From: iqbal@ee.eng.ohio-state.edu (Kamran Iqbal)
Subject: LOGICAL PROOF OF FINALITY OF PROPHETHOOD - I
Originator: iqbal@seine.eng.ohio-state.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Electrical Engineering
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 16:22:03 GMT

	
		LOGICAL PROOF OF FINALITY OF PROPHETHOOD - I
		********************************************

	In the first place, Prophethood is a delicate matter.
According to Quran, it is one of those fundamental articles of faith
whose acceptance or rejection determines whether a person is a
believer or a non-believer.  If a person is a prophet and one does not
believe in him, one will be a 'kafir'; and if the person is an
imposter and one believes in him, one will again be a 'kafir'.
Concerning a delicate matter like this, Allah certainly could not be
expected to have made any mistake.  If a prophet were to be raised
after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace), Allah
would have clearly stated this in the Quran, would have had it openly
proclaimed through His Prophet, and the Holy Prophet would not have
left the world until he had forewarned his followers in unequivocal
terms that other prophets would come after him and that they must
believe in them.   

	The second point that demands consideration is that
prophethood is not a quality which someone could develop by making
himself worthy of it through worship and righteous acts, nor is it a
prize which might be awarded for reendering some services.  This is
indeed an office to which Allah appoints a person to fulfil a specific
need.  When the need arises, a Prophet is appointed to fulfil it, and
when there is no need or does not remain, prophets are not sent
unnecessarily in vain.

	When we turn to the Quran to find out as to what were
precisely the conditions that made the appointment of the Prophets
necessary in the past. we find that there have been four situations
which made their appointment essential:

1)	A particular nation stood in need of a prophet because no
prophet had come to it before, nor had the message of a prophet sent
to another nation reached it.

2)	The appointment of a prophet became necessary because the
teaching of the former prophet had been forgotten, or tempered with,
and it was no longer possible to know and follow his message in
practical life.

3)	The people might not have received the full message and
guidance through the former prophet and more prophets  were needed to
supplement his teaching.

4)	A prophet might have needed another peophet to help and
support him in carrying out his mission.

	Now, evidently none of these situations needs to be fulfilled
after the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's
peace).  The Quran itself tells us that the Holy Prophet has been
raised for the guidance of the whole mankind, and the cultural history
of the world tells that since his advent conditions have been
constantly such that his message and invitation could reach, and still
can reach, every nation.  Therefore there remains no need for seperate
prophets to be sent to separate nations.

	Again the Holy Quran bears evidence, and the whole Hadith and
biographical literature on the Holy Prophet's life testifies, that the
teaching of the Holy Prophet still remain safe in its original form.
This sets aside the second need also.

	Then the Holy Quran also claims unequivocally that the
Religion of Islam was perfected through the Holy Prophet.  Therefore,
for the perfection of Religion also no new prophet is required.

	As regards the fourth need, if a prophet were actually needed,
he should have been appointed in the time of the Holy Prophet to
assist him.  Evidently, when none was appointed then, this need and
condition is also eliminated.

	Now what is that fifth kind of need for which a prophet needs
to be raised after the Holy Prophet.  If it is argued that the
community had degenerated, and a prophet was needed for its
reformation, then, the truth is that no prophet had ever been raised
only for the sake of reformation in the world. 

	A prophet is appointed so that Devine Revelation is sent to
him, and Devine Revelation is needed either to convey a new message,
or to supplement a former message, or to cleanse it of impurities and
corruption.  Now when the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad
(upon whom be Allah's peace) are safe and intact and the Religion has
been perfected and completed,  there  remains no need for a new Devine
Revelation.  Now for the sake of reformation only reformers will be
needed and not any prophets.

-- 
KAMRAN IQBAL	  | In the name of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful.
Dept of Elec Eng  |  "I bear witness that there is no god but ALLAH,
Ohio State Univ   |   I bear witness that MUHAMMAD is his messenger".
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