The
Seal of Prophethood
In
a Hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari and narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira
(ra), our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said, “My
similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that
of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a
place of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at
its beauty, but say: ‘Would that this brick be put in its place!’
So I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets.”
There
is no doubt that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last brick,
perfecting the house of Deen
(religion). He was indeed the one who perfected the construction by
his advent (coming), for it is through Him that Allah has given us
our religion, the final religion and perfected it for us by naming it
ISLAM.
The Mission of Prophets and Divine Elects
This
brings us to the meaning of a prophet. By way of meaning, a prophet
is someone who receives news from the Unseen, i.e. from Allah through
the Ruh’il Quddus.
He does not see the future, but is informed about important things
which shall happen in the future by the will of Allah. He cannot
predict any future event without getting revelations from Allah
informing him about it beforehand. Therefore, a prophet is one to
make prophecies by Allah’s permission and he receives revelations
from Allah. ‘Naba’
means news, true news of great importance. In the Arabic terminology,
it is not used for any other normal news, like newspapers and media
etc. It is used exclusively for such news which is of great
importance, especially in the realm (field) of spirituality. And
thus, ‘Nabi’
(i.e. prophet) means such a person who is truth-speaking who receives
truthful news of great value from Allah (swt) and who conveys it to
the people. Therefore, a prophet can bring with the command of Allah,
law-bearing news and non-law-bearing ones. It is an appellation to
qualify such person who receives from Allah revelations amidst the
common people of his era, and who can attain to the proximity of
Allah for the salvation of the Deen
(religion).
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