Tafsir of Surah Al-Ahzab

Q: Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) commands, saying (the meanings of which are translated as): So ask the people of the Scripture, if you do not know. Therefore, we would like you to explain according to the best Tafsir exegesis, the Saying of Allah (the meanings of which are translated as): Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is not the father of any of your men

A: In his interpretation of this Ayah, Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful to him) commented, saying: "Regarding the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is not the father of any of your men After the revelation of this Ayah, it was forbidden to say Zayd, the son of Muhammad; meaning, although the Prophet (peace be upon him) had adopted Zayd, he was not his father. None of the sons of the Prophet (peace be upon him) lived until they reached the age of puberty. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had three boys Al-Qasim, Al-Tayyib and Al-Tahir born to him from Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). They all died while they were still young. He (peace be upon him) had Ibrahim born to him from Mariyah Al-Qibtiyyah, and this baby also died in infancy. In addition, the Prophet (peace be upon him) had four daughters from Khadijah : Zaynab, Ruqayyah Um Kulthum, and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them all). (Part No. 4; Page No. 281) Three of them died during the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) lifetime. However, Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) died six months after the death of the Prophet. The Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): ...but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Aware of everything. Is similar to His saying: Allâh knows best with whom to place His Message. Thus, this Ayah (Al-Ahzab, 33:40) is a clear textual-evidence that there will be no Prophet after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and with all the more reason no other Messenger. This is because the status of a Messenger is more specific than that of a Prophet, meaning, every Messenger is a Prophet but not every Prophet is a Messenger. This was reported in Hadith Mutawatir (Hadith reported by a significant number of narrators throughout the chain of narration, whose agreement upon a lie is impossible) from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) which were narrated by a group of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Abu ‘Amir Al-Azdy from Zuhayr ibn Muhammad from `Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn `Aqil from Al-Tufayl ibn Ubay ibn Ka`b from his father that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My similitude, compared to the other Prophets, is that of a man who has built a house beautifully and excellently, except for the place of one brick. Thus, people began to go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say, ‘Would that this brick be put in its place!’ So I am, compared to the other Prophets, the placing of that brick.’” This Hadith was also reported by Al-Tirmidhy from Bundar on the authority of Abu ‘Amir Al-‘Aqdy He classed this Hadith as Hasan Sahih. Al-Tirmidhy also narrated many Hadith on the same topic. (Part No. 4; Page No. 282) You can also refer to Tafsir Ibn Jarir, Al-Qurtuby, and others, if you require further elaboration.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.