for the Muslims.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 11, Surah Al-Tawbah, Verse 128)

• Shaykh ‘Alwaan Ni’matullah Bin Mahmood (d. 920 AH) says in Tafseer Al-Fawatih Al-Ilahiyyah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)was sent by Allah to guide the bondsmen of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty sent the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to show the straight path and provide guidance, like He send prophets to the previous nations; but the status of this Prophet (ﷺ) is that he is the last of the Prophets and the last of the Messengers because, after his arrival, the circle of Prophethood was concluded and the message of Messenger ship was completed. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘I have been sent to complete good character’, and Allah Almighty has said declaring the virtue of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ):

اَلْیَوْمَ اَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِیْنَكُمْ

Today, I have perfected for you your religion

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 6, Surah Al-Maa`idah, Verse 3)

(Al-Fawatih Al-Ilahiyyah, vol. 2, pp. 158, Taht-al-Ayah 40)

• The writer of Fath-ur-Rahman. Mujeer-ud-Deen Ibn Muhammad Aleemi Maqdisi Hanbali (died: 927 AH) says: خَاتَمَ النَّبِیّٖنَ means the Last of the prophets, in other words, the door of Prophethood is closed forever after the Prophet (ﷺ). As far as Sayyiduna Isa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَامis concerned, he is one of the prophets who came to this world before the Prophet (ﷺ) (Fath-ur-Rahman, vol. 5, p. 370, Taht-al-Ayah 40).

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us the Taufeeq to continue protecting the belief in the finality of Prophethood.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم