Khatm-e-Nabuwwat and the legacy of Islamic prophethood

The doctrine of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, which asserts the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad, serves as an essential article of faith in Islam. This belief is rooted in the Holy Quran, specifically citing Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40, which describes Muhammad as the ‘Seal of the Prophets.’

Historically, this theological principle has faced challenges, leading to various forms of Muslim response including scholarship, public discourse, and constitutional struggle. In the history of the Indian subcontinent, figures such as Syed Attaullah Shah Bukhari and other scholars defended this doctrine during periods of significant political and religious turbulence in British India.