Allah says:
[وَلَـكِن رَّسُولَ
اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيماً]
(but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets. And Allah is
Ever All-Aware of everything.) This is like the Ayah:
[اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ
حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ]
(Allah knows best with whom to place His Message) (6:124). This Ayah clearly
states that there will be no Prophet after him. If there will be no Prophet
after him then there will surely be no Messenger after him either, because the
status of a Messenger is higher than that of a Prophet, for every Messenger is a
Prophet but the reverse is not the case. This was reported in many Mutawatir
Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allah via a group of his Companions, may
Allah be pleased with them. Imam Ahmad recorded a narration from Ubayy bin Ka`b,
from his father that the Prophet said:
«مَثَلِي فِي
النَّبِيِّينَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَحْسَنَهَا وَأَكْمَلَهَا، وَتَرَكَ
فِيهَا مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ لَمْ يَضَعْهَا، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَطُوفُونَ
بِالْبُنْيَانِ وَيَعْجَبُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُونَ: لَوْ تَمَّ مَوْضِعُ هَذِهِ
اللَّبِنَةِ، فَأَنَا فِي النَّبِيِّينَ مَوْضِعُ تِلْكَ اللَّبِنَة»
(My parable among the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and did a
good and complete job, apart from the space of one brick which he did not put in
its place. The people started to walk around the building, admiring it and
saying, "If only that brick were put in its place. '' Among the Prophets, I am
like that brick.) It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said "Hasan
Sahih.''
Another Hadith I
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said
that the Messenger of Allah said:
«إِنَّ الرِّسَالَةَ
وَالنُّبُوَّةَ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ فَلَا رَسُولَ بَعْدِي وَلَا نَبِي»
(Messengership and Prophethood have come to an end, and there will be no more
Messengers or Prophets.) This worried the people, then he said:
«وَلَكِنِ
الْمُبَشِّرَات»
(But there will be Al-Mubashshirat.) They said, `O Messenger of Allah, what
are Al-Mubashshirat' He said,
«رُؤْيَا الرَّجُلِ
الْمُسْلِمِ، وَهِيَ جُزْءٌ مِنْ أَجْزَاءِ النُّبُوَّة»
(The dreams of a Muslim man, and they are one of the parts of prophethood.)
This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Sahih Gharib.''
Another Hadith II
Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah, may Allah be pleased
with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:
«مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ
الْأَنْبِيَاءِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَكْمَلَهَا وَأَحْسَنَهَا إِلَّا
مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ، فَكَانَ مَنْ دَخَلَهَا فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا قَالَ: مَا
أَحْسَنَهَا إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ هَذِهِ اللَّبِنَةِ، فَأَنَا مَوْضِعُ اللَّبِنَةِ
خُتِمَ بِي الْأَنْبِيَاءُ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَام»
(The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who built a house
and did a complete and good job, except for the space of one brick. Whoever
entered it would look at that space and say, how good it is, apart from the
space of that brick. My position is like that of that brick, and the Prophets --
blessings and peace be upon them -- end with me.) It was also recorded by
Al-Bukhari, Muslim and At-Tirmidhi, who said, "It is Sahih Gharib with this
chain of narrators.''
Another Hadith III
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him,
said that the Messenger of Allah said:
«مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ
النَّــبِيينَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَتَمَّهَا إِلَّا لَبِنَةً
وَاحِدَةً، فَجِئْتُ أَنَا فَأَتْمَمْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّبِنَة»
(The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who built a house
and completed it apart from the space of one brick. I have come and completed
that brick.) This was also recorded by Muslim.
Another Hadith IV
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said
that the Messenger of Allah said:
«إِنَّ مَثَلِي
وَمَثَلَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ ابْتَنَى بُيُوتًا
فَأَكْمَلَهَا وَأَحْسَنَهَا وَأَجْمَلَهَا إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ مِنْ
زَاوِيَةٍ مِنْ زَوَايَاهَا، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَطُوفُونَ وَيُعْجِبُهُمُ
الْبُنْيَانُ وَيَقُولُونَ: أَلَّا وَضَعْتَ ههُنَا لَبِنَةً فَيَتِمُّ
بُنْيَانُك»
(The parable of myself and the Prophets who came before me is that of a man
who built houses and made them complete and beautiful apart from the space of a
brick in one of the corners. The people started to walk around, admiring the
construction and saying, If only you put a brick here, your construction will be
complete.) The Messenger of Allah said:
«فَكُنْتُ أَنَا
اللَّبِنَة»
(And I am that brick.) It was also recorded by (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Another Hadith V
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said
that the Messenger of Allah said:
«فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى
الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتَ : أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ
وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا،
وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً، وَخُتِمَ بِي النَّبِيُّون»
(I have been given preference over the other Prophets in six ways: I have
been given the ability to speak concisely; I have been aided by fear (cast into
the hearts of my enemies); the spoils of war have been made permissible for me;
the entire earth has been made a Masjid and a means of purification for me; I
have been sent to all of mankind; and the Prophets end with me.) This was also
recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah; At-Tirmidhi said, "It is Hasan
Sahih.''
Another Hadith VI
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him,
said that the Messenger of Allah said:
«مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ
الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَتَمَّهَا إِلَّا
مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، فَجِئْتُ أَنَا فَأَتْمَمْتُ تِلْكَ
اللَّبِنَة»
(The parable of myself and the Prophets who came before me is that of a man
who built a house and completed it apart from the space of one brick. I have
come and completed that brick.) It was also recorded by Muslim.
Another Hadith VII
Jubayr bin Mut`im, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he heard the
Messenger of Allah say:
«إِنَّ لِي أَسْمَاءَ
أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، وَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ، وَأَنَا الْمَاحِي الَّذِي يَمْحُو اللهُ
تَعَالَى بِيَ الْكُفْرَ، وَأَنَا الْحَاشِرُ الَّذِي يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ عَلَى
قَدَمَيَّ وَأَنَا الْعَاقِبُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ نَبِي»
(I have several names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad; I am Al-Mahi (the
eradicator) through whom Allah will erase disbelief; I am Al-Hashir (the
gatherer) at whose feet mankind will gather; and I am Al-`Aqib (the final one)
after whom there will be no Prophet.) It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs.
And there are many other Hadiths on this topic. Allah has told us in His Book,
and His Messenger has told us in the Mutawatir Sunnah, that there will be no
Prophet after him, so that it may be known that everyone who claims this status
after him is a liar and fabricator who is misguided and is misguiding others.
Even if he twists meanings, comes up with false claims and uses tricks and
vagaries, all of this is false and is misguidance as will be clear to those who
have understanding. This is what Allah caused to happen in the case of Al-Aswad
Al-`Ansi in the Yemen and Musaylimah the Liar in Al-Yamamah, whose false
miracles and nonsensical words showed everyone who was possessed of
understanding that they were liars who were leading people astray; may the curse
of Allah be upon them both. This is the case with every false prophet until the
Day of Resurrection, until they end with Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (the Antichrist).
Each of these liars is given by Allah signs which show the people of knowledge
and the believers that his message is false -- which is part of the perfect
kindness of Allah towards His creation. These liars do not enjoin what is good,
nor forbid what is evil, unless they do so by coincidence or because it serves
an ulterior purpose. They are the utmost in falsehood and immorality, in all
that they say and do, as Allah says:
[هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ
عَلَى مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَـطِينُ - تَنَزَّلُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ
]
(Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayatin descend They descend
on every lying, sinful person.) (26:221-222) This is in contrast to the Prophets
-- may blessings and peace be upon them -- for they are the utmost in
righteousness, truthfulness, wisdom, uprightness and justice in all that they
say and do, command and forbid. In addition to this they are supported with
miracles and clear and obvious proof. May the blessings and peace of Allah be
upon them always, as long as heaven and earth remain.
[يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ اذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ ذِكْراً كَثِيراً - وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً
وَأَصِيلاً - هُوَ الَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـئِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ
مِّنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيماً -
تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُ سَلَـمٌ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْراً كَرِيماً
]
(41. O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.) (42. And
glorify His praises morning and Asila.) (43. He it is Who sends Salah on you,
and His angels too, that He may bring you out from darkness into light. And He
is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.) (44. Their greeting on the Day they
shall meet Him will be "Salam (Peace!)'' And He has prepared for them a generous
reward.)