The Ahādīth covering the topic of ‘Finality of Nubuwwah’, i.e., Khatm An-Nubuwwah, are Mutawātir.
This means that they have been narrated by many of the Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum, the Tābi’ūn, and those after them in every age and in every generation in large numbers. Mutawātir further entails that the narrators are so many that it would be impossible for all of them to collude together to lie.
The Muslim Ummah, therefore, believes that a Mutawātir Hadīth is a manifest truth and they have firm faith in it, just as they have with the Noble Qur’ān. Moreover, the Ahādīth on Khatm An-Nubuwwah are all congruent in meaning. Hence, some reports are Mutawātir and then all the other reports of lower grading all have the same meaning. When this is the case, it can be safely concluded that all the Ahādīth establishing the Khatm An-Nubuwwah are Mutawātir.
Hereunder follows a collection of forty Ahādīth on the Finality of Nubuwwah, sourced from Finality of the Prophethood by Muftī Muhammad Shafī rahimahullāh.
The noble author of this great work has compiled more than 200 Ahādīth in the second section of his book. He wrote this masterpiece in refutation of the imposter Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and his cult followers.
We place our trust and hope in Allāh Ta’ālā, seeking His help in this selection of forty Ahādīth from these Ahādīth on Khatm An-Nubuwwah.
May Allāh Ta’ālā accept this selection to stand as a beacon of guidance for the Muslim Ummah, and may it be a means of safety and salvation for one and all. Āmīn
Important Note
Qadiyanis are experts at Ilhād and Tahrīf. This essentially entails taking the words of the Noble Qur’ān and Blessed Ahādīth and pasting their own meanings and interpretations to them. These meanings and interpretations mainly come from the chief imposter, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, his successors, or Qadiyani apologists. Ilhād and Tahrīf are a major crime on its own – it leads to total blasphemy as discussed in Ikfār-ul-Mulhidīn of ‘Allāmah Anwar Shah Kashmīrī rahimahullāh.
Bearing this in mind, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – the imposter of Qadiyan – made up his own meaning for Khātam-un-Nabiyyīn. He says in Haqīqat-ul-Wahī p.97:
‘Allah Ta’ālā made Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam the possessor of the seal, i.e., sahib al-khātam. This means that He gave to Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam the ‘seal of perfections’, and this seal was not to be given to any other messenger. This is why he was named Khātam-un-Nabiyyīn. In other words, the perfections of Nubuwwah are obtained through following him. It is by virtue of his attention that some people are trained into ‘spiritual messengers’. His divine power has not been bestowed on any other messenger.’
The Punjabi Musaylama further says:
‘This indicates that Khātam-un-Nabiyyīn does not signify ‘the last of the messengers’, but the ‘seal of the messengers’, which would mean that Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam was only granted the power and prerogative of making messengers. Thus, he was given the ‘seal of Nubuwwah’ so that he may send forth as many messengers as he likes.”
As with his other writings, this is just another case of mumbo-jumbo. A liar has a short-term memory. Hence, he says later on in the very same book, Haqīqat-ul-Wahī p.391,
‘All the saints, the abdāl and the aqtāb of this Ummah have not been granted that large share of divine grace which had been granted to me. For this reason, I have been particularly singled out to receive the title of ‘Nabī’, and no-one else is deserving of elevation to this rank.’
We seek the protection of Allāh Ta’ālā from such blasphemy and heresy. Āmīn
40 Ahādīth
Hadīth One
Abū Hurayrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“My parable with the previous Messengers is like that of a man who constructed a house of the best design. He then decorated it beautifully, except for a corner brick. People went around the house, appreciated its design and construction and said, “Why has the corner brick not been placed as yet? However, I am (it), Khātam An-Nabiyyīn, i.e., the seal of the Messengers.”[1]
Hadith Two
Jābir radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“My example with that of the previous Messengers is like that of a man who constructed a house. He completed in the best way and decorated it expertly too, except that he left a gap in a certain place. Whoever visited the house looked at the building and appreciated it, except for the empty spot. It was because of me that the list of Messengers was completed.”[2]
Hadith Three
Jubayr Ibn Mut’im radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“I am Muhammad; I am Ahmad. I am the Obliterator (Al-Māhi), and Allāh has obliterated disbelief on account of me. I am Al-Hāshir, whereby the people will be quickened on my heels, i.e., close behind me. I am ‘Āqib (one who comes last), i.e., one after whom no messenger will be deputed.”[3]
Hadīth Four
Sa’d Ibn Abī Waqqās radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to ‘Alī radiyallāhu ‘anhu:
“You are to me as Hārūn was to Mūsā, except that there will be no messenger after me.”[4]
Hadīth Five
Abū Hurayrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Qiyāmah will not occur until two groups fight each other to the bitter end, although each of them would be claiming one and the same thing. Qiyāmah shall not come to pass until thirty, i.e., signifying many, liars and imposters will arise, each of them will claim that he is a messenger of Allāh.”[5]
Hadith Six
Thaubān radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“There shall appear thirty liars in my Ummah, each of them will think himself to be a messenger, whereas I am the Khātam An-Nabiyyīn, i.e., seal of the messengers, and there shall be no messenger after me.”[6]
Hadīth Seven
Abū Hurairah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“O people, now there remains nothing of Nubuwwah, except Mubash-shirāt, i.e., true dreams bearing glad-tidings.”[7]
Hadīth Eight
Abdullāh Ibn Ibrāhīm Ibn Qariz took an oath that he heard Abū Huraiyrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu saying that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“I am the last of the messengers and my Masjid (in Madinah Munawwarah) is the last of Masājid (ever built by the messengers).”[8]
Hadīth Nine
Abū Hurairah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports in the lengthy narration on shafā’ah, i.e., intercession, that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to the Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum:
“When people will request ‘Īsā on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for them, he will reply, “Go to someone else. Go to Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They will rush to Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam and request, “O Muhammad, you are the messenger of Allāh and the last of the messengers…”[9]
Hadīth Ten
Anas radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“The final hour and I have been sent like these.” When Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam uttered the words ‘like these’, he indicated using his index and middle fingers.[10]
Note: The scholars of Hadīth unanimously state that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam wanted to state that no new messenger will come between himself and the Day of Qiyāmah. Hence, the Day of Qiyāmah and he are joined – without leaving a space in-between.
Hadīth Eleven
A’isha radiyallāhu ‘anha reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“In the nations before you, there were inspired people (Muhaddathūn). If there were to be any inspired person in my Ummah, it would be ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb.”[11]
Note: It is clear from this Hadīth that an inspired person is not a messenger. He does enjoy the focus of Allāh Ta’ālā and is inspired with the truth. Despite holding this high position, he can never be a messenger.
Hadīth Twelve
Abū Dharr radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“O Abū Dharr, the first of the messengers was Adam and the last is Muhammad.”[12]
Hadīth Thirteen
Irbād Ibn Sāriya radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“I am a servant of Allāh and I am the last of the messengers.”[13]
Hadīth Fourteen
‘Abdullāh Ibn Thābit reports that ‘Umar radiyallāhu ‘anhu came to Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said:
“O Rasūl of Allāh, I passed by a brother from the Banū Qurayza (a Jewish tribe). He wrote for me a few lines from the Torah so that I should place them before you.” Upon hearing this, the face of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam turned red in anger. He said, “By He who controls my life, if Mūsā should appear before you now and you begin to follow him, surely you shall be led astray, for you are my part of all the nations, and I am your part of all the messengers.”[14]
Hadīth Fifteen
Anas Ibn Mālik radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Nubuwwah and messenger ship has ended. Therefore, there will be no messenger after me.”[15]
Hadīth Sixteen
‘Uqba Ibn ‘Āmir radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“If there were to be a messenger after me, it would have been ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb.”[16]
Hadīth Seventeen
Safīna radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Khilāfat upon the way of Nubuwwah will remain for thirty years. It will then change to kingdom.”[17]
Hadīth Eighteen
Abū Hurairah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Nothing of Nubuwwah will remain after me, except true dreams.”[18]
Note: This Hadīth emphatically clarifies that there are no such types of Nubuwwah, as Mirza Ghulam Ahmad tries to claim, like tashrī’ī, non-tashrī’ī, zillī or burūzī after Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Hadīth Nineteen
Bahz Ibn Hakīm reports from his father, and he from his grandfather from Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam that he said:
“On the Day of Qiyāmah, there will be seventy Ummahs. We shall be the last of them and also the best of them.”[19]
Hadīth Twenty
‘Alī radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that:
“Between the shoulders of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam there was the Seal of Nubuwwah. Thus, he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam was the last and the seal of the messengers.[20]
Note: There are various descriptions given of the seal of Nubuwwah on the back of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It was a raised piece of flesh on his blessed back. Some Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum reported it to have been like the button on a palanquin, others said that it was the size of a dove’s egg.
Hadīth Twenty-One
Ibn ‘Umar radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that one day, Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in a way indicating his departure:
“I am the Unlettered Messenger, I am the Unlettered Messenger, I am the Unlettered Messenger and there will be no messenger after me…’
He then said:
“Listen and obey as long as I remain amongst you. When I am taken away (from this worldly life), it is binding on you to hold firmly onto the Book of Allāh. Take the lawful in it as lawful and the unlawful in it as unlawful.”[21]
Note: This means that as long as Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam was amongst the people, he would remain explaining the purport of the Noble Qur’ān. After his departure from this worldly life, the people of knowledge will seek solutions for new issues firstly in the Book of Allāh, then in the Sunnah, then in the consensus of the Ummah and then the genuine analogy of the pious and upright scholars.
Hadīth Twenty-Two
Burayd radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“The Final Hour and I have been sent (almost) together. The Horn was well-nigh outstripping me.”[22]
Note: This Hadīth expresses that the Day of Qiyāmah would closely follow Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Hadīth Twenty-Three
Jābir Ibn ‘Abdullāh radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“I am the leader of the Messengers, I do not say this out of pride. I am the Khātam An-Nabiyyīn, I do not say this out of pride. I shall be the first to intercede and I am the one whose intercession is accepted; I do not say this out of pride.”[23]
Hadīth Twenty-Four
Tamīm Ad-Dārī radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports from Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam in a lengthy report regarding the questioning in the grave.
“The questioned person says, ‘Islam is my religion, Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam is my Messenger – who is the Khātam An-Nabiyyīn’. The angels will say to him, ‘You have spoken the truth.’[24]
Note: This Hadīth establishes that the doctrine of Khatm An-Nubuwwah is an essential part of the creed of Islam. The test in the grave will include a question on it too.
Hadīth Twenty-Five
Abu Hurayrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“When Allāh Ta’ālā created Adam, he informed him of his progeny. Adam saw precedence of one of his children over others. In the end, he saw a light, and asked, “O my Rabb, who is this?” He replied, “It is your son Ahmad, who is the first and who is the last; he is the intercessor and his intercession will be accepted.”[25]
Hadīth Twenty-Six
Abū Umāma radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in a sermon during the Farewell Hajj:
“O people, indeed there shall be no messenger to come after me, nor shall there be any other Ummah after you. Therefore, worship your Rabb, perform the five-times obligatory Salāh, observe the fast during Ramadān, and fulfil the poor-due from your wealth willingly. Obey those placed in authority over your affairs so that you may enter the Jannah of your Rabb.”[26]
Hadīth Twenty-Seven
Dahhāk Ibn Nawfal radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“No messenger will come after me, nor shall there be any Ummah after my Ummah.”[27]
Hadīth Twenty-Eight
Abū Bakr radiyallāhu ‘anhu said:
“People had been speaking in great abundance about Musaylamah the Imposter before Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam addressed the people and said, “As for this man, you have spoken much of him. He is only one of the thirty imposters who would appear before the great Dajjāl.”[28]
Hadīth Twenty-Nine
Sahl radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that once ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu asked Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam permission to migrate after he had embraced Islam (which was after the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah). Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam responded:
“O my uncle, stay where you are, for Allah has closed the hijrah upon you just as the chain of messengers has been ended with me.”[29]
Hadīth Thirty
Abu Al-Fadl radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Allāh Ta’ālā has ten names for me; Muhammad, Ahmad, Abu Al-Qāsim, Al-Fātih, Al-Khātam, Al-Māhi, Al-‘Āqib, Al-Hāshir, Yāsīn, and Tāhā.”[30]
Note: Most of the names mentioned in this report and others like it denote that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the last of the messengers.
Hadīth Thirty-One
Ibn ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu said that:
“There is no wahī (divine revelation) except the Qur’ān.”[31]
Note: This report clearly indicates that no new book will be revealed after the Noble Qur’ān. Hence, anyone claiming to receive divine revelation is a liar and imposter.
Hadīth Thirty-Two
Ibn ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“For me Nubuwwah is reserved and for you only Khilāfat.”[32]
Note: This report clearly mentions that this Ummah will have nothing more than Khilāfat to be conferred on them, for Nubuwwah has ended with Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Hadīth Thirty-Three
Salama Ibn Al-Akwa’ radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Abū Bakr is the best of mankind except that he is not a messenger.”[33]
Hadīth Thirty-Four
‘Alī radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports from Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam who said:
“The best of this Ummah after their messenger is Abū Bakr and then ‘Umar.”[34]
Note: Hadīth 33 and 34 indicate that in this Ummah, after Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam there shall be no messenger, no matter how virtuous and high ranking a person might be.
Hadīth Thirty-Five
Abū Hurayrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“When the Torah was revealed to Mūsā ‘alayhi as-salām and he read it, he found in it mention of this Ummah. He said to Allah, “O my Rabb, I find in these tablets mention of an Ummah who are the last of all men, yet are the earliest of them. I wish that you had made them my Ummah.”[35]
Hadīth Thirty-Six
Abū Zubayr reports from Jābir radiyallāhu ‘anhu from Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
“Between the shoulders of Adam ‘alayhi as-salām it was written, ‘Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the Messenger of Allāh and the last of the Messengers.”[36]
Hadīth Thirty-Seven
Salmān radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Jibrīl ‘alayhi as-salām once said to Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
“Verily your Rabb says: ‘If I had selected Adam, then there is no issue at all. I have ended the chain of messengers with you and I have not created anyone more honorable than you.”[37]
Hadīth Thirty-Eight
‘Umar radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“O Jew, you and your people are the first of the people (prior to us), but we are the last of the people and yet the most excellent of them on the Day of Qiyāmah.”[38]
Hadīth Thirty-Nine
Miswar Ibn Makhramah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Verily Allah sent me unto all of humanity as a source of mercy.”[39]
Hadīth Forty
Ibn ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports from Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam,
“I am leaving with you something, that if you adhere to it, you shall never be misled; the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of your Messenger.”[40]
Note: In this Hadīth, Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam stressed that salvation of humanity lies in adherence to the instructions contained in the Noble Qur’ān and adherence to his Sunnah. This indicates that there shall be no messenger after him, otherwise he would have mentioned that some messenger was to come.
May Allāh Ta’ālā bless us with firm faith in the final messenger, Sayyidunā Muhammad Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam and may this faith never waver in the face of the Qadiyani lies and distortions. May Allāh Ta’ālā bless all the Qadiyanis with true and correct faith and let them see the light of reality before their eyes close. Āmīn
Notes
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim, Tirmidhī, Ibn Abī Hātim ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim, Dalā’il An-Nubuwwah of Abū Nu’aym ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim, Musnad Ahmad ↑
- Sahīh Muslim ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī ↑
- Sahīh Muslim, Nasa’ī ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim ↑
- Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, also in Mishkāt Al-Masābīh ↑
- Sahīh Muslim, Nasa’ī, Musnad Ahmad, Abū Ya’lā ↑
- Ibn Hibbān, Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Bayhaqī, Hākim ↑
- Musnad Ahmad ↑
- Tirmidhī ↑
- Tirmidhī ↑
- Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd ↑
- Nasa’ī, Abū Dāwūd ↑
- Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Dārimī ↑
- Shamā’il Tirmidhī ↑
- Musnad Ahmad ↑
- Musnad Ahmad ↑
- Dārimī, Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Ibn Abī Ad-Dunyā, Abū Ya’lā ↑
- Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Muntakhab Al-Kanz, quoted in the marginalia of Musnad Ahmad ↑
- Bayhaqī ↑
- Mushkil Al-Āthār of Tahāwī ↑
- Tabrānī, Abū Nu’aym, Abū Ya’lā, Ibn ‘Asākir, Ibn An-Najjār ↑
- Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Al-Mu’tasar min Mushkil Al-Āthār ↑
- Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Tabrānī, Ibn ‘Adī ↑
- Ibn ‘Asākir ↑
- Dalā’il An-Nubuwwah of Abū Nu’aym ↑
- Al-Khasā’is Al-Kubrā ↑
- Al-Khasā’is Al-Kubrā ↑
- Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah ↑
- Tabrānī ↑
- Mustadrak Hākim ↑