It is slowly becoming more recognized that the phrase "seal of the prophets", which was once thought to be a purely Islamic term, was actually first used by Manichaeism to refer to Mani. But what does it mean in Manichaeism, anyways?
In the first place, the Manichaean understanding of the phrase is not anything similar to the Islamic phrase: Manichaeans probably wouldn’t have understood it to mean that Mani is the final prophet. And, yes, while Manichaeans believed that Mani was the final prophet (kind of), this would've come from Mani claiming to complete all of the "true religions"—Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Gnosticism.
In the past, placing a seal on a lamb would've implied belonging. So, it perhaps could mean that all of the true prophets belonged to Mani; in fact, a Manichaean text called the Huastvanift recovered by archaeology seems to support this interpretation, for the 'elect' are explicitly called the true 'messengers' (Uyghur: “burxan") of God. This interpretation would imply that prophets who reveal religions ceased with Mani, but prophethood as an institution did not—a new prophetic dispensation, so to speak.
Also, according to a Psalm written by Syrus, an early follower of Mani, Mani once said the following to Bahram: “God teaches whom He pleases, gives the gift that surpasses all gifts, bestows the seal of the prophet, the true man of God in his deeds in words.” So perhaps the phrase could mean that the Manichaean elect testified to Mani’s prophethood by means of their piety [deeds] and belief [words].
However, this is not the only possible interpretation. For one, although Mani considered himself a prophet, he probably thought of himself as more than that: a Buddha, an Apostle, and even a Twin of the Holy Spirit. Now, depending on how connected Mani’s ‘twinship’ and the idea of the seal are, it could very well be possible that the phrase is referencing the idea of a syzygy with one’s higher twin. Indeed, in the Cologne Mani Codex, it is said that “his [Mani’s] disciples became seals of his apostleship.” So perhaps in Manichaeism, the seal of a true messenger is to have a connection and union with one’s higher twin.
On the other hand, it perhaps could mean that Mani confirms to and attests the teachings that came before him. But there is yet another possibility: Mani is the one who resurrects the dead. Most people are familiar with the term ‘Paraclete’, and that it means ‘Comforter’, but the vast majority of people do not know what ‘Munahhemana’ means. Mani called himself the ‘twin of the Paraclete’, but seeing as he spoke Syriac, he would’ve been familiar with the term ‘Munahhemana’ instead. This term can mean ‘Comforter’ in Palestinian Aramaic, but in Syriac Aramaic it can also mean ‘one who raises the dead’. Seeing as Mani obviously did not raise the dead, this calls to mind Ephesians 5:14, which says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” If this is the true interpretation, then the idea of the resurrection of the dead would be allegorized in Manichaeism.
In any case, although there has been much speculation and debate about this, this issue shall seemingly not be solved anytime soon. Because there are many various different interpretations, it is hard for anybody to come to a consensus about this.
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