The Seal of Prophethood

The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the mercy sent unto creation [21: 107] and Allah the majestic clearly declares in the aforementioned verse, he is ‘Seal of the Prophets.’  Prophethood was sealed with him (peace be upon him) and the final revelation sent unto mankind.  To believe that the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the ‘Seal of the Prophets’, and that unequivocally there is no Prophet or Messenger after him, is one of the key tenets of Islam.  

ما كان محمد أبا أحد من رجالكم ولكن رسول الله وخاتم النبيين وكان الله بكل شيء عليما

Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is cognisant of all things.

For the first time in English we present a complete translation of a unique single-volume compendium upon this very issue: ‘Khatam an-Nabuwat’, ‘The Seal of Prophethood’ by Professor Muḥammad ibn Abdullah al-Mas’ari.  Whether one is new to Islam or old, this book is a must read.  There isn’t a comparable work that is available in the English language.

Professor al-Mas’ari conducts a thorough, lucid, and masterful analysis of this issue.  The verses of the  Qur’ān are analysed, together with the commentary of the classical exegetes (mufassireen) and specialists in language to clarify the meaning of the word ‘seal’ as expressed in the letter arrangement: kha/ta/ma (خ/ت/م).  In tandem with this, he has collated all the relevant texts from the Prophetic Sunnah, together with the detailed analysis and commentary from the specialists in ḥadith.

Given the sheer weight of evidence that is presented, which is overwhelming and reaches the level of certitude, the reader should be left in no doubt whatsoever: to deny that Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the ‘Seal of the Prophets’, constitutes a denial of his Prophetic mission altogether.

إن الله وملائكته يصلون على النبي يا أيها الذين آمنوا صلوا عليه وسلموا تسليما

Verily Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet; O you who believe!  Call for blessings upon him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation.