Understanding La Nabiyya Ba’adi

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Continuity of Prophethood

o Quran

 Verse #1

 Verse #2

o Ahadith

 Hadith #1

 Hadith #2

 Hadith #3

• Khatam-an-Nabiyyin

• Laa Nabiyya Ba`di

o Hadith #1 – No prophet but Caliphs

o Hadith #2 – Umar (R.A) would have been a prophet?

o Hadith #3 – Ibrahim prophet? (Not words of Muhammad S.A.W)

o Hadith #4 – Ali (R.A) is to me as Harun (A.S) was to Musa (A.S)

 Explanation #1

 Explanation #2

 Hadith #1 – No Caesar after Caesar

 Hadith #2 – No Hijrah after Hijrah

 Ayesha (R.A) explains Muhammad (S.A.W) is not the ABSOLUTE

last prophet

o Hadith #5 – Thirty Dajjal?

o Hadith #6 – Prophethood/Messengership terminated

o Conclusion

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Introduction
This article will explain the true meaning of the ahadith about “La Nabiyya
ba’di” which means “No prophet after me”. Non-Ahmadi Muslims claim that
these ahadith prove that absolutely no prophet can come after our beloved
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). This is their misunderstanding. This
understanding not only contradicts their own beliefs as they believe Isa (A.S)
will come after Muhammad (S.A.W) but it also goes against Quran and
mutawatir ahadith.

In this article, we will prove that

1. No Quranic verse nor any hadith says that all kinds of prophethood
have closed off until Qiyamah.

2. All Muslims; non-Ahmadis, and Ahmadis agree that an ummati(non-law

bearing) prophet will come after Muhammad (S.A.W).

Continuity of Prophethood
Before we explain what each of the La Nabiyya ba’di ahadith means, it is
better to establish a base and look at what does Quran and ahadith say
about prophethood. We will briefly talk about this topic as it has already
been explained in the articles here. (add link)

Quran
Quran is clear that prophethood within Islam is open until the Day of
Judgement. It also clearly tells us that Islam is the final and per religion by
Allah and no new shariah (law) can come.

‫َاۡل َی ۡو َم َا ۡک َم ۡل ُت َل ُک ۡم ِدۡی َن ُک ۡم َو َا ۡت َم ۡم ُت َع َلۡی ُک ۡم ِن ۡع َم ِت ۡی َو َر ِضۡی ُت َل ُک ُم اۡل ِا ۡس َلا َم ِدۡی ًنا‬

“This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour
upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion.”

[Quran 5:3]

But it does not negate the possibility that no prophets can actually come
after Muhammad (S.A.W). It actually says the opposite and we have many
verses on this matter.

Verse #1

‫َخٌف َع َلۡی ِہ ۡم َو َلا ُہ ۡم َی ۡح َز ُن ۡو َن‬‫ٰی َب ِن ۤۡی ٰا َد َم ِاَّم ا َی ۡا ِت َی َّن ُک ۡم ُر ُس ٌل ِّم ۡن ُک ۡم َی ُق ُّص ۡو َن َع َلۡی ُک ۡم ٰا ٰی ِت ۡی ۙ َف َم ِن ا َّت ٰقی َو َا ۡص َل َح َفاَلۡو‬
‫َخۡو‬

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“O children of Adam, if Messengers come to you from among
yourselves, rehearsing My Signs unto you, then whoso shall fear God and
do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.”

[Quran 7:35]

This is a huge prophecy that prophets can still come within Islam and it
proves that prophets are always raised from the community they are sent to.
The above verse is valid till the Day of Judgement (like any verse in the Holy
Quran) where Allah clearly addresses the future generations i.e the people
after the Holy Quran was revealed. He also uses the same word “
‫(“ ِّم ۡن ُک ۡم‬minkum) which has been used for the latter-day Messiah in the ahadith,
for example, Sahih Bukhari 3449 and Sahih Muslim 155d.

Verse #2

‫ۡیۡی‬
‫ِصٌر‬
‫َب‬ ‫َک ِۃ ُر ُس اًل َّو ِم َن الَّناِس ؕ ِا َّن ال ّٰل َہَس ِمۡی ۡی‬
‫ٌۢعٌۢع َبِص‬ 6 ‫ا َم ٰٓلِئ‬‫ّٰل ُہ َی ۡص َط ِف ۡی ِم َن ۡل‬: ‫َال‬
‫اۡل‬

“Allah chooses His Messengers from among angels, and from among men.
Surely, Allah is All- Hearing, All-Seeing.”

