- Last prophet
The term "Last Prophet" is used in religious contexts to refer to the last person through whom
God speaks, after which there is to be no other.Islam
The phrase, "Last Prophet", is used primarily in
Islam , where it refers toMuhammad , whom Muslims hold to be the final prophet in themonotheistic Abrahamic tradition . Muhammad is similarly called the "Seal of the Prophets ".Judaism
Classical
Judaism teaches that there will be no prophet greater thanMoses , and all the other prophets mentioned in theTanakh (Hebrew Bible ) were inferior to Moses and his prophecies. This was enunciated byMaimonides in the Jewish principles of faith about the status of Moses::"Moses was superior to all prophets, whether they preceded him or arose afterwards. Moses attained the highest possible human level. He perceived God to a degree surpassing every human that ever existed... God spoke to all other prophets through an intermediary. Moses alone did not need this; this is what the Torah means when God says "Mouth to mouth, I will speak to him." (The
Siddur .)The last of the twelve
minor prophets (canonically) (and the final book of the ChristianOld Testament ) is commonly attributed to a prophet by the name ofMalachi .Other religions
Other religious traditions have used this or similar terms.
Mani, founder of the Persian faithManichaeism , also claimed to be the "Seal of the Prophets" and the last prophet.In
Mandaeanism ,John the Baptist is considered the last prophet.Jainism
Mahavira is also claimed to be the last prophet in a series of 24Tirthankar s.Hinduism
Kalki , is believed to be the last avatar ofVishnu , in a series of ten avatars.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.