The teachings of the Holy Qur’an are the primary source of the Islamic nation, in which complete guidance is available regarding every aspect of human life. The belief in the finality of Prophethood has bound the Muslim Ummah in a chain of unity and stability. The gathering of all the sons of Islam upon the belief of the finality of Prophethood is a miracle of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the greatest mercy of Allah. In the Holy Qur’an, there are more than one hundred verses related to this belief.
Allah Almighty says:
“Muhammad ﷺ is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets. And Allah is aware of everything.” (Surah Al-Ahzab)
In this verse, Allah Almighty declared the Holy Prophet ﷺ as Khatam-un-Nabiyyin (Seal of the Prophets), announcing that he ﷺ is the last Prophet. Similarly, in Surah Al-Ma’idah of the Holy Qur’an, it is stated:
“Today I have completed your religion for you, and I have perfected My blessing upon you (in the form of the Prophethood and Messengership of Muhammad ﷺ), and I have chosen Islam as your religion.”
In this blessed verse, the completion of religion refers to Islam, whereas the perfection of blessings refers to the finality of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
In Surah Al-A’raf, it is stated:
“Say (O Prophet ﷺ): O people! Verily, I am the Messenger of Allah to all of you.”
And We have sent you ﷺ as a Messenger for all the worlds, and Allah’s testimony is sufficient upon your Prophethood. Numerous Hadiths also prove the belief in the finality of Prophethood, which is clear evidence of this belief and is free from all kinds of doubts in terms of indication and proof. The belief in the finality of Prophethood is among the collective beliefs, which are considered part of Islam, the principles of religion, and the necessities of religion.
Just as in Islam belief in the Oneness of Allah Almighty, Prophethood, the Hereafter, and the angels is obligatory, similarly, this belief is also obligatory—that Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ is the last Prophet and Messenger of Allah, and after his ﷺ appointment, no other Prophet will be born till the Day of Judgment, and the door of Prophethood will not be opened for anyone now. Therefore, whoever denies the meaning and interpretation of the finality of Prophethood, or distorts it, is unanimously outside the fold of Islam and the Muslim Ummah.
The first Caliph, Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (رضي الله عنه), is the first protector of the belief in the finality of Prophethood. To strengthen the foundations of this belief, the Companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ sacrificed their blood. The sacred blood of the Companions irrigates the garden of the belief in the finality of Prophethood.
In the movements of 1953 and 1974, thousands of scholars, pious people, saints, and the entire Muhammad’s Ummah played a central and pivotal role. Whenever the demand of love arises, the Ummah appears in the battlefield with life and heart on their palms for the defense of the belief in the finality of Prophethood — because the Ummah of Muhammad knows well that the protection of the sacred being of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and love for the finality of Prophethood means love and affection for the Holy Prophet ﷺ. And distance from the finality of Prophethood means distance from him ﷺ, and the Ummah can never tolerate distance from the blessed being of the Holy Prophet ﷺ—because this Ummah always seeks excuses to gain closeness to the Holy Prophet ﷺ. No closeness and love can be greater than the belief in the finality of Prophethood. That is why the Muslim Ummah has always remained united and agreed on the protection of this belief, and the defense and protection of this belief has always been and will remain an essential part of the faith of the Muslim Ummah.
From the era of Prophethood till today, many unfortunate people have made false claims of Prophethood, but the history of Islam testifies that whenever any claimant of Prophethood looked greedily towards the crown of Prophethood, the passionate Muslims, filled with the love of Mustafa ﷺ, performed the duty of Jihad. Mirza Qadiani made the claim of Prophethood in 1901. Even at the time of the creation of Pakistan, his followers conspired a lot. Approximately thirty thousand Muslims sacrificed their lives because the one who tries to breach the finality of Prophethood will not be tolerated.
In 1953, the religious scholars launched such a powerful movement against the Qadianis that the Muslim Ummah not only became aware of this issue but all Muslims, forgetting their sectarian differences, became united. Eventually, responding to the voice of the scholars of the Ummah and in defense of the honor of Prophethood, the sacred blood of thirty thousand lovers of the Holy Prophet ﷺ bore fruit in such a way that on 24th May 1974, the President of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Abdul Qayyum, was the first to sign the bill declaring Qadianis a non-Muslim minority.
On 28th May, when students of Nishtar Medical College Multan raised the slogan "Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Zindabad" (Long live the Finality of Prophethood) at the Chenab Nagar Railway Station located in Rabwah, the Qadianis were displeased and attacked the students with sticks, batons, and axes. The news of this incident spread like wildfire throughout the country, and a series of rallies, processions, and protests began nationwide. Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other religious parties demanded that Qadianis be declared non-Muslims. On 30th June 1974, the opposition members of the National Assembly—including the leader of Ahl-e-Sunnat, Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani, Maulana Mufti Mahmood, Professor Ghafoor Ahmad, and others—presented a resolution to declare Qadianis as a non-Muslim minority.
They continued to present arguments for several days, and it is also on record that the last debate with Mirza Nasir was conducted by Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani (رحمه الله). Among the senior scholars of Ahl-e-Sunnat, the name of the preacher of Islam and conqueror of Qadianism, Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani (رحمه الله), will always remain inscribed. After the long struggle of Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani and scholars of all schools of thought, finally, on 7th September 1974, Qadianis were declared a non-Muslim minority in the Constitution of Pakistan—which is undoubtedly a memorable and historic day in Islamic history.
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