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| - A majority of Salafi and Sunni scholars have adhered to the view that khatam means last. Ibn Kathir in his commentary states. Hence this verse is a clear proof of the fact that no prophet will come after Muhammad and when it is said that no prophet will come after him it is a foregone conclusion that no messenger will succeed him either. The twelfth century Islamic philosopher, Imam Raghib has, however, argued in favour of the possibility of non-law bearing prophethood, he states: Maulana Qasim Nanotwi further writes, He goes even further and says,
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| abstract
| - A majority of Salafi and Sunni scholars have adhered to the view that khatam means last. Ibn Kathir in his commentary states. Hence this verse is a clear proof of the fact that no prophet will come after Muhammad and when it is said that no prophet will come after him it is a foregone conclusion that no messenger will succeed him either. The twelfth century Islamic philosopher, Imam Raghib has, however, argued in favour of the possibility of non-law bearing prophethood, he states: “ Prophethood is of two kinds, general and special. The special prophethood, viz: the law-bearing prophethood is now unattainable; but the general prophethood continues to be attainable.” (Bahr al Muheet, vol. 3, p. 28) Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi, the founder of Deoband seminary seems to conform to the sufi idea of Seal ie honour and not last. He writes, According to the layman, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings on him, being Khatam is supposed to have appeared after all the other prophets. But men of understanding and the wise know it very well that being the first or the last, chronologically, does not carry any weight. How could, therefore, the words of the Holy Qur'an “'But he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of Prophets” (33.40) mean to glorify him? But I know very well that none from among the Muslims would be prepared to agree with the common men. Maulana Qasim Nanotwi further writes, “In short, if the meaning of the word Finality is accepted as explained, then his Finality of Prophethood will not be exclusively attached to the past Prophet. But even if for instance another Prophet appeared during the era of the Prophet then too, him being the Final Prophet remains intact as normal.” He goes even further and says, “If for instance even after the era of the Prophet any Prophet is born, then too it will not make any difference to the Finality of Prophethood of the Prophet.” Despite the more non-conformist stance taken by Nanutuwi, most Deoband scholars have take a more simplitic view of this concept. The Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam has, however, criticised the Deoband school of denying the finality of prophethood on the basis of the writings of their leader.
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