[Quran 22:75]

It is the sunnah of Allah that He chooses prophets from among humans. That
sunnah cannot be ended. Again, if prophets within Islam couldn’t come
within Islam, then Allah would have explicitly called it out by saying “Allah
chooses His Messengers from among men EXCEPT Muslims.”

Anyways, we have many such verses within the Holy Quran that clearly
indicate that the prophets can come in the future, and nowhere does it say
that prophethood is completely closed off. But obviously, prophets within
Islam only.

Read more here.

Ahadith

Just like the Quranic verses, we have even more explicit mentions of the
coming of a future prophet in ahadith.

Hadith #1

In the below hadith, the latter-day Messiah is called a prophet 4 times in

Arabic (3 in English). This clearly proves that the latter-day Messiah is indeed
a prophet, no matter what anyone claims otherwise.

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 ‫َو ُي ْح َص ُر َن ِب ُّي الَّلُه ِعي َسى َو َأ ْص َحا ُب ُه َح َّتى َي ُكو َن َر ْأ ُس ال َّث ْو ِر ل َأ َح ِد ِه ْم َخ ْي ًرا ِم ْن ِما َئ ِة ِدي َنا ٍر ل َأ َح ِد ُك ُم ا ْل َي ْو َم َفَيْر َغُب َن ِب ُّي الَّلِه‬
‫ِع يَس ى َو َأ ْص َحا ُب ُه َفُيْر ِس ُل ال َّل ُه َع َل ْي ُه ُم ال َّن َغ َف ِفي ِر َقا ِب ِه ْم َفُيْصِبُح وَن َفْر َس ى َك َم ْو ِت َن ْف ٍس َوا ِح َد ٍة ُث َّم َيْهِبُط َن ِب ُّي الَّلِه‬
‫ِع يَس ى َو َأ ْص َحا ُب ُه ِإ َلى ال َأ ْر ِض َفَال َيِج ُدوَن ِفي ال َأ ْر ِض َم ْو ِض َع ِش ْب ٍر ِإَّال َمل َأ ُه َز َه ُم ُه ْم َو َن ْت ُن ُه ْم َفَيْر َغُب َن ِب ُّي الَّلِه ِع يَس ى‬

“… and Allah’s Apostle, Jesus, and his companions would supplicate Allah,
Who would send to them insects (which would attack their necks) and in the
morning they would perish like one single person. Allah’s Apostle, Jesus,
and his companions would then come down to the earth and they would not
find in the earth as much space as a single span which is not filled with their
putrefaction and stench. Allah’s Apostle, Jesus, and …”

[Sahih Muslim 2937a]

Hadith #2

Another hadith from Musnad Ahmad gives a prophecy that Khilafat will be
established in the latter days after the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah is
clearly referred to as a prophet as indicated by the words Khilafah ala
Minhaji-Nabuwwah (Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood). This nabuwwah
is the nabuwwah of the latter-day Messiah. This is the view of all Sunnis and
the scan of the hadith proves that.

“Prophethood would remain among you so long as Allah wills. Then Allah the
Exalted would raise it up. Then Caliphate on the precepts of Prophethood
would be established and remain among you for as long as Allah wills. Then
Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then despotic rule would remain among
you for as long as Allah wills. Then Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then a
tyrannous rule would remain among you for as long as Allah wills. Then Allah
the Exalted would raise it up. Then the Caliphate on the precepts of
Prophethood would be established again (Khilafah ala Minhaji-
Nabuwwah). Then, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) remained silent.”

[Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596]

Hadith #3

This hadith makes it clear that there will be no prophet between Muhammad
(S.A.W) and the latter-day Messiah, who will be a prophet himself and will not
bring new Shariah (law) but follow Islam.

‫ أال إنه‬، ‫ أال إنه خليفتي في أمتي بعدي‬، ‫ ” أ ل اإن عيسى ابن مريم ليس بيني وبينه نبي ولا رسول‬: ‫ق ا لالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم‬
‫ ” إني‬: ‫ أال فمن أدركه منكم فليقرأ عليه السلام ” قال أبو هريرة‬، ‫ وتضع الحرب أوزارها‬، ‫ ويكسر الصليب‬، ‫يقتل الدجال‬
‫ و آكل من ج ف ن ت ه‬، ‫“ ل أرجو أن أكون أول من أقرئه السلام من أبي القاسم صلى الله عليه وسلم‬

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The Holy Prophet Mohammed SAW said: “Listen! There is no prophet and
messenger between me and the coming Jesus. He will be the deputy
(caliph) in my Ummah after me. Verily, He will kill the Dajjal and break the
cross and abolish war. Anyone among you who sees him should tell him my
salaam”

[Tabarani, Hadith #4895].

Khatam-an-Nabiyyin
We just proved from Quran and Ahadith that prophets can come after the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), specifically the latter-day Messiah. Next, it
is required that we explain what the term Khatam-an-Nabiyyin actually
means since non-Ahmadi Muslims quote it to prove that prophethood ended
after Muhammad (S.A.W).

Khatam-an-Nabiyyin is a title of superiority for Muhammad (S.A.W) which

translates to “Seal of the Prophets”. The primary meaning of Khatam is to
“seal/stamp” as per Arabic lexicons Lisan al Arab, Tajul Aroos, and Lane’s
Lexicon.

Briefly, according to the meaning of the word ‫ خاتم‬the expression ‫ خاتم النبیین‬can
have four possible meanings:

(1) That the Holy Prophet was the Seal of the Prophets, i.e. no
Prophet, past or future, can be regarded as true unless his
prophethood bears the seal of the Holy Prophet.

The prophethood of every past Prophet must be confirmed and testified to by

the Holy Prophet and nobody can attain to prophethood after him except by
being his ‫( أمتی‬follower). All claims to prophethood must be judged and
tested by reference to the revelation received by the Holy Prophet and to his
teachings.

(2) That the Holy Prophet was the best, the noblest and the most perfect
of all the Prophets and that he was also a source of embellishment for
them. This is proven by the usage of Khatam by multiple scholars and usage
in Arabic literature.

(3) That the Holy Prophet was the last of the Law-bearing Prophets.
This interpretation has been accepted by many eminent Muslim theologians,
saints, and savants such as Ibn ‘Arabi, Shah Wali-Allah, Imam ‘Ali Qari,
Mujaddid Alif Thani, etc. According to these great scholars and saints, no
Prophet can come after the Holy Prophet who should abrogate his Millah or

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should not be in his Ummah. This will be expanded on later in this article
also.

(4) That the Holy Prophet was the last of the Prophets, but only in this
sense that all the qualities and attributes of prophethood found their most
perfect and complete consummation and expression in him; ‫ خاتم‬in the sense
of being the last word in excellence and perfection is of common use.

Laa Nabiyya Ba`di

In this section, we will be explaining the true meaning of the ahadith that
have the statement Laa Nabiyya Ba`di. Non-Ahmadi Muslims claim that we
do not follow Quran and Ahadith since we believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S)
is a prophet of Allah. But they forget that the Messiah by definition is a
prophet as we have proven earlier. They also forget that every Muslim
believes that a prophet will come after Muhammad (S.A.W). The only
difference is in the identity of the Messiah. Non-Ahmadi Muslims say it will be
Isa (A.S) but we say it is Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S).

Hadith #1 – No prophet but Caliphs

The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said,

“The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a

prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no
prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in
number.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger ( ‫ !)ﷺ‬What do you order
us (to do)?” He said, “Obey the one who will be given the pledge of
allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them
about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their
guardianship.“

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3455]

Non-Ahmadi Muslims quote this hadith with a specific focus on the

phrase “There will be no prophet after me” and ignore the rest of the hadith
including its context. They say it clearly says no prophet can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) but rather the context of the hadith refutes them.

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Firstly, all non-Ahmadi Muslims believe that Isa (A.S) will come after
Muhammad (S.A.W). He is a prophet and will remain one even on his second
coming. Thus, claiming that no prophet can come after Muhammad (S.A.W)
actually refutes those who are waiting for Isa (A.S) to come in the latter days,
which is almost all non-Ahmadi Muslims. If someone disagrees that Isa (A.S)
will not be a prophet on his second coming, please read this short article.

Secondly, the context of the hadith gives a completely different picture. The
hadith tells us that no prophet will succeed Muhammad (S.A.W) just like
prophets of Bani Israel used to succeed each other. This means no prophet
will come “right after” Muhammad (S.A.W) because as we saw in the other
ahadith that

1. The Messiah has to come in the latter days and he is a prophet. Thus,
the interpretation that no prophet can ever come after Muhammad
(S.A.W) would contradict those verses and ahadith.

2. The prophet won’t come after Muhammad (S.A.W) Caliphs will succeed
him, not a prophet.

In summary, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) explains that when prophets

among the Bani Israel died, another prophet would take his place. For
example,

 Solomon (A.S) succeeded David (A.S).

 John (A.S) succeeded Zechariah (A.S).

 Joseph (A.S) succeeded Jacob (A.S) who succeeded Isaac (A.S).

He then says that after he dies, he won’t be succeeded by a prophet

but a Caliph.

Thirdly, the word ba’adi can also refer in terms of the status and rank of the
prophets. So the phrase “No prophet after me” or “Laa Nabiyya Ba`di”,
means that a prophet of similar status and influence cannot come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) i.e law bearing prophet. This is already explained in
detail below, under explanation #2 of the Hadith #2.

Hadith #2 – Umar (R.A) would have been a prophet?

‫َقاَل َر ُسو ُل ال َّل ِه صلى الله عليه وسلم “ َل ْو َكا َن َب ْع ِدي َن ِب ٌّي َل َكا َن ُع َم َر ْب َن ا ْل َخ َّطا ِب‬

Narrated ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir:

7
that the Messenger of Allah ( ‫ )ﷺ‬said: “If there was to have a Prophet after
me, it would have been ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.”

[Jāmi’ Tirmidhī 3686]

Non-Ahmadis show this hadith to prove that even if a prophet was to come
after Muhammad (S.A.W), it would have been Umar (R.A) and not Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad (A.S). Thus, using this statement, he is a false prophet.

This understanding is again wrong as we have already explained what La

Nabiyya ba’di means.

1. We know from the other ahadith that no prophet can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) because Caliphs have to succeed him (i.e come
right after him) as seen from the Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 and
the Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596. Thus, Umar (RA) could not have
been a prophet after Muhammad (S.A.W).

2. We also know that Umar (R.A) could not be a prophet until 30 dajjals
have arrived as explained in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2218.

3. We also know that once 1 and 2 are completed, the Messiah will arrive
who is a prophet. This is explained in Tabarani, Hadith #4895.

This proves that the above hadith is specific to Umar (R.A) and not to Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad (A.S) because only Umar (R.A) could not have been a prophet
after Muhammad (S.A.W) due to the 3 bullet points above. These do not
apply to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S) because he did not succeed Muhammad
(S.A.W) as a prophet, nor did he come before 30 dajjals, rather he came at
the time when the Messiah was supposed to arrive.

Hadith #3 – Ibrahim prophet? (Not words of Muhammad

S.A.W)
‫ َو َل ْو ُقِضَي َأْن َيُكوَن َب ْع َد ُم َح َّم ٍد صلى الله‬،‫ُقْلُت ل ِا ْب ِن َأِبي َأْوَفى َر َأ ْي َت ِإْبَر اِهيَم ا ْب َن ال َّن ِب ِّي صلى الله عليه وسلم َقاَل َما َت َص ِغي ًرا‬
‫ َو َل ِك ْن ل َا َن ِب َّي َب ْع َد ُه‬،‫عليه وسلم َن ِب ٌّي َعا َش ا ْب ُن ُه‬.

Narrated Isma`il:

I asked Abi `Aufa, “Did you see Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet ( ‫ ”? )ﷺ‬He
said, “Yes, but he died in his early childhood. Had there been a Prophet after
Muhammad then his son would have lived, but there is no Prophet after
him.“

[Sahih al-Bukhari 6194]

8
This narration is used by non-Ahmadi Muslims to prove that Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad (A.S) is a false Messiah and a prophet because the Sahaba (R.A)
clearly understood the statement “no prophet after” just as they understand
it.

Firstly, we reject this narration on the basis of Dirayat as it is blasphemous.

How can we accept that the station of Khatam-an-Nabiyyin, which is the
most important title of Muhammad (S.A.W) is in danger because of the life or
death of one child? This is because the interpretation that Ibrahim died only
because it would contradict the Khatamiyat of Muhammad (S.A.W) is
disrespectful.

Secondly, even if we take this hadith to be valid as per the rules of Dirayat,
the interpretation that we have provided in the previous ahadith still applies.

1. We know from the other ahadith that no prophet can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) because Caliphs have to succeed him (i.e come
right after him) as seen from the Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 and
the Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596. Thus, Ibrahim could not have been
a prophet after Muhammad (S.A.W)

2. We also know that Ibrahim could not be a prophet until 30 dajjals have
arrived as explained in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2218.

3. We also know that once 1 and 2 are completed, the Messiah will arrive
who is a prophet. This is explained in Tabarani, Hadith #4895.

Thirdly, the word ba’adi can also refer in terms of the status and rank of the
prophets. So the phrase “No prophet after me” or “Laa Nabiyya Ba`di”,
means that a prophet of similar status and influence cannot come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) i.e law bearing prophet. This is already explained in
detail above, under explanation #2 of the Hadith #2.

Hadith #4 – Ali (R.A) is to me as Harun (A.S) was to Musa

(A.S)
‫َقاَل “ َأَال َت ْر َضى َأْن َت ُكو َن ِم ِّني ِب َم ْن ِز َل ِة َها ُرو َن ِم ْن ُمو َسى ِإَّال َأَّنُه َل ْي َس َن ِب ٌّي َب ْع ِدي‬

Narrated Sa`d:

Allah’s Messenger ( ‫ )ﷺ‬set out for Tabuk. appointing `Ali as his deputy (in
Medina). `Ali said, “Do you want to leave me with the children and
women?” The Prophet ( ‫ )ﷺ‬said, “Will you not be pleased that you
will be to me like Aaron to Moses? But there will be no prophet after
me.“
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[Sahih al-Bukhari 4416]

This is another hadith that the non-Ahmadi Muslims bring to prove that no
prophets can come after Muhammad (S.A.W). This not only goes against
their own beliefs that Isa (A.S) will come after Muhammad (S.A.W) but it is
also a misunderstanding. There are multiple different explanations for this.

Explanation #1

The hadith very simply states that Ali (R.A) is not a prophet after Muhammad
(S.A.W) as Muhammad (S.A.W) won’t be succeeded by a prophet but Caliphs
and the prophet can only come after 30 dajjals have come. This is consistent
with the explanation we just gave above.

1. We know from the other ahadith that no prophet can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) because Caliphs have to succeed him (i.e come
right after him) as seen from the Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 and
the Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596. Thus, Ali (R.A) could not have
been a prophet after Muhammad (S.A.W).

2. We also know that Ali(R.A) could not be a prophet until 30 dajjals have
arrived as explained in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2218.

3. We also know that once 1 and 2 are completed, the Messiah will arrive
who is a prophet. This is explained in Tabarani, Hadith #4895.

Explanation #2

The word ba’adi can also refer to terms of the status and rank of the
prophets. So the phrase “No prophet after me” or “Laa Nabiyya Ba`di”,
means that a prophet of similar status and influence cannot come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) i.e law bearing prophet.

This interpretation is not something we just made up but it is proven from

multiple ahadith and the explanation of the Muslim scholars of all times.

Hadith #1 – No Caesar after Caesar

‫ َوا َّل ِذي َن ْف ُس ُم َح َّم ٍد ِب َي ِد ِه َل ُت ْن ِف ُق َّن ُك ُنو َز ُه َما ِفي َس ِبي ِل ال َّل ِه‬،‫ َو ِإ َذا َه َل َك َقْيَصُر َفَال َقْيَصَر َب ْع َد ُه‬،‫ِإَذا َه َل َك ِك ْس َرى َفَال ِك ْس َرى َب ْع َد ُه‬

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger ( ‫ )ﷺ‬said, “When Khosrau perishes, there will be no

(more) Khosrau after him, and when Caesar perishes, there will be no
more Caesar after him. By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad’s life is, you
will spend the treasures of both of them in Allah’s Cause.”

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[Sahih al-Bukhari 3618]

In this hadith, Muhammad (S.A.W is prophecizing that there will be no more

Khosrau and Caesar after the current one. For those who don’t know, Caesar
is the title of the Byzantine Emperor while Khosrau is the title of the Persian
Emperor. Thus if ba`di meant what non-Ahmadi Muslims are trying to
prove (even though it goes against them since they believe Isa (A.S) is
coming) then Muhammad (S.A.W) actually did a failed prophecy, God forbid.
Both these empires continued to exist until years after the death of
Muhammad (S.A.W), and many Khosrous and Caesars ruled after him.

The true meaning of this hadith is that no Khosrau or Caesar will have the
same authority and power as the current one and their empires will be on the
decline. So ba`di here means that the status of the next emperor would
lessen. This is the view of all Sunni and Shia Muslims in refutation of the
Islamophobes who bring this hadith to prove that Muhammad (S.A.W) was
wrong in his prediction, and thus is a false prophet.

In his commentary on the Sahih Bukhari hadith, Imam al-Khattabi (932-

1010/310-388 AH) said:

“The meaning of ‘when Caesar is ruined, there will be no Caesar

after him’ is that there shall not be any Caesar who would be as
powerful and influential as the Caesar of that time. The Caesar then
was living in Jerusalem, a city without visitation rights where Christians did
not have complete religious rites. No one had ever gone to Rome without
having visited the city either publicly or secretly. So, the Caesar of the time
was expelled from the city and its treasures were rendered open, and no
Caesar ever held control over the city afterwards.”

[‘A’alamul Hadith, 1447/2]

This is also the view of the scholars the like of Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (1372-
1449 AD/750-870 AH) and Abu Hatim al-Razi (811–890 AD/189-268 AH).

So just like ba`di means that the Emperor of the same status cannot
come in the future, similarly, ba`di also means that a prophet of the
same status as Muhammad (S.A.W) cannot come i.e a prophet who
brings a new law cannot come. But an ummati (a non-law bearing)
prophet can come who has a lesser status than Muhammad
(S.A.W). This is exactly what we already showed above when quoting the
verses and ahadith in the section with the title “Continuity of prophethood”.

Hadith #2 – No Hijrah after Hijrah

11
. ‫َكا َن َي ُقو ُل َال ِه ْج َر َة َب ْع َد اْلَف ْتِح‬

Narrated Mujahid bin Jabir Al-Makki:

`Abdullah bin `Umar used to say, “There is no more Hijrah (i.e.

migration) after the Conquest of Mecca.“

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3899]

This hadith also expands on the previous hadith on Khosrau and Caesar by
using the term ba’da. We know that Hijrah or migration continues to this day.
People migrate from one place to another even now and taking the meaning
that no hijrah can ever happen after the conquest of Mecca is actually
proving that Muhammad (S.A.W) lied, God forbid. So if we take it into context
just like the other hadith, it proves 2 things,

1. Hijrah of the same status as the Conquest of Mecca won’t happen just
like emperors of the same status as Khosrau and Caesar cannot come
after or no prophet of the same status like Muhammad (S.A.W) cannot
come after him.

2. It also means that the Conquest of Mecca was the last migration in the
time of Muhammad (S.A.W). Thus, when he says no prophet will come
after him, it is also specific to his time period that no prophet will
succeed him or come right after him. This is already explained above.

Ayesha (R.A) explains Muhammad (S.A.W) is not

the ABSOLUTE last prophet
Moreover, the explanation that non-law-bearing prophets can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) is also given by Ayesha (R.A) herself and multiple
scholars of Islam. She says,

‫قولوا انه خاتم النبیین وال تقولوا ال نبی بعدہ‬

“Certainly, do say, he (the Holy Prophet) is the Seal of all Prophets
(Khataman Nabiyyin), but do not say, there is no prophet after him.“

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah; v.14, p.521]

In this narration, she clearly explains that Khatam-an-Nabiyyin is not a term

to prove the absolute finality of the prophethood. She clarified so that people
do not take the statement literally and deny the possibility of the descent of
the Messiah in the end times. Her insight came true in the near future when
a rationalist sect (Mutazalites) within Islam began to reject the descent of the
Messiah.
12
This narration is not only authentic and regarded as Sahih by the Salafi
scholar Sa’d b. Nasir al-Shathri is also quoted and explained by many
scholars.

Imam Hazrat Ibn-e-Qutaibah (died 267 A.H.):

“The interpretation, put forth by her (Hazrat Aishah (ra)), does not contradict
the words of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) meant that
there would be no Prophet after him who would abrogate his law.

[Ta’wilu Mukhtalifil-Ahadith, p. 127]

Mulla Ali Qari writes:

“And this would not negate the Verse “Khaatam an Nabiyyeen”

(33:40) which means: ‘No prophet can come who will abrogate his
Millat or not be from his Ummah’”

[Asrar ul Marfu’ah, P. 285]

Shah Waliyyullah Muhaddith Dehlavi, Mujaddid (reformer) of the

12th century:

“From the words La Nabiyya ba’di used by the Holy Prophet (sa), we learn
with certainty that there would be no Prophet after him who would
bring a new Law or Shari’ah.”

[Qurratul-‘Ainain fi Tafdilish-Shaikhain, p. 319]

Hazrat Imam ‘Abdul-Wahhab Sha’rani (died 976 A.H.) writes:

“The Holy Prophet’s (sa) statements that there will be no Prophet or no

Messenger after him only meant that there will be no law-bearing
Prophet after him.”

[al-Yawaqit wal-Jawahir, vol. 2, p. 35]

The above quotes prove that the statement of Ayesha (R.A) is authentic
because non of the scholars rejected it but did taweel (interpretation) of it.
Scholar only does that when they consider the narration as authentic. For
more scholars, check this article.

The quotes also prove that non-law-bearing prophets can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) and thus the statement “There is no prophet after me” is
not absolute but refers to a specific type of prophet.

Hadith #5 – Thirty Dajjal?

13
‫ل َا َت ُقو ُم ال َّسا َع ُة َحَّتى َي ْن َب ِع َث َد َّجا ُلو َن َكَّذاُبوَن َق ِر يٌب ِم ْن َثل َا ِثي َن ُك ُّل ُه ْم َيْز ُعُم َأَّنُه َر ُسو ُل ال َّل ِه‬

“The Hour shall not be established until nearly thirty imposters,

Dajjal(liars) appear, each of them claiming that he is the Messenger of
Allah.”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2218

Non-Ahmadis, bring this hadith to prove that Muhammad (S.A.W)

prophesized that there will be 30 dajjal who will falsely claim to be a prophet
and thus Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S) is one of them.

Firstly, this actually proves our position that prophethood is not forever
closed. Muhammad (S.A.W) specifically gave a finite number (a number that
has an end) instead of saying ALL claimants of prophethood after him will be
false. This is because multiple Quranic verses and ahadith prove that
prophets can appear in the future, specifically the latter-day Messiah.

Secondly, the number of these 30 liars has long been reached before the
death of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S) as indicated by multiple scholars of
Islam.

ʻIyāḍ Ibn-Mūsā al-Ubbi (d. 827 AH):

[Ikmal al-Mu ‘lim bi-Fawa’id, pg. 463]

Muhammad Bin Yusuf al-Sanusi al-Hasani:

“It would be evident to every student of history of Islam that the truth of this
Hadith has been fully established. The number of imposters from the
time of the Holy Prophet (saw) till today has reached the
count indicated by the Holy Prophet saw in his prophecy”

[Mukammil Ikmal al-Ikmal, pg. 372]

Alamah Qastalani says:

“Qadi ‘Ayad states the truth of this hadith has been established because if
the number of the renowned false claimants of prophethood is counted from
the time of the Holy Prophet saw to the present time, this number has been
fulfilled”

[Al-Muwahib al-Ladunniyyah, v2, p.198] [Published at around 1500 A.D]

Nawab Siddique Hassan Khan:

14
“The prophecy made by the Holy Prophet (saw) regarding the advent of
Dajjal in this ummah has been fulfilled and their number as foretold has
been completed.”

[Hijajul Kiramah, pg. 239] [Published in 1874 A.D before the claim of Ahmad
(A.S) to Prophethood]

Hadith #6 – Prophethood/Messengership terminated

‫ َقاَل َفَش َّق َذ ِل َك َع َلى ال َّنا ِس َفَقاَل ” َل ِك ِن‬. ” ‫ِإ َّن الِّر َس اَلَة َو الُّنُبَّو َة َق ِد اْنَق َطَعْت َفل َا َر ُس وَل َب ْع ِدي َو َال َن ِب َّي‬
‫ َقاُلوا َيا َر ُسو َل ال َّل ِه َو َما ا ْل ُم َب ِّش َرا ُت َقاَل ” ُر ْؤ َيا ا ْل ُم ْس ِل ِم َو ِه َي ُجْز ٌء ِم ْن َأْجَز اِء ال ُّن ُب َّو ِة‬. ” ‫ا ْل ُم َب ِّش َرا ُت‬

Anas bin Malik narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: ‘Indeed Messenger-ship and

Prophethood have been terminated, so there shall be no Messenger
after me, nor a Prophet.‘” He(Anas) said:”The people were concerned
about that, so he (s.a.w) said: ‘But there will be Mubash-shirat.’ So they said:
‘O Messenger of Allah! What is Mubash-shirat?’ He said: ‘The Muslim’s
dreams, for it is a portion of the portions of Prophethood.'”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2272]

This narration is used by non-Ahmadi Muslims to prove that since both

Prophethood and Messengership have been terminated, no one after the
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) will be made a prophet and that Prophet (S.A.W)
clearly says there will be no Prophet and a Messenger after him.

