AskSufi

Q & A

What does “Seal of the Prophets” mean? Can there be a prophet after Muhammad?

Foundations of Faith


There is no Prophet or Messenger after Muhammad ﷺ, as Allah mentions the prophethood of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ as the Seal of Prophets, meaning there would be no prophet after him:

"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things." [Qur'an, al-Ahzab 33:40]

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ said, "I am Muhammad ﷺ and I am Ahmad ﷺ, and I am al-Mahi (the obliterator) by whom unbelief would be obliterated, and I am Hashir (the gatherer) at whose feet mankind will be gathered, and I am 'Aqib (the last to come) after whom there will be no Prophet." [Sahih Muslim 2354]

In another narration the Beloved Prophet ﷺ said, "My similitude in comparison with the Prophets before me is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of one brick in a corner. People go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say: 'Would that this brick be put in its place!' So I am that brick, and I am the seal of the Prophets." [Sahih al-Bukhari 3535]

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ told the Ummah about the liars who would falsely claim to be prophets: "In my ummah there will be twenty-seven liars and dajjals, among whom are four women, (but) I am the seal of the Prophets, there is no prophet after me". [Musnad Ahmad 22747]

References

  • Qur’an al-Ahzab 33:40
  • Hadith Sahih Muslim 2354
  • Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3535
  • Hadith Musnad Ahmad 22747
  • Work at-Tabarani, al-Mu'jam al-Awsat 5596
  • Work at-Tabarani, al-Mu'jam al-Kabir 2957
  • Work at-Tahawi, Mushkil al-Athar 2493