Why Did Revelation Cease After Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

Question

The question addresses the cessation of divine revelation and the sending of messengers after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), considering God's omniscience, omnipotence, and justice.

Answer 1

Peace be upon you. This world is a place of trial and testing for humans to earn the rewards of the Hereafter based on their merit and worthiness in achieving the two greatest pillars of happiness: faith and righteousness, coupled with God's mercy, which no creature can do without. Allah says: "Except for those whom your Lord has mercy upon, and for that He created them." This verse clearly indicates that God's will is concerned with the good and benefit of humanity, and He desires to show them mercy, not to see His servants in torment, exalted be He above that. However, God's will was not to compel humans to believe or to be righteous, neither directly nor by overwhelming them with evidence to the point where faith becomes closer to coercion than choice. We see that some nations were distinguished by having many messengers and various miracles, yet this did not increase them in anything but stubbornness and aversion, as was the case with the Children of Israel in the Quran. The sending of messengers and the miracles performed by them are matters that serve a purpose and meaning according to God's knowledge and wisdom, to be a proof and evidence for every rational and understanding person. The signs and miracles are not intended to follow humans to the last degree of their ignorance or stubbornness; otherwise, that would diminish the status of the miracle and negate its purpose, turning the matter into mere play. The Quran recounts the demands of some stubborn peoples: "And they said, 'We will not believe in you until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us or until you have a garden of palm trees and vines, and you make rivers gush forth within them in abundance, or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed, or you bring us Allah and the angels before us face to face, or you have a house adorned with gold, or you ascend into the sky, and we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we can read.' Say, 'Exalted is my Lord! I was only a human messenger.'" (Quran 17:90-93) It is noteworthy that among their demands was for a book to be sent down to them, as they saw this as a miraculous proof of truth, while others do not see it that way, as perhaps indicated in your question. In any case, God does only what is in the servant's best interest and what serves as a true proof against them, whether they believe or are stubborn. Thus, we say that the Holy Quran is not merely papers and words; it is an everlasting miracle until the Day of Judgment, taking the form of a sacred book in this descended existence, containing a constitution for human life, both individually and collectively. The aspects of its miraculous nature are numerous and cannot all be mentioned here, but you may explore them if you wish. It serves as a proof for those present, just as it was for those who lived during its revelation. The Quran also records the existence of some nations that exceeded in their demands from the prophets: "The People of the Book ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. They had asked Moses for even greater than that, when they said, 'Show us Allah openly.' So the thunderbolt took them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf after clear proofs had come to them, and We forgave that. And We gave Moses a clear authority." (Quran 4:153) The verses explain how the people persisted in wanting to see Allah to believe, and if they had seen Allah, which is impossible, they would not have believed. What is before them and in front of their eyes, which stimulates their minds and moves their innate nature, is sufficient to lead them to faith were it not for their stubbornness. In conclusion, faith is not linked to the abundance of evidence and miracles but rather to their type and ability to move fair minds that are free from rigidity and barbarism. From this perspective, whoever is not convinced by one sign will not be convinced by thousands of signs, even if miracles were to come to them morning and evening. And what is hidden in this existence from signs of greatness that humans have become accustomed to and no longer pay attention to? Allah says: "And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought." (Quran 30:21) So, is there any rational person who reflects? In conclusion, we must say that regardless of all that has been mentioned, God's proof against His servants did not cease with the departure of the Prophet (PBUH). It is not limited to prophethood but continues in the leadership of the twelfth Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance), who is hidden from sight, due to what our predecessors have brought forth and what we continue to contribute as causes for the delay of his appearance, along with the miraculous book, which is the Holy Quran.