Belief in the Prophets (Alayhim al-Salām): A Fundamental Pillar of Faith
One of the essential pillars of Iman (faith) is belief in the Prophets of Allah. This means having firm conviction that Allah sent messengers to every nation to guide humanity, showing the path of righteousness and distinguishing between truth and falsehood.
The Prophets (Alayhim al-Salām) were chosen servants of Allah and His truthful representatives. The first human and prophet was Hazrat Adam (Alayhis-Salām), and the final prophet is Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ.
Faith in the Prophets: A Symbol of Acceptance of Truth
Belief in the Prophets goes beyond merely acknowledging their existence. It requires wholehearted acceptance of their truthfulness, innocence, teachings, and mission.
Allah sent His messengers to every nation so that people would not stray from the path of righteousness:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا
(Al-Nahl: 36)
“And indeed, We sent a messenger to every nation.”
The Prophets (Alayhim al-Salām) were chosen by Allah, protected from errors, and embodiments of truth and integrity. Everything they said or did was by Allah’s command:
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
(An-Najm: 3-4)
“They do not speak out of their own desire; it is only revelation that is revealed to them.”
Equal Respect for All Prophets
All Prophets (Alayhim al-Salām) deserve equal respect, and no one holds superiority over another in the fundamentals of prophethood.
- All were sent by Allah.
- All were infallible in their mission.
- All were truthful.
- All conveyed the same core message of guidance.
Equal Respect for All Prophets
لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ
(Al-Baqarah: 136)
“We make no distinction between any of them, and we are submissive to Him.”
While all Prophets are equally deserving of respect, certain ranks or responsibilities may grant some Prophets a degree of preference over others:
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ
(Al-Baqarah: 253)
“Of these messengers, We granted some a higher rank than others.”
The Final Messenger: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
A core belief in Islam is that Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ is the last Prophet, and no Prophet will come after him:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
(Al-Aḥzāb: 40)
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.”
Belief in All Prophets: Essential for Complete Faith
Without acknowledging the Prophets, faith remains incomplete. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ أُوْلَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصِّدِّيقُونَ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ
(Al-Ḥadīd: 19)
“And those who believe in Allah and His messengers—they are the truthful and the witnesses before their Lord.”
Islam commands that we believe in all Prophets and their revealed scriptures without distinction:
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ
(Al-Baqarah: 136)
“Say, ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them.’”
This belief forms one of the six essential pillars of Iman:
أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
“Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree, both good and bad.”
The Unity of the Prophetic Message
The fundamental message of all Prophets (Alayhim al-Salām) has always been consistent, emphasizing Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah), obedience to His commands, and discouragement of wrongdoing.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ clarified this principle:
الْأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلَّاتٍ، دِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَأُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى
(Bukhari, Muslim)
“All the Prophets are brothers through different mothers, and their religion is one, though their mothers differ.”
The reference to different mothers indicates that Shariah laws varied slightly according to the circumstances and capacities of each nation, but the core message remained identical.
Denial of One Prophet Equals Denial of All
Rejecting even a single Prophet is equivalent to denying all Prophets, and the consequence is severe:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ، إِلَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 153)
“By Him in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul! Whoever hears of me among this nation—whether Jew or Christian—and then dies without believing in what I was sent with, will be among the inhabitants of Hell.”
Belief in the Prophets is an essential tenet of faith. Faith is incomplete without accepting that Allah sent Prophets to guide every nation and that Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ is the final Prophet. Those who acknowledge this truth attain success, while those who deny it face loss.
The Finality of Prophethood: Completion of Guidance
The guidance of humanity by Allah has been a continuous process. At different times, Allah sent His chosen servants to guide various nations. This chain of guidance began with Hazrat Adam (Alayhis-Salām) and was perfected with Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, bringing it to a final and complete form.
The finality of Prophethood is not merely a religious belief but also a rational, textual, and historical reality, marking the completion of divine guidance and the final link in the philosophy of prophethood.
The Purpose of Prophethood and Its Completion
The purpose of Prophethood was to instill consciousness of servitude to Allah, guide misguided humanity to the straight path, and provide comprehensive guidance for every aspect of life. Prophets were sent to their respective nations according to the needs of their time. However, since the religion was not yet complete, the chain of Prophethood continued.
Ultimately, when the religion reached its full perfection and the Shariah was completed, Allah closed the door of Prophethood forever.
The Qur’an explicitly states this truth:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” (Al-Ahzab: 40)
This verse is a clear declaration that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the last Prophet, and no Prophet will come after him.
Difference Between Prophethood (Nubuwwah) and Messengership (Risalah)
Messengership (Risalah) is a special rank that can only be granted to a Prophet. Every Messenger is necessarily a Prophet, but not every Prophet is a Messenger.
Therefore, to clarify misconceptions: Allah designated His final Prophet ﷺ as Khatam an-Nabiyyin (Seal of the Prophets), not Khatam ar-Rusul (Seal of the Messengers). This does not end Risalah, but it definitively ends the chain of Prophethood.
By declaring him Khatam an-Nabiyyin, Allah removed all doubts: no one can receive Prophethood after him, because Prophethood is the prerequisite for Messengership. Without Prophethood, Risalah is impossible.
Why the Finality of Prophethood Is Necessary
1. Completion of Religion
If the door of Prophethood remained open, it would imply the religion was incomplete. However, Allah Himself declares:
“الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ”
“This day I have perfected for you your religion.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
When the religion was completed, there was no further need for another Prophet, as all guidance for humanity had been perfected.
The Qur’an: Complete Guidance
Previous scriptures were revealed for specific nations and limited periods, but the Qur’an is a universal, preserved book that will remain until the Day of Judgment. It contains guidance suitable for all humanity in every era. When this complete source of guidance was revealed, the need for further Prophets ceased.
Universal Message of the Final Prophet ﷺ
Earlier Prophets were sent to particular communities, but Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a guide for all humanity:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ
“And We have not sent you except as a mercy to all people.” (Saba: 28)
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the finality of his Prophethood on several occasions:
إِنَّ الرِّسَالَةَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ، فَلَا رَسُولَ بَعْدِي وَلَا نَبِيَّ
“Indeed, the chain of Messengership and Prophethood has ended; after me, there will be no Messenger or Prophet.” (Tirmidhi: 2272)
مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا
“The example of me and the Prophets before me is like a man who built a house, complete except for one brick; I am that final brick.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3535)
The Prophet ﷺ also warned:
لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ، كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
“The Hour will not be established until nearly thirty false claimants of Prophethood appear, each claiming to be the Messenger of Allah.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3609; Sahih Muslim: 157)
Responsibility of the Muslim Ummah
Belief in the finality of Prophethood is a fundamental tenet of faith. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, it is the responsibility of every Muslim to defend this belief. Throughout history, the Muslim community has raised the banner of truth against false claimants of Prophethood.
Even today, anyone claiming Prophethood is considered false according to the Qur’an, Hadith, and reason. Muslims must safeguard themselves and future generations from this misguidance and teach the true doctrine of finality of Prophethood.
Allah Almighty has provided humanity with:
- A complete system of guidance,
- A perfect book (the Qur’an), and
- A Prophet ﷺ as a model for all people until the Day of Judgment.
No new Prophet is needed, nor is there room for one. “Khatam an-Nabiyyin” is not merely a title; it is a declaration of the completion of Prophethood and the foundation of the Muslim Ummah’s faith. Protecting this belief is a duty of every Muslim, as it ensures the completeness of religion and the eternity of the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.
May Allah grant us the ability to follow the teachings of all the Prophets ﷺ and uphold this faith. Ameen.