The Holy Qur’an, in more than one hundred of its verses, has made it clear that NO new Prophet or prophetic revelation will be sent after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Some examples of the quotations from the Holy Qur’an, which point out that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the final Prophet are : Surat Al-Maidah (5:3) and Al-Ahzab (33:40).

Over two hundred hadith (sayings of the Prophet {PBUH}) further support this injunction of the Qur’anic Message. The Holy Qur’an and hadith have been consistent on this point since the advent of Islam.

In addition, close companions of the Prophet (PBUH), great scholars, and the entire Ummah have agreed on this basic tenant and consider it Kufr (disbelief) to entertain the possibility of Allah’s (SWT) commissioning any other Prophet. Islam abrogated all religions in the past and in the future.

All this evidence unanimously supported the fundamental doctrine of Finality of Prophethood in Prophet Muhammad {PBUH}). The entire Ummah has recognized anyone who claims to be a prophet (in any capacity) or supports someone else’s claim to prophethood as an unbeliever (Kafir).

According to this fundamental belief, anyone claiming to be a prophet of God is an impostor (Dajjal) whose claim is contrary to the teachings of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned us of the Dajjals (liars) who would appear after him before the Day of Judgement. Explicitly, he said: “The Hour will not come ... until nearly thirty Dajjals appear, each one claiming to be a messenger from Allah.”

(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Weakness of belief and lack of information have led some Muslims to the acceptance of Dajjals like Musailama the Liar. Then false claims followed shortly after him and thereafter the false self-proclaimed prophets appeared from time to time.

With regard to the modern history, most recent proclaimed prophets and deviant sects have originated in Iran and the Indian subcontinent under the patronage of the Jews and the British colonialist. The most famous among these deviant are Babism and Bahaism.

Babism:

Babism, is developed as an offshoot of Imami Shiism, an Islamic disident sect. Its principles were proclaimed at Shîrîz, Persia (now Iran), on May 23, 1844, by Mirza Ali Muhammad of Shîrîz, who became known as the Bab ("gate" in Arabic) because he was considered the gate to divine truth!

In opposition to mainstream Islamic beliefs, the Bab declared that that he himself was not only a prophet but also on a par with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Bab also proclaimed himself to be the precursor of an even greater “Manifestation” - which would appear 19 years after the founding of Babism - and the possessor of an entirely new revelation or Holy Book, called the Bayan (Revelation), which is alleged to supersede the Qur’an.

Babism forbids polygamy and abrogates either entirely or in part the five pillars of Islam (Testimony of Faith, Salât, Zakat, Fasting and Pilgrimage) and other Muslim instructions and legal prescriptions. Instead, the Bab adopted some Hindu and Christian concepts. He is alleged to have exhorted people to purify themselves in preparation for the coming of “Him Whom God shall make manifest”.

He met with speedy success in promulgating his faith throughout Persia, until the accession of Nasr al-Din Shah, in 1848. Persuaded that the tenets of Babism were a menace to both Islam and the State, the Shah had defeated and quashed the Bab and his followers after two years of war. The Bab was imprisoned and executed at Tabriz in 1850.

His false religion, however, continued to be preached throughout Persia and the Middle East. In 1863 one of his followers, Mirza Husain Ali Nuri - later known as Baha Allah (in Arabic, “the splendour of God")-proclaimed himself the promised “Manifestation”, and on the basis of Babism founded another new faith, called Bahaism.

What is Bahaism ?

Bahaism is founded in the late 19th century as the successor to Babism. Its founder, Mirza Husain Ali Nuri saw himself as the fulfilment of the prophecy of Babism’s prophet, the Bab.

Mirza Husain was born in Persia and became a follower of the Bab. After the Bab’s execution in 1850 he took up the name of “Bahaullah” and became the leader of one of several Babi factions. Hussain Ali (Bahaullah) modified the entire doctrine of Islam, replaced the Holy Qur’an with his own book, changed the direction of Qibla from Makkah to Namka in Palestine, and his followers until now go to Israel for pilgrimage.

On establishing the Babi religion in 1844, the Bab had alleged the future appearance, in 19 years time, of a divine figure “whom God would make manifest”. Thus, the Bahai are obsessed with number 19!

In 1863, in Baghdâd, Bahaullah proclaimed himself to be that manifestation. His followers, now known as Bahais, believe that he was the latest in a series of divine manifestations that include Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad. They also believe that he brought a new revelation to the world!

In 1852, the Persian government executed some 20,000 of the Bab’s followers. The Ottomans in turn forced Bahaullah, and his followers out of Iraq and finally he settled in Akko in Palestine, where he remained up to his death.

Bahaullah strove to establish a universal religion, and his teachings, were chiefly disseminated by his eldest son, Abbas -later known as Abd al-Baha.

In 1908, when the Ottoman empire was crumbling he was freed from prison and subsequently travelled to Europe and North America to spread his father’s teachings i.e., the equality of the sexes, etc. The writings of the Bab, Bahaullah, and Abd al-Baha constitute the sacred literature of Bahaism, which has no other institutional authority.

In his will, Abd al-Baha designated his eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as the guardian of the Faith. Although Bahaism have been banned in most of the Islamic countries, an estimated 6 million people claim affiliation with Bahaism.

More than 110,000 of Bahais are in the United States where the Bahaism had built up its greatest followers. Under the direction (1921-1957) of Shoghi Effendi, the US Bahais developed an administrative system with headquarters in Wilmette, Illinois. Wherever nine or more Bahais reside, a “spiritual assembly” may be formed; more than 1,700 assemblies have been organized in the United States. Delegates are sent from the local assemblies to an annual convention at the national headquarters, at which a National Spiritual Assembly is elected.

Bahaism has adherents in more than 300 countries and dependencies, and its literature has been translated into more than 350 languages. The movement’s world headquarters are in occupied Palestine (Israel), on the slopes of Mount Carmel overlooking Haifa and Akko, where a shrine of the Bab, an archive, and an administrative centre can all be found.