The Qur'an on the Finality of Prophethood I recently came across a website that was propagating the movement of Ghulam Ahmed - the Ahmadis. There was a particular argument of theirs which I had hoped to get some more counter arguments for. This was the particular statements concerning the finality of the prophet. What is the evidence from the Qur'an and hadith about the finality of the prophet? Does "seal" really have to mean "final" or can it mean just "great"? I know there is a verse in which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is said to be the "seal" of the prophets. Reply The referred statement of the Qur'an can be seen in Al-Ahza'b 33: 40. As shall be clear that the word used by the Qur'an in this verse is "Kha'tam al-Nabiyyi'n", not "Kha'tim al-Nabiyyi'n". There is a difference in the meanings of the words "kha'tam" and "kha'tim". The word "Kha'tim" is used in the Arabic, as well as the Urdu language and sometimes even the English language (as in the phrase "the last word" meaning fashionable, advanced etc.), idiomatically to mean "the best", although its ("kha'tim's) literal meaning is still "the one that ends" or "the last". For instance, if we say "kha'tim al-shu`ara" (lit: "the last of the poets") it would normally be construed to mean: "the best poet". But this is not the case of the word "Kha'tam", which has been used by the Qur'an in the referred verse. "Kha'tam" means "seal", or even more precisely, the tool used to seal something is known as "kha'tam" in the Arabic language. The word "seal" is not used in the Arabic language to imply "the best". In view of the above explanation, it should be quite clear that the words used by the Qur'an cannot be construed to mean "the best", on the contrary, these words clearly imply the meaning: "the seal of prophethood". The "seal of prophethood" can only mean either of the following: Mohammad (pbuh) is the prophet that has finally sealed the system of prophethood, which had been initiated by Allah through Adam; or Mohammad (pbuh) is that prophet of Allah that holds the seal of prophethood, i.e., no one can be called the prophet of Allah unless Mohammad (pbuh) has put his seal of prophethood on that person. Thus, Moses, Jesus, Abraham and all others that we know as prophets of Allah, hold this position because Mohammad (pbuh) has called them the prophets of Allah and thereby put his seal of prophethood on them. In the same manner, if some prophet is to come after Mohammad (pbuh) he shall only be considered for such prophethood, if Mohammad (pbuh) has put his seal of prophethood on him (obviously, there is no such person). In my opinion, the meaning more coherent with the context of the referred verse is the first one. Therefore, in my opinion, the word used by the Qur'an in this verse is quite clear in implying that Mohammad is the last prophet (not just "the best"). I hope this helps. In case any aspect of my answer remains unclear, please feel free in writing back to me. Regards The Learner Also See