Children’s Hadith

The Seal of Prophethood

Muhammad Javed Attari Madani

Our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

أَنَا آخِرُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَأَنْتُمْ آخِرُ الْأُمَمِ

“I am the final prophet, and you are the final Ummah.”^{^[1]}

A prophet is a pious man sent by Allah Almighty to guide people and teach them Allah’s commands.^{^[2]}

Dear children! Prophet Adam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was the first prophet. After that, many prophets were sent to different parts of the world. They encouraged people to believe in the oneness of Allah and to worship Him alone. Then, the final Prophet, our beloved master Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was sent to this world. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the final prophet, and in Arabic, khatam al-nabiyyīn refers to the final Prophet. Allah Almighty has called him khatam al-nabiyyīn in the Quran too.

Many hadith explain that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the final prophet. This was also the belief of the noble Companions and the followers too. During the lifetime of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and later too, some people made false claims of being a prophet.^{^[3]}

Dear children! Remember that no prophet has or will ever come after our beloved Prophet, Sayyidunā Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . As the Day of Judgement draws nearer, Sayyidunā ʿĪsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will return, but he will not be a new prophet. Allah Almighty raised him to the heavens whilst he was still alive. He will live out the rest of his life on earth and invite people to follow the religion of Sayyidunā Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .