The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles is like that of a person who built a house and he completed it and made it perfect but for the space of a brick. People entered therein and they were surprised at it and said: Had there been a brick (it would have been complete in all respects). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I am that place where the brick (completing the building is to be placed), and I have come to finalise the chain of Apostles.
The Book of Virtues - Sahih Muslim 2287a
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim presents a profound analogy describing the relationship between Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the previous prophets. The scholars of tafsir explain that this metaphor illustrates the perfection and completion of divine guidance through the final Messenger.
The House of Prophethood
The "house" represents the entire structure of prophethood and divine revelation built by all previous messengers. Each prophet contributed to this spiritual edifice, establishing foundations of monotheism, moral conduct, and divine legislation.
The completion of this house "but for the space of a brick" indicates that while previous prophets established essential truths, the final perfection of the religious structure awaited the Seal of the Prophets.
The Final Brick
When the Prophet (ﷺ) states "I am that place where the brick is to be placed," classical commentators explain this signifies his role as the culminating prophet who brings the complete and perfected message that will remain until the Day of Judgment.
This completion involves the comprehensive Shariah, the preservation of revelation, and the universal applicability of the message - aspects that distinguish the final message from previous revelations.
Scholarly Insights
Imam An-Nawawi comments that this hadith establishes the superiority of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) over all other prophets, as the one who perfected the divine message and sealed prophethood.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that the "surprise" of the people represents humanity's recognition that something essential was missing in previous religious understandings, which was fulfilled through the final Messenger.
The scholars emphasize that this completion does not negate the truth of previous messages but rather perfects and preserves the essential truths they contained while abrogating temporary provisions.