arthra

Most people are probably somewhat familiar with term "Seal of the Prophets" in the Quranic verse in chapter thirty three verse forty and that many have understood it to mean that Prophet Muhammad was to be the "last" Prophet..

Here I have included some notes about the concept of "seal"..

For those interested a good article can be found on the various meanings of the term Khataam at

Six meanings associated with the terms seal of prophets

And from the Baha'i Writings note:

Take heed lest anything deter thee from extolling the greatness of this Day -- the Day whereon the Finger of majesty and power hath opened the seal of the Wine of Reunion, and called all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 28)

O Shaykh! Verily I say, the seal of the Choice Wine hath, in the name of Him Who is the Self-Subsisting, been broken; withhold not thyself therefrom.

(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 18)


Did men but know what pure wine of the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, was beneath the seal, they would certainly cast aside reproach and seek to be satisfied by this Servant; but now have they veiled Me with the veil of darkness which they have woven with the hands of doubts and fancies.

Quoting Baha'u'llah

(Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 81)


The Hebrew equivalent to the Arabic word for "seal" is Chataam

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Basically they are the same word and a verb meaning:

1) to seal, seal up, affix a seal
a) (Qal)
1) to seal, affix one's seal
2) to seal up, fasten up by sealing
b) (Niphal) to seal
c) (Piel) to lock up
d) (Hiphil) to be stopped

Opening the seals of a book of prophecy "till the time of the end" is also found in the ancient texts..

The Book of Revelation has the seals ( A Greek equivalent word óöñáãίò sphragis) opening:

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

Note the verse in First Corinthians by Paul where the Greek word for seal is a statement of authenticity;


as in

First Corinthians 9:2

If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

About a year ago I wrote a similar brief post on the same subject:

Seal of the Prophets

__________________

__________________
Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook