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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Muhammad (S) is the Last Prophet 'Khatam' in Dictionaries and Usage We have just seen that in the context of the Qur'an and according to traditions, according to Ijma'a and according to Reason, the only meaning of "Khatamun-Nabiyyin" which is relevant is 'The Last of The Prophets', 'One who closed the prophethood. Now let us see what the dictionaries say about 'Khatam' or. 'Khatm '. ختم العمل = (Khatam al-amal) = He finished the, work given to him.

ختم الاناء = (Khatam al-ina'a) = He sealed the mouth of pot (so that nothing comes out of it and nothing enters into it). ختم الكتاب = (Khatam al-Kitab) = Closed the envelope and sealed it (so that nothing is added into the letter or put into the envelope). It must be mentioned here that 'seal' in Arabic does not mean the cancellation stamp of post offices which are put on the postal articles before sending them onward.

It means the seal of wax which is put on the envelopes to protect it from forgery or additions. ختم على القلب = (Khatama alal qalb) = He put a seal on the heart (so that no new idea enters into it and no old prejudice is removed from it). ختام كل مشروب = (Khitamu kulle mashrub) = The last taste felt at the end of a drink. ختامة كل شيء = (Khatematu kulle shay) = End of everyt hing; and its finish. ختم الشيء = (Khatamash shay) = To 'khatm' a thing means to come at the end of that thing.

And it is in this sense that we use the word 'Khatm ul-Qur'an', i.e., to read the Qur'an up to its end. Also it is for this reason that the last verses of each Sura are called (خواتيم) ' Khawateem '. ختم القوم = Khatam ul- Qawm = The last man of the tribe or nation. These meanings are given in all the authentic dictionaries of Arabic language.

The Qadianis say that if someone is said to be 'Khatam ush-Shu'ara' or 'Khatam ul-Mufassireen' or 'Khatam ul-Fuqaha', nobody thinks that after that person no other poet or Faqeeh (religious jurisprudent) or Mufassir (commentator) was born. Everybody thinks that it means that the said person was the most expert in that field of knowledge. These people forget that if a word is sometimes used metaphorically (in fill allegorical sense) that metaphorical use does not deprive it of its real meaning.

If, for example, the word 'Lion' is sometimes used for a brave man, it does not mean that this word cannot be used for the animal, for which it was coined. Such arguments show the hollowness of their minds and bankruptcy of their thinking.