Could You Explain the Meaning of the Seal of Prophets?
Answered by Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan
Question
Could the seal of Prophets be explained what it is? Also Khatam al-Nabiyin?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
There are two compounds that you may be referring to. I’ll explain both of them.
Khatim al-Nubuwwa
The seal of Prophethood was a protruding piece of flesh on the back of the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). Different companions described it with varying expressions. Some said it resembled a small apple, while others said it resembled the egg of a dove. Depending on circumstances such as weather, the seal would appear smaller or larger. It was also covered with some hair. The seal of Prophethood was also a sign of the last and final Prophet, mentioned in previous scriptures. It thus establishes the Prophethood and truthfulness of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Khatam al-Nabiyyin
The seal of Prophets is a description of the Messenger Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the Quran. Allah said in Surat al-Ahzab, “Muhammad is not the father of (any) one of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.” [Quran, 33:40]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “From my nation, there will liars, claiming to be Prophets. And I am the seal of Prophets, there is no Prophet that will be sent after me.” [Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi; Ahmad]
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan received ijaza ‘amma from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib’ Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib’ Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib’ Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi’i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.
