Was Prophet Muhammad The Last Messenger? Another Look…

Muhammad (peace upon him), the Last Prophet, but was he the last messenger?

Muhammad (peace upon him), the Last Prophet, but was he the last messenger?

Some of us do not hesitate to call our prophet Muhammad (peace upon him), as the last messenger, even though they have no proof to say so. In verse No. 40 of Surah Al-Ahzaab, though he has been called the last prophet, he has not been called the last messenger; but only that he is a messenger of Allaah. In the same verse, it has been said that our prophet is not the father of any men among us, and that Allaah is ever aware of all things. If our prophet (peace upon him) had been the last messenger, it was easy for Allaah to mention it in the same verse.

The verse and its translation is given below :

” Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is a messenger of Allaah and Seal of the Prophets; and Allaah is ever Aware of all things.” (33:40)

In Surah Aal-imraan, verse 144, Allaah says:

“Muhammad is no more than a messenger, messengers have passed away before him.” (3:144)

Allaah has mentioned in the above verse that messengers have passed away before Muhammad (peace upon him) and if He has not mentioned about the coming of any messenger after Muhammad, it is not an evidence to prove that no messenger will come after him.

In Surah al-Maa-idah, verse 75, the same has been said about Eesaa (Jesus, peace upon him):

“The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger, messengers had passed away before him. And his mother was a woman of truth.” (5:75)

Even in this verse, there is mention that messengers had come before the messiah, and there is no mention of any messenger who will come after him. But we know that after Eesaa, Muhammad did come (peace upon them).

Allaah says in verse No. 34 of Surah Ghaafir,

“And Yousuf did bring you clear proofs earlier, yet you ceased not to be in doubt concerning what he brought you, till, when he died, you said: Allaah will not send any messenger after him. Thus Allaah let go astray him who is a transgressor, a doubter.” (40:34)

Continuing His sharp reprimand of those who make beliefs according to their own whims and desires, Allaah says in the next verse (No.35)
“Those who quarrel concerning the revelations of Allaah without any warrant that has come unto them, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allaah and in the sight of those who believe. Thus does Allaah stamp on every arrogant, disdainful heart.” (40:35)

Keeping in view the above verses, we should stop saying that prophet Muhammad (peace upon him) is the last messenger of Allaah. Otherwise, we become like the people unto whom Yousuf (peace upon him) was sent, and they said such things about him without any warrant. Allaah has said about them : ” It is greatly hateful in the sight of Allaah and in the sight of those who believe. Thus does Allaah stamp on every arrogant, disdainful heart.”

Therefore, it is important to keep our beliefs correct.

The following verse (No. 28) of Surah Al-Hadeed calls upon the believers to fear Allaah and believe in His messenger:

” O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will give you a double portion of His Mercy: He will provide for you a Light by which you shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past); for Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ” (57:28)

We are already believers in a messenger from Allaah, prophet Muhammad (peace upon him). We are being called upon to believe in a messenger from Allaah and we will have a double portion of His Mercy. This gives a hint that the messenger we are being asked to believe in is a second messenger from Allaah, besides the prophet who is also a messenger of Allaah.

The messenger we already believe in has been described as a Mercy (for the worlds), rahma(tul-lil-aalameen):

“We sent you not except as a mercy for the worlds.” (21:107)

If we believe in His second messenger, we get double from His rahmah – Mercy, as promised in the verse of surah Al-Hadeed quoted below again :

” O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy: He will provide for you a Light by which you shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past); for Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ” (57:28)
Allaah, who is aware of all things, knew that the ummah will lose its way by believing in inventions made by our enemies attributing them to the prophet. So, as a mercy from Him, he has provided for another messenger, who will negate the inventions made and bring back the ummah into the straight path. “He will provide for you a Light by which you shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past); for Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ”

What will be the end result if we believe in the second messenger?

” That the People of the Book may know that they have no power whatever over the Grace of Allaah, and that the Grace is (entirely) in His Hand, to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. For Allaah is the Lord of Grace abounding.” (57:29)

The Grace of Allaah referred in the above verse mean two things : 1) The Guidance. 2) The material wealth of the Islamic world.

1) The Guidance : The People of the Book, particularly their political and religious leadership, who have worked very hard to keep the muslims all over the world divided and in error, would be disappointed if they believe in the second messenger and Allaah fulfils His promise “He will provide for you a Light by which you shall walk.”

2) The material wealth of the Islamic world : The People of the Book have been controlling and plundering the material wealth of the Islamic world, with the connivance of the munaafiq regimes installed by them. When the muslims believe in the second messenger, he will, in-sha-Allaah, stop this plunder and restore what is rightfully due to them.

Thus, Allaah’s words will be fulfilled : “That the People of the Book may know that they have no power whatever over the Grace of Allaah, and that the Grace is (entirely) in His Hand, to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. For Allaah is the Lord of Grace abounding.”

A messenger after each prophet.

From the following verse of Soorah Aal-Imraan, we come to know that Allaah has indicated the coming of a messenger after all the prophets:

” When Allaah took the Covenant of the Prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and Wisdom. Then (O people) there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which you possess. You shall believe in him and you shall help him. He said: Do you agree, and will you take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear you witness. I will be a witness with you.” (3:81)

” Then whosoever turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors.” 3:82
In the above verse, there is information that a messenger confirming that which is given to the prophets will come. Then a responsibility to believe in the messenger and help him, when he comes, is agreed upon and witnesses to the agreement defined. In the next verse Allaah says: “ whosoever turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors.”

The information that a messenger will come confirming that which is given to the prophets is unrestricted, i.e., no exceptions have been mentioned. What has been said is true for all the prophets and is applicable to all of them. The point to think about is: If no messenger was destined to come after our prophet Muhammad (peace upon him), then the information in this verse would not have found a place in the book given to him : The Quran.

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