Last or the best of Israel?

Question:

Is the meaning Mirza Ghulam Ahmad gives to the word “Seal of the Prophets” consistent or are there inconsistencies in his teaching?

Answer:

[ 1. ] Best of the Prophets and last lawgiver

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes: “The Prophet Muhammad (s.) has been given the special honor of being Seal of the Prophets because, on the one hand, he reached the highest level of all perfection of prophethood and because, on the other hand, there will be no prophet after him who brings a new law.” [The Essence of Islam, Volume 1 Page 280 – 281]

[ 2. ] Seal of the prophets of Israel

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes: “When 13,000 years after the rise of Moses (a.) – with whom God spoke and whom He chose – the children of Israel were overcome, God sent Jesus, the son of Mary (a.) among them and He made Him the seal of their prophets.” [Ruhani Khaza’in, Volume 16 page 79]

قال ميرزا غلام أحمد: فلما انقضى عليهم ثلث مائة بعد الالف من يوم بعث فيه الكليم الذي كلمه الله وأجتبى بعث الله عيسى بن مريم فيهم وجعله خاتم أنبياءهم

Comment:

If by Seal of the Prophets is meant the best of the prophets and last lawgiver, then Jesus (a.) must be the best and last lawgiver of the prophets of Israel, but is he really?

[ 3. ] Jesus was not the best

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes: “In humility and modesty, Moses (a.) stands above all the prophets of Israel and no prophet of Israel – neither Jesus (a.) nor another – reached the high rank of Moses (a.).” [The Essence of Islam, Volume 1 Page 263]

[ 4. ] Jesus was not a lawgiver

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: “The previous successors mentioned in the verse (24:55) are the successors among the people of Moses (a.) whom God sent one by one to enforce and maintain the Law of Moses (a.). Not a century could pass without the appearance of one of these successors who came to reform the religion of Moses (a.). The Holy Qur’an indicates that there were twelve such successors and that the thirteenth was Jesus (a.), who as the Promised Messiah submitted to the Law of Moses (a.). Given the similarity established by the word “how” used in the verse, it is necessary that there be a similarity between the followers of Muhammad (s.) and the followers of Moses (a.). In order to prove and substantiate this similarity, the Holy Qur’an mentions twelve successors of Moses (a.), each of whom belonged to the people of Moses (a.) and the thirteenth is Jesus (a.), who was the seal of the prophets among the people of Moses (a.).” [The Essence of Islam, Volume 4, Page 182]

Comment:

According to the statements of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Jesus (a.) is neither the best of the prophets of the Children of Israel nor their last lawgiver. So what is the correct meaning of the seal of the prophets?

[ 5. ] Last of the prophets of Israel

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes:

“God mentioned in the Qur’an that He sent Moses (a.) after He had let the first centuries pass. God gave him the book, the wisdom and the prophethood and He gave His people the succession. He began the line of guidance among them and He made His Messenger Jesus, the son of Mary (a.), the seal of their successors and Jesus (a.) was the last of the building blocks.” [Ruhani Khaza’in, Volume 16 Page 74]

إن الله ذكر في القرآن أنه بعث موسى بعدما أهلك القرون الأولى وأتاه الله الكتاب والحكم والنبوة ووهب لقومه الخلافة وأقام فيهم سلسلة الهدى وجعل خاتم خلفائه رسوله ابن مريم عيسى فكان عيسى آخر لبن

“Jesus (a.) was the seal of the successors in the line of Moses (a.) and he was like their last building block and the seal of the messengers.” [Ruhani Khaza’in, Volume 16 page 309]

كان عيسى خاتم خلفاء السلسلة الكليمية وكان لها كآخر اللبنة وخاتم المرسلين

“God turned to the children of Israel with a mercy from Him and began the line with Moses (a.) and ended it with Jesus (a.) and He is their last building block.” [Ruhani Khaza’in, Volume 16 page 9]

إن الله توجه إلى بني إسرائيل رحمة منه فأقام سلسلة بموسى واتمها بعيسى وهو آخر لبنة لها