Question
Assalamualaykum
What I have observed among many muslim preachers is that they emphasize a lot on prophecies of prophet(saw) that were made by him foretelling future events that came true hence proves the truth of islam. Even DawahWise did a livestream on it titled Prophecies Of Islam.
What I have also noticed like muslims even the Bahais adopt the similar methodology to prove the truthfulness of their religion. Bahais claim that their prophet Bahaullah predicted many future events that with time came true, which is evidence for them to show the world that Bahaullah was a true prophet. I have read a book on this topic and I will recommend that you read it as well, it is called Challenge of Bahaullah. I would like to share the list of prophecies Bahais claim Bahaullah made and came true, they are as follows
1) Bahaullah predicting Sultan Abdul Aziz and his prime minister Ali Pasha will lose power, an event which came true in history with subsequent downfall of Ottoman empire
2) Prediction that Napoleon III will lose his kingdom and that turmoil will occur in France
3) Bahaullah predicted eruption of wars in Europe, turmoil gripped Berlin and emergence of wars in Balkans and other European countries. Likewise as Bahais claim that Germany’s loss at the end of the war became a strong point of strengthening reputation of Baháulláh
4) Beginning of world war 1 that started in 1914 and formally lasted till 1918, thereafter communism rising throughout the world.
5) The possibility of transformation of copper into gold
How would you address this issue if you encounter a Bahai who attempts to prove the validity of his/her by referring to the prophecies of Bahaism when this is the similar methodology muslims resort to in order to prove that islam is true.
Answer
If a Baha’i follower approaches you with these sorts of claims, bid them farewell and get on with your day. Ultimately, these forms of claims should not affect our certainty in Islam. As the Qur’an is the book of Allah, sent down to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we know as a matter of absolute certainty that Muhammad ﷺ is the last and final Prophet. These claims that you mention in your question get disqualified when judged against the Qur’an; therefore, we do not need to entertain them.
Moreover, on the point that Muslim apologists use similar methodologies to prove Islam, this is often only as a secondary matter. The first and most significant evidence for Islam’s validity is the inimitability of the Qur’an – the Divine scripture revealed to Muhammad ﷺ. This is the miracle of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which transcends time and place; it is a miracle for every generation. Herein, Allah swt says:
Muhammad is not the father of any one of you men; he is Allah’s Messenger and the seal of the Prophets: Allah knows everything (Q. 33:40).
Khatam al-Nabiyyin requires a necessary clarification. Numerous parties claim that as a seal of Prophethood, the Prophet ﷺ can place a seal of approval on his successor to Prophethood. Allah’s refuge is sought as this is a heretical interpretation that takes one outside the fold of Islam. Moreover, we know from the authentic and mass-transmitted variations in Qur’anic recitation that this statement was also recited by the Prophet ﷺ as Khatim al-Nabiyyin – the last Prophet. In fact, the majority of these authentic and mass-transmitted variations read this as Khatim (with a kasra/zer). Therefore, this heretical interpretation would not be possible in the majority of the Qur’anic readings. Epistemologically, our belief as Muslims is that Khatam and Khatim have equal epistemic weight – one cannot affirm one reading and not the other as this would amount to kufr.
The reason for highlighting this intricate discussion is that Allah has left no doubt that Muhammad ﷺ is His last and final Prophet. This knowledge affords us the certainty that no individual that claims Prophethood after the Prophet ﷺ can be legitimate. While Baha’ullah is supposed to have made these alleged predictions, Dajjal will come to us with actual miracles. Dajjal will control the weather and give immense riches to those that follow him. Dajjal will be able to kill and then resurrect. Imagine scholars at the end of times receive a question suggesting that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had miracles, and so does this individual. Would that be legitimate?
The message of the Qur’an remains the same: the last and final Prophet of Allah is Muhammad ﷺ. Allah told us that he is both the seal of the Prophethood and the last Prophet. A person can come with predictions and claim Prophethood, but their source of information will not be Allah. It is important to stress that we do not need to entertain any such claims or investigate the matter further. If anyone claims Prophethood, and Allah has informed us that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the last Prophet, this claim is immediately disqualified. If this false Prophet makes predictions or brings life to the dead, the answer is the same. Their claim to “Prophethood” is immediately disqualified when judged against the Qur’an.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
معاني القرآن وإعرابه للزجاج» (4/ 230): وقرئت: وخاتِمَ النبيينَ وخاتَم النبيين فمَنْ كَسَرَ التاء فمعناه ختم النبيين، ومن قرأ وخاتَم النبيينَ – بفتحِ التاء فمعناه آخر النبيين، لَا نَبِى بعده – صلى الله عليه وسلم -»
«الهادي شرح طيبة النشر في القراءات العشر» (1483/):
… خاتم افتحوه نصّعا …المعنى: اختلف القرّاء في «وخاتم» من قوله تعالى: وَلكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ (سورة الأحزاب آية 40). فقرأ المرموز له بالنون من «نصّعا» وهو «عاصم» «وخاتم» بفتح التاء، على أنه اسم للآلة كالطابع، على معنى أن النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ختم به النبيّون ولا نبيّ بعده، ومعناه: آخر النبيين. وقرأ الباقون «وخاتم» بكسر التاء، على أنه اسم فاعل، والفاعل ضمير مستتر تقديره «هو» يعود على نبينا «محمد» صلى الله عليه وسلم المتقدم ذكره في صدر الآية في قوله تعالى: ما كانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجالِكُمْ وَلكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فهو عليه الصلاة والسلام ختم النبيين ولا نبيّ بعده
الحجة في القراءات السبع» (ص290): قوله تعالى: وَخاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ «6» يقرأ بكسر التاء وفتحها. فالحجة لمن كسر أنه أراد: اسم الفاعل من قولك: ختم النبيين فهو خاتمهم. ودليله قراءة (عبد الله) وختم النبيّين. والحجة لمن فتح: أنه أخذه من الخاتم الملبوس، لأنه جمال. وفيه أربع لغات: خاتم وخاتم وخاتام، وخيتام
حجة القراءات» (ص578): قَرَأَ عَاصِم {وَخَاتم النَّبِيين} بِفَتْح التَّاء أَي آخر النَّبِيين لِأَنَّهُ لَا نَبِي بعده صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَقَرَأَ الْبَاقُونَ {وَخَاتم النَّبِيين} بِكَسْر التَّاء أَي ختم النَّبِيين فَهُوَ خَاتم»
Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah
Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel