Farhan Qureshi wrote:

> Akhi,
>
> Then explain these Quranic verses:
>
> "And Joseph did come to you before with clear proofs, but you ceased
> not to be in doubt concerning that with which he came to you till,
> when he died, you said: 'Allah will never raise up a Messenger after
> him.'
> Thus does Allah adjudge as lost those who transgress, (and) are
> doubters." (Al Quran: 40:35)

Some of the Israelites had not really believed in Prophet Yusuf.  They
obeyed him merely because of his worldly power and authority.  Then, when he
died, they wishfully said that there would not be a prophet after him.  So,
this verse is condemning those who dislike for Allah to send prophets
(because they don't want to be confined to following religion).  At most, it
might be an evidence that Prophet Yusuf was not the last prophet.

But in any case, it cannot be a proof that there is _no_ finality of
prophethood, because:
1) There are a couple of hundred hadith which tell us that Muhammad ibn
`Abdillah was the last prophet.  Again I am forced to mention : it is not
valid to use one authentic text to reject another.
2) It is a rational impossibility for there to be no finality of
prophethood!  We know that the world is of finite duration, and therefore
there must be a finite number of prophets.  So, there has to be a prophet
who is the last one.  Why then do you shrink from giving Muhammad (peace and
blessings upon him) this rank, when the ahadith about it are quite clear and
abundant?

> "O Children of Adam! If Messengers come to you from among yourselves,
> Rehearsing my signs unto you, fear God and do good deeds as then, no
> fear or grief shall touch you." (Al Quran, 7:36)

I reply in 3 points:1) This verse is addressed to the children of Adam; not
specifically to the ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him and
his Household). (I take up this thread again below in 2c).

2) It is a conditional statement of the form:
IF (a messenger comes to you)
    THEN (follow him)
So, the verse is not stating that messsengers will definitely come; it is
stating that if messengers come then we should follow them.  The rational
possibilities are:
a) That several messengers will come.  This is invalid; it is negated by the
abundant texts on finality of prophethood.
b) That one messenger will come.  This is invalid if taken to imply a
messenger after Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him), as for the previous
case.
However, it might be applied to those who are hearing the message for the
first time. i.e. As soon as you hear about Muhammad (peace and blessings
upon him), or about any previous prophet whose prophethood is known to be
true (from Qur'an or Sunnah) then it is obligatory on you to accept him.
c) That no new messengers will come.  In this case, it could be merely a
stating of the general principle which has been applicable to all of the
children of Adam : that if a messenger comes to them, they should accept
him; the remainder of the verse, and the verse after it, explain the
consequences of acceptance and rejection.  In fact, we know that there were
some people in history to whom no messenger came, such as the Arabs before
Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him).

3) The verse is not explicitly mentioning messengers of Allah.  It is quite
conceivable that there might come to a person a messenger of the messenger
of Allah (i.e. a Sahabi).  In a hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings
upon him) describes Mu`az ibn Jabal as "the messenger of the messenger of
Allah."  Lexically, anyone who delivers a message (whether it is his own
message or someone else's) could be called a messenger.  But, such
messengers are not appointed by Allah.  (This final point is merely a
lexical possibility which has occurred to me, and I still need to give it
further consideration).

And Allah is the Guide to the straight path.

- Suheil


> ---Suheil Laher < slahe-@alum.mit.edu > wrote:
> >
> > Farhan Qureshi wrote:
> >
> > > Asslaamu Alaikum,
> >
> > wa`alaykum
> >
> > > Let me ask you this: What Great Haqq, or Big entitlement does being
> > > the Last Prophet give to the Holy Prophet (saw). He is the SEAL: Al
> > > Khatam. To be the last Prophet is a sad statement. That means Allah
> > > (SWT), does not want to guide us any-more:
> >
> > To the contrary.  It indicates that Allah only wants to guide people through
> > the Final Prophet, Muhammad ibn `Abdillah.  This is truly a mark of honor
> > for him, because it entails his memory enduring upto the end of the world.
> > The honor is also manifested in the number of his followers being larger
> > than those of any other prophet.  And his message, being the Last, must be
> > the most complete and widely applicable.
> >
> > > and what about the second coming of Isa(as), will he not be a Prophet???
> >
> > He already received his prophethood during his first coming; he is not a new
> > prophet.  Moreover, he will not be coming in the role of a prophet, but
> > rather as a follower of the Final Prophet.
> >
> > As a final note, let us remind ourselves that reason and analogy cannot be
> > appointed as judges over clear texts of the shari`ah.  If one cannot see the
> > wisdom of something, he should blame himself and criticize his own lack of
> > understanding, rather than criticize the ruling. And Allah is the granter of
> > success.
> >
> > "And peace be upon whomever follows the guidance.
> > Indeed, it has been revealed to us, that the punishment is upon whomever
> > denies and turns away."
> >
> > - Suheil


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