Firstly, this interpretation is against the understanding of the Sahaba and

Muslim scholars. Ibn Abbas (R.A) explains that Muhammad (S.A.W) said these
words during his illness after which he eventually passed away and that this
was referring specifically in relation to his own prophethood. This is detailed
in the commentary of the same hadith in Bukhari 6990 by Ibn Hajar Al-
Asqalani:

“The prophethood under reference here is his i.e. the Holy Prophet’s
particular prophethood and it means that naught will remain of his particular
prophethood except mubashirat) (true visions)

[Fath al-Bari, vol 12, pg 321]

Secondly, the meaning of the rest of the hadith is similar to what we have
already explained for all the other ahadith. There can be no prophet
immediately after the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) since there would be

15
khilafat, then 30 Dajjal had to appear, and then the time of the Messiah
would come.

1. We know from the other ahadith that no prophet can come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) because Caliphs have to succeed him (i.e come
right after him) as seen from the Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 and
the Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596. Thus, Ibrahim could not have been
a prophet after Muhammad (S.A.W)

2. We also know that Ibrahim could not be a prophet until 30 dajjals have
arrived as explained in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2218.

3. We also know that once 1 and 2 are completed, the Messiah will arrive
who is a prophet. This is explained in Tabarani, Hadith #4895.

Thirdly, even Imam Tirmidhi (R.H) grades this hadith as Sahih Ghareeb i.e
authentic but unique. This is because the same hadith is found in many
books, even Bukhari 6990 but only this version is found with this wording.
Thus, we must look at other versions of this hadith to understand its
meaning.

Fourthly, the word ba’adi can also refer in terms of the status and rank of
the prophets. So the phrase “No prophet after me” or “Laa Nabiyya Ba`di”,
means that a prophet of similar status and influence cannot come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) i.e law bearing prophet. This is already explained in
detail above, under explanation #2 of the Hadith #2.

Fifthly, the hadith proves the continuation of a specific type of prophethood

in the form of mubashiraat, which is a portion of prophethood. Thus, if a
portion of prophethood continues, how can one say that it is completely
terminated?

Sixthly, Muhammad (S.A.W) started receiving the glad tidings of his

prophethood through mubashiraat, which are basically true visions/dreams
i.e Roya (‫) ُر ْؤ َيا‬. If the best of the Prophet (S.A.W) was made a prophet through
mubashiraat, then anyone after him can be appointed to the station of a
prophet similarly.

‫َأَّنَها َقاَلْت َأَّوُل َما ُب ِد َئ ِب ِه َر ُسو ُل ال َّل ِه صلى الله عليه وسلم ِم َن ا ْل َو ْح ِى الُّر ْؤ َيا ال َّصا ِد َق ُة ِفي ال َّن ْو ِم‬

Narrated `Aisha:
The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Messenger ( ‫ )ﷺ‬was
in the form of good righteous (true) dreams in his sleep.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 6982]

16
Conclusion

In summary, the statement “La Nabiyya ba’di” or “No prophet after me”
doesn’t mean that prophethood has closed off till Qiyamah. This is because
we have multiple verses and ahadith that prove prophets can come in the
future, specifically the Messiah has to come and he is a prophet. Keeping
that in mind, La Nabiyya ba’di has two meanings.

Firstly, No prophet can come after Muhammad (S.A.W) because Caliphs

have to succeed him then thirty (30) dajjals have to arrive, each of whom
claims to be a prophet. Once these two things happen, a prophet will come
i.e. the Messiah.

Secondly, ba’di in La Nabiyya ba’di indicates that no prophet will come after
Muhammad (S.A.W) of the same status as explained by Sahih al-Bukhari
3618 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3899. This proves that no Shari’ (law-bearing)
prophet can come after Muhammad (S.A.W).

17