Humans, as opposed to other creatures,\nare able to move forwards or backwards, incline towards left or right, move\nfast or slowly; and be an obedient servant (of God) or unruly disbeliever. As\nsuch, humans are always subject to going to extremes. Therefore, the human\nsocieties are sometimes so still, reluctant, and stuck in confining habits that\nthey need a force to free them from chains and make them move. Nonetheless,\nthey are sometimes so aspired after modernity that they forget the customs and\nprinciples of creation. Obviously, there is a different solution to mitigate\ngoing to extremes, inclination towards left, or inclination towards right. For\na society that is inclined towards right, the correcting force should be\ninclined towards left and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the same reason, the cure for a\nspecific period of time, a specific era, and a specific society may be a\nchronic nuisance or calamity for another period of time or society. The fact\nthat there are different prophets is due to the same reason, which may even\nappear to be contradictory. It is evident that although there are differences\namong these prophethoods, there are no differences or contradictions among\ntheir goals; the purpose of all is to return to moderateness and follow the\nmain route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mission of Prophet Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP) is different from those of other Prophets in the sense that it is\nnot a plan, but a rule. It is the constitution of humanity, and is not\nspecified an extremist or inclined society. Islam is a general, comprehensive, inclusive,\nmoderate, and modest plan which includes all the minor and efficient plans. The\nHoly Quran is a book which includes the essence of the finite and temporary\nteachings of the previous Scriptures, which is opposing all the deviations and\nreturning to moderateness. That is why the Holy Quran refers to itself as the\nguardian, preserver, and protector of all the Divine Scriptures: \u201cAnd We have\nrevealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the\nBook and a guardian over it (1)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, as it is inferred from\nIslamic resources, since all the Prophets were the preface for the general and\nfinal Prophethood and the Divine constitution, they were mandated to give glad\ntidings of the accomplishment of religion by the final Prophet. In fact, they\nall took an oath in front of Allah (SWT) to do so. In the first sermon of Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) has explained this issue delicately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allah never allowed His creation to\nremain without a Prophet deputized by Him, or a book sent down from Him or a\nbinding argument or a standing plea. These Messengers were such that they did\nnot refrain from accomplishing their duties because of smallness of their\nnumber or of largeness of the number of their falsifiers. Among them was either\na predecessor who would name the one to follow or the follower who had been\nintroduced by the predecessor. In this way ages passed by and times rolled on,\nfathers passed away while sons took their places till Allah deputized Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP) as His Prophet, in fulfillment of His promise and in completion\nof His Prophethood, while His pledge had been taken from the Prophets\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An elegant statement has been narrated\nfrom Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) regarding this issue which states,\u201d I have\nbeen appointed as a Prophet after all the other Prophets and we were the last\nnation; however, in the Hereafter, we will be in the front row and the rest of\nthe nations will be behind us (2)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this regards, Mulla Muhsin Faidh\nhas narrated a statement from one of the scholars as,\u201d The purpose and goal for\nhuman beings is achieving proximity towards Allah (SWT), which is not feasible\nunless through the guidance of the Prophets. Hence, Prophethood is a part of\nthe whole system of creation. Indeed, the target and goal is the last and\nhighest level of Prophethood, not its beginning level. Based on the tradition\nof Allah (SWT), Prophethood becomes perfect gradually, just as a structure is\nbuilt gradually. Just as the ultimate goal of constructing a building is not\nits foundation or walls but the whole building itself, the ultimate goal of\nProphethood is its accomplished and complete form. This is the point where\nprophethood is finalized and comes to an end. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)\nhas referred to this concept in a famous Hadith in which he said,\u201d The example\nof Prophethood is like a built house which had one brick left. I am the place\nof that final brick, or the one who puts that final brick (3)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, the concept of finality of\nprophethood is based on two facts: a) the essence of religion is put inside\nhuman\u2019s soul, and the essence of all human beings are similar. Therefore,\nhuman\u2019s path towards perfection is a well-defined and straight path. Therefore,\nthe essence of religion which is the definer of human\u2019s desires and its guide\nto the straight path is unique. b) A plan, provided that it is in accordance\nwith human\u2019s essence, comprehensive, general, protected from alteration and\ndeviation, and recognized and executed well, could be the useful guide and the\nmaster of all minor laws and plans forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom \u201cThe Finality of Prophethood\u201d, by Shahid Murtadha Mutahhari (with some\nchanges)) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website offers\ncongratulations to all the freemen, especially you dear friend, upon 27th of\nRajab, the commencement of the revelation the Holy Quran and the appointment of\nthe final of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The Holy\nQuran (5, 48)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Nour\nal-Thaqalayn interpretation, vol. 5, p. 292<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Ilm al-Yaqin,\np. 105<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Humans, as opposed to other creatures, are able to move forwards or backwards, incline towards left or right, move fast or slowly; and be an obedient servant (of God) or unruly disbeliever. As such, humans are always subject to going to extremes. Therefore, the human societies are sometimes so still, reluctant, and stuck in confining […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28435,28248],"tags":[25206,25140,25207,22801,18072,17940,18418,25208,24907,18756,25205],"class_list":["post-4920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-isra-miraj-mabath","category-occasional-letters","tag-2008-07-30","tag-eid-mabath","tag-fast","tag-forward","tag-god","tag-human","tag-occasion-letters","tag-slowly","tag-societies","tag-subject","tag-the-finality-of-prophethood"],"yoast_head":"\n