Dear Khazeh,
I don't have a problem with the idea that in certain passages in
Islamic texts here and there "last" or "Seal" might mean something
other than chronologically last. But I would want to still add a
couple of things.
The scholar Maududi whom you quote as an authority below still wrote
an entire book on the finality of prophethood (of Muhammad) and how
fundamental and essential a belief it is.
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/M_fop/index.htm
So his words you quote should definitely be seen in that context. He
may see "last moque" in some metaphorical way, but he definitely is
still saying that Muhammad is the chronologically last prophet and
messenger.
In fact, the above book actually addresses the expression "last
prophet" and "last masjid" and specifically refutes how you are using
it.
A second point which came to mind upon reading your e-mail is the idea
in Islam it is also said that the entire earth is a "masjid"
(literally a place for prostration) since Muslims can pray on pretty
much any piece of clean earth. And in that sense the earth is arguably
"the last masjid" in some chronological sense. But that's just
speculation on my part.
-G
On 5/17/06, Khazeh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
In the very important Book of Hadith it is recorded that towards the end of
His Holy Ministry the Prophet of God, S.alla Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam, said
one day: that I am the last of the Apostles and my Mosque is the last of the
Mosques.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/007.smt.html#00
Book 007, Number 3211:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Prayer in the mosque of
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) is more excellent than a thousand
prayers in other mosques except the Masjid al-Haram, for Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) is the last of the Apostles, and his mosque is the
last of the mosques. Abu Salama and Abu Abdullah (two of the narrators in
this chain of narrations said: We had no doubt that what Abu Haraira (Allah
be pleased with him) had said was from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him), and so we did not like to get an attestation from Abu Huraira about
this hadith until Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) died. We discussed
it (the issue of getting attestation from Abu Huraira) amongst ourselves and
blamed one another as to why we did not talk about it to Abu Huraira
regarding it so that he could attribute its transmission to Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) in case he had heard It from him. While we
were discussing it as we sat with 'Abdullah b. Ibrahlm b. Qariz; we made a
mention of this hadith, and our omission (in getting its attestation) about
its direct transmission by Abu Huraira from him (the Holy Prophet) ;
thereupon Abdullah b. Ibrahim said to us: I bear witness to the fact that I
heard Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) say that Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) said: I am the last of the Apostles and my mosque is
the last of the mosques.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/007.smt.html#00
When this word of truth is uttered one is led to think as to the
meaning/significance/ of Lastness [aakhiriyyat]
A very distinguished Sunni teacher Abul 'Alaa al-Mawdudi (1903-1979) says:
He says, God rest his soul, that lastness here means sanctity
that there are only three mosques in the world to which the greatest
sanctity is attached, and these are sacred above all other mosques. Worship
in these mosques is rewarded with thousandfold blessings in comparisons to
offering prayers in other mosques. It is because of this reason that it has
been declared lawful to undertake a journey to these mosques to offer
prayers therein. No other mosque, save these three, can claim such sanctity
that a person should make a journey to offer worship there leaving all other
mosques. Among the three mosques which bear the greatest sanctity in Islam,
the first one is `Masjid Al-Haram' which was built by Hadrat Abraham(peace
be upon him); the second one is the`Masjid al-Aqsa' which was erected by
Hadrat Sulaiman (peace be upon him); and the third mosque is
`Masjid-i-Nabawi' in the Holy city of Medina which was founded by the Holy
Prophet(PBUH).
The observation of the Holy Prophet in regard to `the last mosque' should be
viewed in this context. The words of the Prophet(PBUH) meant that no Prophet
would come after him, hence there would be no fourth mosque after the last
Masjid-i-Nabawi(a mosque of the last Prophet). It follows, therefore, that
no other mosque should bear such sanctity, that worship in it should be
rewarded with more blessings in comparison with worship in other mosques and
further there shall be no fourth mosque towards which it is lawful or even
desirable for people to make a journey in order to offer prayers.
http://wwwiiu.edu.my/deed/articles/finalprophet.html
With all respect to these explanations this servant would submit these holy
Words too:
** I beseech Thee by Thy Lastness which is the same as Thy Firstness, and by
Thy Revelation which is identical with Thy Concealment, to grant that they
who are dear to Thee, and their children, and their kindred, may become the
revealers of Thy purity amidst Thy creatures, and the manifestations of Thy
sanctity amongst Thy servants.
Thou art, verily, powerful to do Thy pleasure. Thou art, in truth, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
(Baha'u'llah: Prayers and Meditations, Page: 229)
From these statements therefore it hath been made evident and manifest that
should a Soul in the "End that knoweth no end" be made manifest, and arise
to proclaim and uphold a Cause which in "the Beginning that hath no
beginning" another Soul had proclaimed and upheld, it can be truly declared
of Him Who is the Last and of Him Who was the First that they are one and
the same, inasmuch as both are the Exponents of one and the same Cause. For
this reason, hath the Point of the Bayan - may the life of all else but Him
be His sacrifice! - likened the Manifestations of God unto the sun which,
though it rise from the "Beginning that hath no beginning" until the "End
that knoweth no end," is none the less the same sun. Now, wert thou to say,
that this sun is the former sun, thou speakest the truth; and if thou sayest
that this sun is the "return" of that sun, thou also speakest the truth.
Likewise, from this statement it is made evident that the term "last" is
applicable to the "first," and the term "first" applicable to the "last;"
inasmuch as both the "first" and the "last" have risen to proclaim one and
the same Faith.
Notwithstanding the obviousness of this theme, in the eyes of those
that have quaffed the wine of knowledge and certitude, yet how many are
those who, through failure to understand its meaning, have allowed the term
"Seal of the Prophets" to obscure their understanding, and deprive them of
the grace of all His manifold bounties! Hath not Muhammad, Himself,
declared: "I am all the Prophets?"
(Baha'u'llah: The Kitab-i-Iqan, Pages: 161-162)
These offerings are not in disputation or going over territory recently
covered but to offer new perspectives
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