As-Salāmu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuhu, brother.
Concerning the fact that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the Last of the Prophets:
Two words are used in the Qur’an to describe what translators call a ‘Messenger’ or a ‘Prophet’. These words are: Nabī (‘Prophet’) and Rasūl (‘Messenger’).
In the Islamic context, a Nabī is a man sent by Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) to provide guidance, or give warning, to those who are already under the Law; whereas a Rasūl (‘Messenger’) is charged with delivering the Law in the first place – in the form of scripture (he is also required to provide guidance and give warning, of course). All Rasūl are considered to be Nabī; but not all Nabī were Rasūl.
Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was a Rasūl.
Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) tells us:
‘Muhammad is not the father of any one of you men; he is God’s Messenger (rasūla) and the seal (‘wakhātama’) of the prophets (‘l-nabiyīna’): God knows everything.’ (Sūrah 'Al-Ahzab:40')
Shaykh Seyyed Hossein Nasr – Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University – writes
‘That the Prophet is the Seal of the prophets is understood to mean that he is the last Prophet sent to humanity. The Prophet is reported to have said, “No prophethood shall remain after me, save for true visions”, and “Messengerhood and prophethood have ceased. There will be no messenger or prophet after me”.
'The most frequently cited ḥadīth pertaining to his place as the Seal of the prophets states, “My likeness among the prophets before me is that of a man who has built a house, completed it, and beautified it, yet left empty a place for a brick. Then the people come to the house, are amazed by it, and say, ‘If only you were to place this brick, your house would be complete!’ I am this brick”.
'According to the Prophet, being the Seal of the prophets is one of six qualities that distinguish him from other prophets: “I have been favored above the prophets in six things: I have been endowed with consummate succinctness of speech; I have been made triumphant through dread; war booty has been made lawful for me; the whole earth has been made a place of worship for me and a means of purification; I have been sent to all created beings; and the succession of prophets has been completed in me”’ (‘The Study Qur’an – A New Translation and Commentary)
The Shaykh is drawing upon Ibn Kathir, who writes (of Al-Ahzab: 40):
‘This Ayah clearly states that there will be no Prophet after him. If there will be no Prophet after him then there will surely be no Messenger after him either, because the status of a Messenger is higher than that of a Prophet, for every Messenger is a Prophet but the reverse is not the case.
This was reported in many Mutawatir Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allah via a group of his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.’
Ibn Kathir cites a number of aḥādīth in addition to the ones alluded to by Shaykh Hossien:
‘Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and did a complete and good job, except for the space of one brick. Whoever entered it would look at that space and say, how good it is, apart from the space of that brick. My position is like that of that brick, and the Prophets -- blessings and peace be upon them -- end with me.”’
And again:
‘Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and completed it apart from the space of one brick. I have come and completed that brick.’
And this:
‘Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “Messengership and Prophethood have come to an end, and there will be no more Messengers or Prophets.”’
Finally:
‘Jubayr bin Mut`im, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say:
“I have several names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad; I am Al-Mahi (the eradicator) through whom Allah will erase disbelief; I am Al-Hashir (the gatherer) at whose feet mankind will gather; and I am Al-`Aqib (the final one) after whom there will be no Prophet.”’
Ibn Kathir concludes:
‘And there are many other Hadiths on this topic.
‘Allah has told us in His Book, and His Messenger has told us in the Mutawatir Sunnah, that there will be no Prophet after him, so that it may be known that everyone who claims this status after him is a liar and fabricator who is misguided and is misguiding others. Even if he twists meanings, comes up with false claims and uses tricks and vagaries, all of this is false and is misguidance as will be clear to those who have understanding.’ (‘Tafsir al Quran al Azim’).
Summary:
Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) tells us that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the last of the Nabī (of those who are sent to provide guidance or give a warning). Had He used the word Rasūl then this would have opened the way for others to mislead people into accepting them as Nabī (such as the guy in Birmingham). However, by saying that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the last of the Nabī He emphasises finality; the completion of the House made of His chosen ones; His elect.
Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the final brick in that house
The incident at Birmingham is not one that you should pay any further attention too,
Blessings
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