The advent of a prophet is not an everyday occurrence. The presence of a prophet in person is not essential for every land, people, and period. The life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) serve as the light to guide people to the right path. And as long as his teachings and guidance are alive, he is. The real death of a prophet occurs not in his physical demise, but in the interpolation of his teachings and the alleviation of his guidance. The earlier prophets have died because their followers have adulterated their teachings, interpolated their instructions, and tarnished their example by attaching fictitious events to them.
Not one of the earlier books (Torah, Psalms, Gospel, etc.,) exists today in its original text, and even the followers of these books confess that they do not possess the original books. The life stories of the earlier prophets have been so mixed up with fiction that an accurate and authentic account of their lives has become impossible. Their lives have become tales and legends, and no trustworthy record is a available anywhere. Not only have the records been lost and their precepts forgotten, but it cannot even be known with certainty when and where a certain prophet was born and bred, how he lived, and what code he gave to mankind. In fact, the real death of a prophet consists in the death of his teachings.
Judging the facts on this criterion, no one can deny that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his teachings are alive. His teachings stand uncorrupted and are incorruptible. The Qur’an—the book he brought to mankind—exists in its original text, without the slightest alteration of letter, syllable, jot, or title. The entire account of his life—his sayings, instructions, and actions—is preserved with complete accuracy, so much so that even after the lapse of 13 centuries, its delineation in history is so clear and complete that it seems as if we are seeing him with our own eyes. No biography of any human being has been preserved as well as that of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him). In each and every matter of life we can seek the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and take a lesson from his life. That is why there is no need of any other prophet after Muhammad, the last Prophet.
Furthermore, there are three things which necessitate the advent of a new prophet:
The teachings of the earlier prophets have been interpolated or corrupted, or they have died and their revival is needed. In such a case a new prophet is raised so that he may purge the impurities from the lives of the people and restore religion to its pristine form and purity.
The teachings of a prophet who has passed away were incomplete and it is necessary to amend them, improve upon them, or add something to them.
That the earlier prophet was raised particularly for a certain nation or territory and a prophet is required for another nation, people, or country.
These are the three fundamental conditions which necessitate the raising of a new prophet. A careful perusal of the facts shows that none of these conditions exists today. The teachings of the last prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) are alive and have been fully preserved. The guidance he has shown to mankind is complete and flawless, and is enshrined in the Holy Qur’an. All the sources of Islam are fully intact, and each and every instruction or action of the Prophet can be ascertained without the least shadow of doubt. Thus, as his teachings are totally intact, there is no need of any of new prophet on this count.
Further, God has completed His revealed guidance through Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and Islam is the complete religion for mankind: (Today, I have perfected your Faith for you, and have completed My bounty upon you … ) (Al-Ma’idah 5: 3), and a thorough study of Islam as a complete way of life proves the truth in these Qur’anic words. Islam gives guidance for life in this world and life in the hereafter, and nothing essential has not been perfected. Hence, there is no ground for new prophethood on the plea of imperfection.
Lastly, the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was not meant for any particular people, place, or period. He was raised as the world’s Prophet; the Messenger of the truth for the whole of mankind: (O mankind, I am God’s Messenger to all of you) (Al-A`raf 7: 158). He has been described as (a mercy for all (the people of) the worlds) (Al-Anbiya’ 21: 107) and his approach was universal. That is why after him there remains no need for new prophethood, and he has been described by the Qur’an as khatam-un-Nabiyyin (the last of the chain of the true prophets).
Therefore, now, the only source for the knowledge of God and His way is through Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We can know of Islam only through his teachings which are so complete and so comprehensive that the world does not need any new prophet, it needs only such people who have faith in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and become the bearers of his message, who propagate the message to the world at large, and endeavor to establish their way of life like that of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The world needs such men of character to translate the Prophet’s teachings into practice and establish a society governed by the divine law; through its supremacy and success the success of man hinges.
