From: hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim)
Subject: The Baha'i perspective on the term `Seal of the Prophets' (3)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 09:40:29 GMT


Let us now examine the meaning of the term Khatam'u-Nabieen from the 
perspective of Sunni scholars and theologians:

Allamih Ahmad Hamedi-al-Mohammad, a well-known Sunni Theologian discusses 
the term Khatam'u-Nabieen in his book, Tebyaan-va-Borhan, based on a 
commentary of Fat'hol-Ghadeer by Hafiz Mohhades-i-Shokani who says:

"All the Ghoraba use KhatEm, while Athim use KhatAm. KhatEm in Khatem'u
-Nabeein means the Ender of Prophets, or the Seal of Prophets, while, 
KhatAm in Khatam'u-Nabeein means ring and ornament. In essence Muhammad, 
the Messenger of God, was the Ring or Ornament of (i.e. among) the 
Prophets, due to His exalted station compared to other Prophets." 

The same book quotes from Dorr'ul-Mansoor of Allamih Jallal'u-Din Soivotti, 
who quotes Ayeshih, the wife of Muhammad, who said:

"Say KhatAm-u-Nabeein (i.e. The Ring or Ornament of the Prophets), and 
never say no prophets shall come after Him (i.e. Muhammad)".

One can find the same references in the commentary of Kashaaf, by 
Zamakhshari, who says: "Muhammad, the Messenger of God, was called 
Khatam'u-Nabieen, since, He did not  have any male offsprings to inherit 
prophethood from Him." He goes on and presents a Hadith from Prophet 
Muhammad who says about His deceased son Abraham (from Marieh, the 
Egyptian wife of Muhammad): "If my son Abraham was alive, he would have 
been a Nabi (i.e. He would have become a Nabi after Me.)". However, all 
of Muhammad's male offsprings die in early childhood, thus, the verse of 
the Qur'an: "Muhammad is not the father of any man among you...." comes 
into fulfillment, and Muhammad become Khatam'u-Nabieen, according to the
same verse." 

Abo'l-Bagha, another trusted Sunni source discusses this issue in his 
book, "Mofeed", from the same angle, which I will not quote here in order 
to prevent excessive repetition of the same idea. 

It is apparent from what has been mentioned at length, that some Shi'ah 
and Sunni sources agree with Baha'is that: There is a more profound meaning 
associated with the title Khatam'u-Nabieen. Therefore, other meanings than
finality of Prophet Muhammad's revelation is implied by this term, mentioned 
in Confederates:39 of the Qur'an. 

Let me close this note with the view of Abol-Fadail-i Golpayegani, a 
prominent Baha'i scholar, who himself was a Muslim clergy prior to
becoming a Baha'i. In his book Fara'id, he addresses the question of 
Khatam'u-Nabieen as follows: 

"No wonder if the learned of Islam too, argue against the renewal of 
revelation  from God [i.e. like their predecessors, Jews and Christians, 
who are firmly  convinced that their respective religions are the final 
revelation from God.],  based on such references as: Khatam'u-Nabeein, or 
such traditions as: "There  shall be no prophet after me....", and by 
doing so become subjected to a test of faith; and join their predecessors 
[i.e. Jews and Christians]. Not realizing that the purpose of Muhammad in 
using the term Khatam'u-Nabeein was to suggest the progress of the Islamic 
nation, and unveil the ascendancy of the station of the Imams in comparison 
to the prophets of Israel. It is clear to those who are familiar with the 
Scriptures of the past, who are aware of the events which  are associated 
with the histories of the nations of antiquity that the  prophets of Israel, 
such as  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah,  etc... one and all 
prophesied about the future events according to dreams and visions. And 
they interpreted their vision or dream as a revelation from God. 
As a result, the book of these prophets became known as the vision of 
Isaiah, vision of Daniel, vision of Jeremiah, and vision of Ezekiel. By the 
same token, if we are to examine this issue from a Christian perspective, 
the Revelation of St. John is in essence the Dream of John. As a result 
the term Nabi (i.e. prophet) was given to the ones who prophesied based 
on visions, or dreams. This usage was solidified during the Jewish and 
Christians dispensations. However, after the appearance of Prophet Muhammad 
(Khatam'ul-Anbia), the ender of the prophetic cycle, the era of revelation 
from God "through the medium of dreams and visions" was ended and a new 
era of "revelation through direct inspiration" was started. Thus, the 
fulfillment of the tradition; "There will be no prophets after me..." 
came about." 
					Fara'id, p. 311

Parts of past 2 sections have either been cited or paraphrased, after my own
inadequate English translation, from "Ghamoos-i-Iqan" (The Encyclopedia to the
Book of Certitude), by A. Eshragh-Khavari, Baha'i Publishing Trust of Iran.

Regards,

Kamran Hakim
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