Summary and analysis of The Awaited Messages by Tamer Badr

The introduction of the book:

The author discusses the difference between a prophet and a messenger, emphasising that the Prophet Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets as stated in the Qur'an, but argues that there is no conclusive evidence that he is the Seal of Messengers.
The book aims to provide a new interpretation of the Qur'anic and Sunni texts related to the signs of the Hour, highlighting the continuation of the mission of messengers according to God's year.

The main chapters:

Chapter One and Two: Difference between Prophet and Messenger

- Subtraction:

The author explains the difference between a prophet and a messenger:
A prophet is one who is inspired and tasked with communicating an existing law to a believing people.
A messenger is one who is inspired and sends a new message to an unbelieving or oblivious people.

- Evidence:

"Muhammad was not the father of one of your men, but the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets" (Al-Ahzab: 40): The verse only seals the prophethood without referring to the sealing of the message.

- Analysis:

The author highlights the idea that the verse differentiates between prophecy and mission, opening the door to a new understanding of the mission of the messengers.

Chapter Three and Four: Continuing the Mission of the Apostles

- Subtraction:

The author relies on Qur'anic texts that refer to a continuous divine year of sending messengers.
He explains that this divine year does not contradict the Seal of Prophethood.

- Evidence:

"And we were not tortured until we sent a messenger" (Al-Israa: 15).
"We have sent in every nation a messenger that you should worship God and avoid idols" (Al-Nahl: 36).

- Analysis:

The texts show a continuous rule of sending messengers, which supports the idea of an author.

Chapters Five and Six: Interpretation of the Qur'an and the Second Age of Jahiliyyah

- Subtraction:

The author links the verses referring to the interpretation of the Qur'an to the sending of a messenger to interpret it.
It refers to the return of the second jahiliyya as a sign of the imminent appearance of a new messenger.

- Evidence:

"Are they only waiting for its interpretation on the day when its interpretation will come" (Al-A'raf: 53).
"Then it is upon Us to explain it" (Al-Qiyamah: 19).

- Analysis:

The author highlights an ijtihadic interpretation that raises the possibility of a new messenger to interpret the Qur'an.

Chapters Seven to Nine: The Witness of the Ummah and the Splitting of the Moon

- Subtraction:

The author interprets the verse "And a witness from him will recite it" (Hud: 17) as referring to a future messenger.
He believes that the splitting of the moon did not happen during the time of the Prophet Muhammad but will happen in the future.

- Evidence:

It is based on Quranic verses with a different interpretation of future events.

- Analysis:

The argument is controversial, but it is based on the interpretation of the verses.

Chapter Ten and Eleven: The Smoke and the Mahdi

- Subtraction:

The torment of smoke is linked to the appearance of a messenger warning people: "And a messenger came to them" (al-Dukhan: 13).
The Mahdi is sent as a messenger to bring justice among people.

- Evidence:

Hadiths of the Mahdi such as: "The Mahdi will be sent by Allah as a relief for the people" (narrated by Al-Hakim).

- Analysis:

The texts support the idea of Mahdi's mission as a messenger.

Chapter Twelve to Fourteen: Jesus and the Wheel

- Subtraction:

Jesus returns as a messenger.
The bear carries a divine message to warn humans.

- Evidence:

"While he was like that, Allah sent the Messiah, the son of Mary" (narrated by Muslim).
"Do not say, 'There is no prophet after Muhammad,' but say, 'There is no prophet after Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets" (Narrated by Muslim).

- Analysis:

The author shows clear indications of an apostolic role for Jesus and the tank.

 

Narrowing down the evidence

Enumerating the author's evidence for the continuity of messengers

Firstly: Evidence from the Qur'an

1. "We would not have been tortured until we sent a messenger" (Al-Israa: 15)
The text refers to an ongoing divine year of sending messengers before the fall of the torment.
2. "And a messenger came to them." (Al-Dukhan: 13)
The author believes that this verse speaks of a future messenger who will come to warn against smoke.
3. "Muhammad was not the father of one of your men, but the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets" (Al-Ahzab: 40)
The author explains that the verse only seals the prophecy without mentioning the sealing of the message.
4. "Are they only waiting for its interpretation on the day when its interpretation will come" (Al-A'raf: 53).
Evidence that a messenger will come to interpret the meanings of the Qur'an.
5. "Then it is upon us to explain it" (Al-Qiyamah: 19)
Refers to an upcoming mission to explain the Qur'an.
6. "A messenger from Allah reading purified pages" (Al-Baynah: 2)
The author supports the idea of a future messenger carrying new newspapers.
7. "And a witness from him will recite it" (Hud: 17)
The author believes that this verse refers to a messenger who comes after the Prophet Muhammad.

Secondly: Evidence from the Sunnah

1. "God will send a man from my family, a man with a rounded neck and a forehead, who will fill the earth with justice." (Narrated by Al-Hakim)
The Mahdi Mission is missionary in nature.
2. "The Mahdi will emerge in my ummah, whom Allah will send as a relief for the people." (Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri)
Al-Mahdi sends to achieve justice and fairness.
3. "I herald to you the Mahdi, who will be sent in my Ummah on the occasion of a difference in people and earthquakes." (Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudari)
An explicit hadith referring to the mission of the Mahdi.
4. "The Mahdi will be sent by Allah as a relief for the people" (Narrated by Al-Hakim)
Supports the idea of a mission.
5. "God fixes it in a night" (Narrated by Ahmad)
Refers to a missionary preparation for the Mahdi.
6. "While he was like that, Allah sent the Messiah, the son of Mary." (Narrated by Muslim)
The descent of Jesus is understood as a new mission.
7. "Do not say, 'There is no prophet after Muhammad,' but say, 'There is no prophet after Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets" (Narrated by Muslim)
The revelation of Jesus as a messenger.
8. "God never sent a prophet except to warn his people of the Dajjal" (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
Send messengers to warn against temptation.

 

Total author's evidence:

1. From the Quran: 7 evidences.
2. From the Sunnah: 8 clues.

 

Evidence of the scholars on the sealing of the message:

Firstly: Evidence from the Qur'an

- One verse: "Muhammad was not the father of one of your men, but the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets" (Al-Ahzab: 40), with a hermeneutical understanding.

Secondly: Evidence from the Sunnah

- One hadith: "The message and prophecy have been interrupted, so there is no messenger after me and no prophet" (narrated by al-Tirmidhi), which is weak because of its narrator, al-Mukhtar ibn Falafel.

Total consensus evidence:

1. From the Quran: 1 evidence.
2. From the Sunnah: 1 evidence.

 

Re-summarise and analyse the book based on the full inventory

Summarize the book:

1. Objective: The author presents a new interpretation that confirms that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets, but not the Seal of the Messengers.
2. Arguments: It is based on Qur’anic and Sunnah texts that indicate the possibility of the continuation of the mission of messengers after the Prophet Muhammad.
3. Thesis: Discusses the difference between a prophet and a messenger, emphasizing that messengers may appear in the future to interpret the Qur’an and warn people of tribulations.

 

Final evaluation of the evidence:

Author's Guides:

- Explicit Qur'anic evidence in favour of the continuation of the mission of the messengers.
- Hadiths concerning the Mahdi and Isa refer to a missionary role.

Scientists' evidence:

- Their evidence is few and relies on the interpretation of verses and weak hadiths.

 

Final percentage:

1. The author's opinion: 70%

        Evidence is more numerous and explicit, but requires interpretations in some places.

2. The opinion of scientists: 30%

        Their evidence is sparse and relies on consensus that is not supported by strong texts.

 

Bottom line:

The author's opinion: 

He presents a new argument based on relatively strong evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah, which makes it worthy of discussion, especially as he highlights the texts that indicate that messengers continue to be sent to warn or preach. But it departs from the traditional consensus.

The opinion of scientists: 

They rely on the interpretation of texts rather than explicit texts, which makes their position weaker in proving the sealing of the message.

The book: It is a unique intellectual effort that opens the door to further scientific research and discussion.