M1:1112 — نام احمد نام جملهٔ انبیاست / چونک صد آمد نود هم پیش ماست

Translation: Ahmad's Name is the name of all prophets; Since the "hundred" has come, the "ninety" is also with us. Meaning: This verse implies that Prophet Muhammad embodies and encompasses the essence of all previous prophets; his advent signifies the culmination of prophecy, as if possessing the ultimate (one hundred) inherently includes all preceding stages (ninety).

This couplet by Mowlana is not merely an expression of devotion; it is an ontological and epistemological declaration. I have often recounted how Mowlana, upon hearing the Prophet Muhammad's name in the call to prayer, would rise and exclaim with profound emotion: "May Your Name endure forever, O You by whom our souls are enlightened!" This verse, too, is a manifestation of that deep love and reverence, yet it carries a much richer layer of thought.

Here, Mowlana states that Ahmad's Name is the name of all prophets. What does this signify? It means that prophecy is a spectrum, a continuous flow that reached its zenith and perfection in Prophet Muhammad. When the "hundred" arrived, the "ninety" was also with us. This hundred represents the numerical apex of perfection, and the ninety symbolizes all preceding perfections and degrees. The presence of the Prophet of Islam, in Mowlana's interpretation, is the key that unlocks the enigma of prophecy. Through him, we can gain access to the "lantern-house of the imagination of prophetic experience." This means that understanding prophecy becomes possible through the prism of the Seal of the Prophets. He is the essence of all preceding prophets.

Mowlana, elsewhere, alludes to the same idea: "The names of kings are removed from coins / But Ahmad's Name they will strike until Doomsday." This implies that the names of worldly monarchs are ephemeral and fade from memory, whereas Ahmad's Name is eternal and endures until the Day of Judgment. This eternality is not merely a historical persistence, but an existential and spiritual permanence.

Comparatively, I have always stated that the Seal Prophet, in terms of "opening horizons of abstraction and conquering the secrets of inner realms," surpassed all great figures and prophets, holding the foremost position among them. This is a declaration of his spiritual supremacy and comprehensiveness. He is not just a prophet, but an "Exalted Saint" whose existence is a lamp in this world's "moral and psychological darkness." To envision a world devoid of prophecy and sainthood is, in my view, a "terrifying" thought. It is the prophets and saints who keep the light of hope burning in the darkness. Mowlana considers himself among those nurtured by his school, describing his own words as "derived from the lamp-niche of prophecy."

Thus, this couplet, far beyond a simple slogan, points to the depth of an inner truth: the Prophet of Islam is not only the Seal but also the comprehensive and most perfect embodiment of all prophecies, and the understanding of the path to God passes through the understanding of him.

Key takeaways

• Prophecy is a continuous stream that reached its perfection in Prophet Muhammad.
• The Name of Ahmad encompasses and summarizes the message of all prophets; he is the quintessence of prophecy.
• The presence of the Prophet of Islam is the key to understanding and unlocking the 'prophetic experience.'
• Ahmad's Name symbolizes spiritual eternity and permanence, in contrast to the transience of worldly names.
• The Seal Prophet represents the pinnacle and most complete stage in the lineage of prophets.
• The existence of prophets, including Prophet Muhammad, serves as a guiding light amidst the world's darkness.