NOTICE: This article is a reproduction from Submitters Perspective No 41, May 1988.
Muhammad was the final prophet because he delivered the final scripture. According to the Koran, he was not the last messenger (33:40). Any messenger to come after Muhammad is to preach and confirm existing scripture (3:81). Unfortunately, there is a strong human aversion to the idea of a living, “contemporary messenger.” The Koran teaches that Muhammad was ridiculed by his contemporaries: “Is this the one who claims to be God’s messenger?” they said. “Is this the one who disrespects your gods?” “Why didn’t God commission a better man?” (21:36, 23:44, 25:41, 43:31). The prophet Joseph was treated with suspicion and contempt, then, when he died the people declared that he was God’s last messenger (40:34).
The vast majority of Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last messenger, even though this idea goes totally against Muhammad’s teachings (7:35, 33:40).
God has provided powerful, physical, proof in support of my mission as His commissioned messenger to the New World.
God made a covenant with the prophets, that He will give them the scripture and wisdom. Thereafter, when a messenger comes to you (0 Humankind), confirming the scripture you have, you shall believe in him and support him. God said, “Have you accepted this, and make such a pledge with Me?” They said, “We accept.” He said, “You have thus borne witness, and I am a witness along with you. (3:81)
وَإِذ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ ميثٰقَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ لَما ءاتَيتُكُم مِن كِتٰبٍ وَحِكمَةٍ ثُمَّ جاءَكُم رَسولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِما مَعَكُم لَتُؤمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ قالَ ءَأَقرَرتُم وَأَخَذتُم عَلىٰ ذٰلِكُم إِصرى قالوا أَقرَرنا قالَ فَاشهَدوا وَأَنا۠ مَعَكُم مِنَ الشّٰهِدينَ
The disbelievers would say, “You are not a messenger.” Say, “God suffices as witness between me and you; also those who possess knowledge of the scripture. [13:43]
وَيَقولُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَستَ مُرسَلًا قُل كَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهيدًا بَينى وَبَينَكُم وَمَن عِندَهُ عِلمُ الكِتٰبِ
Nothing prevented the people from believing when the guidance came to them, except their saying, “How can God send a human messenger?” Say, “If the earth were inhabited by angels, we would have sent to them an angel as a messenger.” Say, “God suffices as witness between me and you. He is fully cognizant and seer of His servants.” [17:94-96]
وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ إِلّا أَن قالوا أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَسولًا
قُل لَو كانَ فِى الأَرضِ مَلٰئِكَةٌ يَمشونَ مُطمَئِنّينَ لَنَزَّلنا عَلَيهِم مِنَ السَّماءِ مَلَكًا رَسولًا
قُل كَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهيدًا بَينى وَبَينَكُم إِنَّهُ كانَ بِعِبادِهِ خَبيرًا بَصيرًا
Joseph had come to you in the past, with clear signs. But you doubted what he told you. Then, when he died, you said, “God will not send another messenger after him.” God thus misleads those who are transgressors, doubters. [40:34]
وَلَقَد جاءَكُم يوسُفُ مِن قَبلُ بِالبَيِّنٰتِ فَما زِلتُم فى شَكٍّ مِمّا جاءَكُم بِهِ حَتّىٰ إِذا هَلَكَ قُلتُم لَن يَبعَثَ اللَّهُ مِن بَعدِهِ رَسولًا كَذٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن هُوَ مُسرِفٌ مُرتابٌ
Muhammad was not the father of any of your men; he was a messenger of God and the final prophet. God is fully aware of all things. [33:40]
ما كانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبا أَحَدٍ مِن رِجالِكُم وَلٰكِن رَسولَ اللَّهِ وَخاتَمَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ وَكانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ عَليمًا
The arrogant leaders among his people said to those who believed, “Do you know that Saaleh is sent by his Lord?” They said, “We believe in the message he brought.” [7:75]
قالَ المَلَأُ الَّذينَ استَكبَروا مِن قَومِهِ لِلَّذينَ استُضعِفوا لِمَن ءامَنَ مِنهُم أَتَعلَمونَ أَنَّ صٰلِحًا مُرسَلٌ مِن رَبِّهِ قالوا إِنّا بِما أُرسِلَ بِهِ مُؤمِنونَ