Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (14/419)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

and Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon; and We gave David the Psalms.” [al-Nisa’: 163]

These prophets were messengers, as indicated by His statement at the end of the verses:

“Messengers bearing glad tidings and warnings, so that people would have no argument against Allah after the coming of the messengers.” [al-Nisa’: 165]

Evidence from the sunnah is that, on the Day of Resurrection, people will come to Noah seeking intercession. Among what they will say to him is: “You are the first messenger whom Allah sent to the people of the earth.” (1)

Thus, the evidence that Noah was the first messenger sent to the people of the earth is abundant in both the Quran and the sunnah.

As for the last of them, it was Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him. He was also the last of the messengers and the prophets, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Rather, he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” [al-Ahzab: 40]

Reflect on why He did not say, “the Seal of the Messengers,” even though the discussion concerns the messengers. Rather, He said, “the Seal of the Prophets,” so that it may be clear that no prophet or messenger will come after him. Whoever claims prophethood after the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—is a disbeliever, because he has denied the Quran. This is also indicated by His statement, Exalted is He:

“We have sent you only as a mercy to the worlds.” [al-Anbiya’: 107]

And His statement:

“Say, ‘O mankind, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all.’” [al-A‘raf: 158]

And other similar verses which indicate that he is a messenger until the Day of Resurrection. This shows that after him people have no need of a prophet or a messenger, because his law will remain. Hence Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: “Indeed, We”

(1) Narrated by al-Bukhari in The Stories of the Prophets, chapter: “Indeed, We sent Noah to his people...” (3340); and by Muslim in The Book of Faith, chapter: “The lowest-ranking inhabitants of Paradise” (194), on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him.

وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا﴾ [النساء:١٦٣]، وهؤلاء النبيون رسل لقوله في آخر الآيات: ﴿رُسُلاً مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ﴾ [النساء: ١٦٥]. ودليل من السنة أن الناس يأتون نوحاً يوم القيامة لطلب الشفاعة فيقولون له في جملة ما يقولون: «أنت أول رسول بعثه الله إلى أهل الأرض» (١). فالأدلة على أن أول رسول أرسل إلى أهل الأرض هو نوح متعددة في القرآن، وفي السنة. أما آخرهم فمحمد ﷺ، وهو آخر الرسل والأنبياء أيضاً، لقوله تعالى: ﴿وَلَكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾ [الأحزاب: ٤٠]، وتأمل لِمَ عدل عن أن يقول: وخاتم الرسل، مع أن الحديث في الرسل؛ بل قال: ﴿وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾ ليتبين أنه لن يأتي بعده لا نبي ولا رسول، فمن ادعى النبوة بعد الرسول ﵊ فإنه كافر؛ لأنه مكذب للقرآن، ويدل على هذا ـ أيضاً ـ قوله تعالى: ﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ﴾ [الأنبياء:١٠٧]، وقوله: ﴿قُلْ يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا﴾ [الأعراف: ١٥٨]، وما أشبه ذلك من الآيات الدالة على أنه رسول إلى يوم القيامة، وهذا يدل على أن الناس لا يحتاجون بعده إلى نبي ولا رسول؛ لأن شريعته ستبقى، ومن ثم قال الله ﷿: ﴿إِنَّا

(١) أخرجه البخاري في أحاديث الأنبياء باب قوله تعالى: ﴿إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا﴾ … ﴾ (٣٣٤٠)، ومسلم في الإيمان باب أدنى أهل الجنة منزلة فيها (١٩٤) عن أبي هريرة ﵁.