From: merchant@davidsys.com (Rukhsana Merchant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: The Finality of Allah's Apostle (SAW)
Date: 23 Nov 92 13:27:41 PST
Organization: DAVID Systems Inc, Sunnyvale CA

In article <1992Nov22.173853.4682@bernina.ethz.ch>, nadeem@igpho (Nadeem Malik) writes:
> ahmed@dsg.cs.tcd.ie (Ahmed El-Habbash) writes:
> : In <1992Nov20.173356.27837@bernina.ethz.ch> nadeem@igpho (Nadeem Malik) writes:
> : 
> : >merchant@davidsys.com (Rukhsana Merchant) writes:
> : >: 
> : >: 
> : >: 	The Finality of Allah's Apostle (SAW).
> : >: 
> : >: 
> : >: 	Abu Haraira report Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying:
> : >: 	The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles
> : >: 	before me is that of a person who built a house
> : >        ^^^^^^
> : >: 	quite imposing and bueatiful, but for one
> : >: 	brick in one of its corners.   People would
> : >: 	go around it, appreciating the building, but
> : >: 	saying: Why has the brick not been fixed here?  He
> : >: 	said:  I am that brick and I am the last of the 
> : >: 	Apostles.
> : >: 
> : >: 		Sahih Muslim.
> : >: 
> : 
> : >Answer: Note the word "before". If the Holy Prophet (SAW) was absolutely
> : >the last prophet, then the inclusion of this word is illogical. Why not
> : >just say "The similitude of mine and the that of the Apostles is that ..
> : >.." ? Clearly there is a meaning in this conditional term "before".
> : >It is saying that sure enough Muhammad (SAW) has completed the pinnacle
> : >of Prophethood and none may come to advance it. But this says nothing
> : >against possible Messengers afterwards who may come to revive Muslims
> : >after decay. Sure, it dosn't actually say that such Messengers will
> : >actually come, but it leaves open the possibility that may they do so in
> : >the future. This is clear and logical I think.
> : 
> : Sorry, it is not logical. 
> 
> Sorry, but it IS perfectly logical. 
> 

<sigh>  I bring attention back to the words of Allah (swt).


        And if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to
        Allah and the Messenger. (4:59)

        This is my path, so follow it.  Follow not other ways
        lest ye be parted from his way. (6:153)

        Hold fast together by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for
        you); and be not divided amoung yourselves.  Al-e-Imran 3:103


And the words of Allah (swt) are true.



> : 
> : The Hadeeth says: the Prophets can be compared to a building. In that
> 			^^^^^^^^
> sorry, but only Prophets BEFORE Holy Prophet -- that is the point!
> 
> : building there is one missing brick, which is Mohammed(saw). The
> : building became complete and there is no room for any other bricks after
> : Mohammed (saw).
> : 
> : Reviving Muslims does not need prophets. The full message of Islam is
>   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> : there. Only it needs people to carry that message and deliver it in its
> : clean and original form. 
> 
> 
> With respect, this is your opinion. I believe that the Quran supports the
> concept that Prophets were in the past and can in the futute be sent for
> reviving Muslims. This is clear even from the non-Ahmadi point view 
> that Jesus will come again to revive Muslims. Now whether or not this
> breaks the finality of prophethood is, to my mind, secondary to the point
> that ALL MUSLIMS AGREE THAT THE NEED OF THE HOUR IS FOR A MESSENGER OF
> ALLAH TO BE SENT BY HIM TO REVIVE MUSLIMS. This is unquestionably the 

With due respect, it is every Muslim's duty to give Dawa.


> Also, the last point that you make has an interesting corrolary; what is
> the difference between being a prophet and having the qualities of a 
> prophet? If you have all the qualities of prophethood then you must by
> definition be a prophet because all things are in reality defined by
> their qualities.
> 

	The Prophet (SAW) said: And some of you will be bought
	in front of me till I will see them and then they will be taken
	away from me and I will say. "O Lord, my companions!'
	It will be said, 'You do not know what they innovated (new
	things) in the religion after you left.'
		Sahih Bukhari.


        As for those who divide their religion and break up into
        sects, you have no part in them in the least; their affair
        is with Allah.  He will in the end tell them the truth of
        all that they did.  Al An'am 6: 159

And the words of Allah (swt) are true.



> : 
> : >Nadeem Malik, nadeem@p.igp.ethz.ch

> : Ahmed
> : 
> : -- 
> : Ahmed I. El-Habbash, 
> : Department of Computer Science, Trinity College,
> : Dublin 2, Ireland.
> : Tel: office: +353-1-7021524


-Rukhsana Merchant
Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA