From: seyyed@wuee1.wustl.edu (Seyyed Mahdavian)
Subject: Re: Reply to  Bahaies  gang
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis Mo.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 17:36:27 GMT

In article <1992Apr6.152328.1539@rdg.dec.com> hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim) writes:
>
>Actually the interpretation of the term "KhAtam" being considered as
>"ornament" is not a Baha'i belief (Baha'u'llah has specifically referred
>to Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets and not the Ornament of
>the Prophets.), but a Muslim one (Both Shi'ah and Sunni theologians have 
>referred to this topic.) Please allow me to offer you some examples:
>

Most theoligians have interpreted "khaatam" as both "ornament" AND "ender",
but no one said EXCLUSIVELY "ornament".

>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, 
                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't believe that the above mentioned Allameh didn't know the meaning
of "khaatam" and "khaatem". Khaatem does mean "ender", but not "seal".
Please check again your reference or your English translation.

> 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." 
>

That's correct. Note that he does not say that Mohammad(s) is NOT the Seal
of the prophets.
Some words have different meanings. People understand the meaning of the
word from the context.For example in:
"Bahraam keh gour migerefti hameh omr
                                    deedi keh chegouneh gour bahraam gereft?"
both meanings are clear. Now the nice thing about Qur'an is that both meanings
work nicely (seal and ornament) and this does not mean that the meaning of the 
verse is not clear.  In fact it is a good thing among poets to be able to make 
poems like this.  Why "khaatam" that originally means "ring" is understood as 
"seal" or why "seal" is understood as "ender" in Arabic is another discussion 
which is probably not necessary to get into. (Hoping that you already know it!)

I still believe that no one among Sunni or Shi'a has ever doubted in the
principal meaning of that verse. Of course Qur'an is said to have 70
interiors, so no one can say this is the ONLY meaning.

>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)".
>

Could you please write the original (Arabic) version?
May be she said: "Say khaatam-u-nabeein" and never "khaatem-u-nabeein".

>Seyyed we are in total agreement. Isn't this wonderful. By the way, thank
>you for calling me Shemr :-).

No I didn't call you Shemr! I have better names for you!


Why am I continuing this discussion ??!!!
Seyyed.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian