With-Love-to-Muhammad

Opinion of the Sahāba ra , Ā’immah, and Mujaddidīn rh 233
18. As demonstrated, Hazrat Maulānā Rūm rh clearly writes
in Miftāh Al-‘Ūlūm Sharah Mathnawī:
Strive hard in the path of service so that you may achieve
prophethood while remaining an ummatī [a follower of the
Holy Prophet sa ].
19. The founder of Madrassat-ul-‘Ūlūm Deoband, Hazrat
Maulwī Muhammad Qāsim Nanautwī says in Tahzīr-un-
Nas, Page 3:
The general public may conceive that “Khātam-un-Nabiyyīn”
means that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be
on him) was the last of the prophets but people of knowledge
and understanding know very well that being the first or last
does not necessarily connote excellence. The words
225
وَلٰكِنْ‏ رَّسُ‏ وْلَ‏ ٰ اهللّ‏ ِ وَخَاتمَ‏ َ ٖ النَّبِينّ‏ َ
are designed to convey the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings
of Allāh be on him) exalted and unequalled status and this
alone is the correct interpretation. Khātamiyyat is not in any
way rejected or denied if a prophet appears after the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be on him). However, if
Khātamiyyat is only taken to mean the last prophet, this would
be a disparaging interpretation. Such an interpretation would
not be acceptable to followers of Islām.
225
...but he is the Messenger of Allāh and the Seal of the Prophets. –Sūrah Al-
Ahzāb, 33:41