Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah has full knowledge of all things.(Chapter 33 Verse 41)
The main difference between the Non Ahmadis and the Ahmadis on this verse is that the non Ahmadis believe that this ayah is stating that Muhammad(saw) is the last and final prophet. But then on the other side they await a prophet themselves so clearly contradict their earlier belief. However, as Ahmadi Muslims we believe that this verse is a great blessing for the ummah and shows the status of our master, The Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw). This ayah does not refer to prophethood being closed in any way and this interpretation would only contradict the Qur’an and Ahadith.
Holy Quran clearly states that The Holy Prophet(Saw), is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. This verse nowhere closes prophethood, in fact supports the beliefs of Ahmadiyyat by calling Holy Prophet(Saw) the seal of the prophets.
On the other hand the verse says Holy Prophet(Saw) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the prophets. Why would Allah say he is not the Father of Any of your men (talking about his status) and then say but he is the Last of the prophets? That clearly does not make sense. As we read the verse we should understand that Allah is talking about that status of the Holy Prophet (saw) and the correct meaning of Seal is the greatest prophet, never will a new law be needed nor a shariah and Islam is the last law, however Holy Prophet(Saw) himself has mentioned of a messiah, and a prophet of latter days which will be discussed as we go on. The opponents mocked Muhammad (saw) for not having children(who lived long) , the word here is referring to men not children. Now if you maintain the view held by main ulema that it means last and that even in his own ummah a prophet who follows him cannot appear what would the meaning in this context of the verse be? Non Ahmadi’s say he is not the father of a men but also no prophet will be born from his ummah, now this is an insult to nabi(saw) by saying that no prophet will be born in his ummah. We say as Ahmadis that the Quran answers to the allegations that if hes not the father of men like you it’s not a shame, your fathers should be ashamed who gave birth to opponents of nabi(Saw). This verse is a response to them, yes its honorable position that nabi(saw) was not given sons like you people but he is the father of all prophets, he is khataman nabiyeen the best of all the prophets.
Everyone who knows Arabic would agree that khatam does not refer to last nor does it refer to bringing to an end, rather it refers to a rank. It is known as Ism Ala which means a tool. It refers to the tool which is used to make a stamp or seal something. Whenever this word is attributed to a group in the Arabic language, it always refers to the rank of the person and their superiority. Many have been given titles with khatam. For example Abu Tamam was called khatamush-shuara, Hadhrat Ali(ra) was called Khatamul Auliya, and Imam Suyuti (ra) was called Khatamul Muhaqqin. Never do we interpret it to mean last for them? Why then mock the Prophet Muhammad(Saw) and claim that no one from his ummah can reach prophethood while countless of prophets can from the nation of Moses(as)?
The non Ahmadis try to use this ayah to prove that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) is the last prophet, but at the same time they await the latter day messiah to come as a prophet, which further shows the confusion they have within their beliefs. Some also try to make a claim that a seal refers to closure but any person would agree that a seal is affixed to a document to show that it is authentic and certified. This verse shows us that although the Prophet Muhammad(saw) did not have a male progeny, he is the chief of all of the prophets and the greatest of them all. He is the spiritual progenitor of all of the prophets and messengers. If one claims that the verse meant he is the last prophet, they would read the verse as “Muhammad had no son but he is the last prophet”. This itself would make no sense and be an insult to the Prophet.
Now even if we were to accept the interpretation of the non Ahmadi Muslims, the fact would remain that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) prophesied about a prophet and that prophet had to come in the end times. What would they do in regards to this prophecy? The reality is that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) is a spiritual father of the prophets because of his rank in the eyes of Allah. Allah has blessed him to such a level which no prophet can ever reach. He is the chief of all the prophets.
Just as an imprinted stamp shows us a reflection of the actual image, just like that one who follows the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) wholeheartedly can achieve his qualities. All true prophets are a reflection of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) just as a stamp reflects its original image. Some ask whether the prophets before the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) had these qualities, and the answer to this is absolutely. The Holy Prophet(saw) stated:
انی عند اللہ مكتوب خاتم النبیین و ان آدم لمنجدل فی طینتہ
“I was the Seal of the Prophets even when Adam was in the elementary stages of his development.” (Mishkat al Masabih, Kitabul Fitan, Musnad Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Kanzul Ummal)
This hadith itself tells us that every prophet from the time of Adam(as) to the time of the Holy Prophet(saw) had his qualities are were under his seal.
The Promised Messiah(as) has stated:
“Allah the Almighty made the Holy Prophet(saw) the possessor of a seal, that is to say that He granted him a seal for the dissemination of excellence which was not given to any other prophet at all. It is for this reason that he was named Khataman Nabiyyin. In other words, obedience to the Holy Prophet(saw) endows a person the excellences of prophethood and his spiritual influence fashions prophets as it were (Haqiqatul Wahi Page 28)
He(as) also states:“If it is asked that the Holy Prophet (saw) him being Khatamun Nabiyyeen, how can any other prophet arise after him? The answer is that without a doubt, no new or old prophet can come after the Holy Prophet as you believe that Jesus, being a prophet, would come in the latter days. Your doctrine is that for 40 years Jesus would continue to be a prophet and a recipient of divine revelation, a period that by far exceeds the period of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet. Such a doctrine is, no doubt, sinful and its falsity is borne witness to by the Hadith: ‘There will be no prophet after me’.
I am utterly opposed to all such doctrines and I have firm belief in the verse:‘But he is the Messenger of Allah and Khatamun Nabiyyeen’ (33:41).
This verse contains a prophecy of which our opponents are not aware, and that prophecy is that after the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, all doors of prophecy have been closed and that it is not possible now that a Hindu or a Jew or a Christian or a merely formal Muslim, should be able to establish the applicability of the word prophet to himself.
All windows of Prophethood are now closed except the window of complete obedience to the Holy Prophet.Therefore, he who approaches God through this window is reflectively clothed with the same cloak of Prophethood which is the cloak of the Muhammadi Prophethood. The Prophethood of such a one is not apart and distinct from the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet, inasmuch as he does not claim it in his own right but receives everything from the fountain of the Holy Prophet, not for himself but for his glory….
Therefore the concept of Khatamun Nabiyyeen has not been contravened by my advent, but it would certainly be contravened by the advent of Jesus a second time.”( Ek Ghalti Ka Izalah ‘A Misconception Removed’)