SEAL OF PROPHECY. Khatimu ‘n-Nubuwah خاتم النبوة
A mole of an unusual size on the Prophets back, which is said to have been the divine seal which, according to the predictions of the Scriptures, marked Muhammad as the “Seal of the Prophets,” Khatimu’n Nabiyin.
According to a tradition, recorded in the Mishkatu ‘l-Masabih, book iii, ch. 7, it was the size of the knob of a bridal canopy. Others say it was the size of a pigeon’s egg, or even the size of a closed fist.
Shaikh ‘Abdu ‘l-Haqq says “it was a piece of flesh, very brilliant in appearance, and according to some traditions it had secretly inscribed within it, ‘God is one and has no Associate.
Abu Ramsa’, whose family were skilled in surgery, offered to remove it, but Muhammad refused, saying, “The Physician thereof is He who placed it where it is.”
According to another tradition, Muhammad said to Abu Ramsa’, “Come hither and touch my back”; which he did, drawing his fingers over the prophetical seal and, behold! there was a collection of hairs upon the spot. (See Muir, new ed. P. 542.)
‘Abdu ‘l-Haqq also says it disappeared from the Prophet’s back shortly before his death.
It is not clear how far Muhammad encouraged the belief in this supernatural sign of his prophetic mission, but from his reply to Abu Ramsa’, it would not appear that he really attributed any special power to its existence. [MUHAMMAD.]
A mole of an unusual size on the Prophets back, which is said to have been the divine seal which, according to the predictions of the Scriptures, marked Muhammad as the “Seal of the Prophets,” Khatimu’n Nabiyin.
According to a tradition, recorded in the Mishkatu ‘l-Masabih, book iii, ch. 7, it was the size of the knob of a bridal canopy. Others say it was the size of a pigeon’s egg, or even the size of a closed fist.
Shaikh ‘Abdu ‘l-Haqq says “it was a piece of flesh, very brilliant in appearance, and according to some traditions it had secretly inscribed within it, ‘God is one and has no Associate.
Abu Ramsa’, whose family were skilled in surgery, offered to remove it, but Muhammad refused, saying, “The Physician thereof is He who placed it where it is.”
According to another tradition, Muhammad said to Abu Ramsa’, “Come hither and touch my back”; which he did, drawing his fingers over the prophetical seal and, behold! there was a collection of hairs upon the spot. (See Muir, new ed. P. 542.)
‘Abdu ‘l-Haqq also says it disappeared from the Prophet’s back shortly before his death.
It is not clear how far Muhammad encouraged the belief in this supernatural sign of his prophetic mission, but from his reply to Abu Ramsa’, it would not appear that he really attributed any special power to its existence. [MUHAMMAD.]
Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam
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