From: nadeem@igpho (Nadeem Malik)
Subject: Re: The Finality of Allah's Apostle (SAW)
Organization: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, CH
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 17:33:56 GMT

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.
: --
: 31. Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you
: and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, MercifuL
: 
: 32. Say: Obey Allah and the Apostle; but if they turn back, then
: surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.
: 
: The Holy Quran: The Family of Imran.
: 
: --
: 
: May Allah (swt) guide us. Amin.
: 
: -Rukhsana Merchant

Miss Rukhsana has on several occassions put great emphasis on sunna, and
particularly on the need to look at *ALL* Sunna. It is obvious, therefore,
that she cannot be aware of the many hadith which clearly talk about
Messengers to come in the future. I am preparing a series of articles
in response to one Raheel Khan's postings some time ago. Since I have
prepared one on the importance of sunnat and hadith, I will am posting
that one early because it is relevant to this item by Miss Rukhsana. 
Fir the moment I will give just one hadith to ilustrate the point of
looking at *ALL* hadith:

On the death of Ibrahim, son of the Holy Prophet (SAW), he said:
	"If Ibrahim had lived, he would have been a true Prophet."
	(A very authentic hadith from Ibn-e-Majah, Kitabul Janaiz)

There are plenty other like this. So I request Miss Rukhsana, and
others, to please look at *ALL* hadith before making a decision on
such an important matter. Most of the hadith that apparently speak
of termination of Prophethood can be quite well explained either
as referring to a limited category of Prophets (like "before" in
the hadith above quoted by Miss Rukhsana), or they contain some
other reasonable meaning. These things I am preparing, so please
watch out for them. Thank you.

By the way there are also about 4 or 5 verses of the Holy Quran
that talk of future prophets ... that I am preparing also. These are,
to say the least, totally decisiev on the issue.


In the mean time, let us pray for Allah's guidence. Amen

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