Humanness of the Prophet
Compiled & Translated
By
Abbas Abu Yahya
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The Prophet Muhammad was the best of creation
All the Prophets & Messengers
Prophet Isa
Prophet Dawood
Ayaat Which Prove the Humanness of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam
Ahadeeth About the Humanness of the Prophet
The Prophet’s Shadow
Mu’aawiyah The Scribe of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam-
The Prophet Muhammad was the best of Creation
The Favour of Allaah upon His Prophet and not for the other Prophets
1 – That Muhammad SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam was the Final Prophet
Allaah Ta’ala said:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٖ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا
<< Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allaah is Ever All Aware of everything. >>
[Ahzaab: 40]
From Anas bin Malik who said that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
إن الرسالة والنبوة قد انقطعت فلا رسول بعدي ولا نبي
‘Indeed, the Message and Prophet hood has been discontinued, therefore, there is no Messenger after me nor a Prophet.’
Anas -Radhi Allaahu anhu- mentions: ‘That the people found this to be difficult.’
Then the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
ولكن المبشرات
‘However, there will be good signs and inspirations.’
They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, and what are good signs and inspirations?’
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
رؤيا الرجل، وهي جزء من أجزاء النبوة
‘A man’s dream, and that is a portion from the portions of Prophet hood.’
[Collected by Ahmad & Tirmidhi and he said it was a hadeeth Hasan Saheeh, al-Hakim said it is authentic upon the conditions of Muslim and Dhahabi agreed with him and Albaani said it was as they said it is. ‘Irwaa al-Ghaleel’ 8/128]
al-Hafidh Emaad ad-Deen Isma’eel Ibn Katheer (d. 774 A.H.) -Rahimahullaah- said in his Tafseer:
‘Therefore, Muhammad is the seal of the Prophets, -may many praises of Allaah and His security be upon them- continuing till the Day of Judgement. He is the great Imam (al-Imam al-Aatham), whom if he was found in any time period, it would have been obligatory to obey him. He is at the forefront of all the Prophets, and this is why he was their Imam on the night of the ascension when they gathered at Bait al-Maqdis.’
[Taken from: ‘Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-Atheem’ 1/493 3:82]
2 – Sent for all of Mankind
Allaah Ta’ala said:
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرٗا وَنَذِيرٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ
<<And We have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not. >> [Saba: 28]
Allaah Ta’ala said:
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا
<<Say (O Muhammad): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah >>
[Aaraaf:158]
From Abu Dharr that the Prophet said:
وبُعثت إلى كل أحمرَ وأسود
‘I was given five things which were not given to a Prophet before me; I was sent to the red and the black. . . .’
[Collected by Darami, Ahmad & Albaani said its Isnaad is Saheeh in Irwaa 1/316-317]
In another narration:
‘. . .as for me I was sent generally to all the people, and those before me were sent to their people….’
[Collected by Ahmad from the Hadeeth of Ibn Amr, & Albaani said its Isnaad is Hasan in Irwaa 1/317]
Allaah Ta’ala said:
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
<<And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamîn (mankind, Jinns and all that exists).>>
[Anbiyaa: 107]
From Abu Hurairah – Radi Allaahu anhu – who said: It was said O Messenger of Allaah make Dua’ against the Mushrikeen.’
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
إني لم أبعث لعاناً، وإنما بُعثتُ رحمة
‘Indeed, I have not been sent as one who curses, and indeed I have been sent as a mercy.’
[Collected by Muslim, Bukhari in ‘al-Adab al-Mufrad’ & researched by Albaani in ‘Saheehah’ no. 3945]
3 – How Allaah would address the Prophet
Allaah Ta’ala said:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا
<<O Prophet! Keep your duty to Allaah, and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their advices). Verily! Allaah is Ever All Knower, All Wise. >>
[Ahzaab: 1]
Allaah addressed him:
۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ
رِسَالَتَهُۥۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
« O Messenger! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allaah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allaah guides not the people who disbelieve.>>
[Maidah: 67]
All the other Prophets were addressed by their names
Allaah Subhanahu said:
وَقُلۡنَا يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ
< < And We said O Adam>>
[Baqarah: 35]
Allaah Subhanahu said:
إِذۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَٰعِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ ٱذۡكُرۡ نِعۡمَتِي عَلَيۡكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَتِكَ
<< Remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection). ‘O ‘Iesa, son of Maryam! Remember My Favour to you and to your mother >>
[Maidah: 110]
Allaah Subhanahu said:
قِيلَ يَٰنُوحُ
<< It was said: O Nuh!>>
[Hud: 48]
Allaah Subhanahu said:
قَالَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّي ٱصۡطَفَيۡتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَٰلَٰتِي وَبِكَلَٰمِي فَخُذۡ مَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ ١٤٤
<< (Allaah) said: ‘O Moosa, I have chosen you above men by My Messages, and by My speaking (to you). So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful.’ >> [Aaraaf: 144]
Allaah Subhanahu said:
وَنَٰدَيۡنَٰهُ أَن يَٰٓإِبۡرَٰهِيمُ
<<and We called out to him O Ibraheem>> [Saffaat: 104]
As for the Ayaat where Allaah mentions the Prophet Muhammad by name, like the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٖ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا
<< Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allaah is Ever All Aware of everything. >>
[Ahzaab: 40]
The Prohibition of Calling the Prophet by His Name
Allaah Ta’ala said:
لَّا تَجۡعَلُواْ دُعَآءَ ٱلرَّسُولِ بَيۡنَكُمۡ كَدُعَآءِ بَعۡضِكُم بَعۡضٗاۚ قَدۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ
يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمۡ لِوَاذٗاۚ فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
<<Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad) among you as your calling of one another. Allaah knows those of you who slip away under shelter (of some excuse without taking the permission to leave, from the Messenger). And let those who oppose the Messenger’s command (i.e. his Sunnah) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.>> [Noor: 63]
Ibn Abbas -Radhi Allaahu anhu- said:
‘They used to say: O Muhammad, O Aba Qaasim, so Allaah Azza wa Jal prohibited them from doing so, in greatness for His Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- and He commanded them to say: O Prophet of Allaah, O Messenger of Allaah.’
[Taken from: ‘Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-Atheem’ 3/406/ 24:63]
3 – Allaah Generally placed him at the Lead of all the Prophets
Allaah Ta’ala said:
۞إِنَّآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ كَمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٖ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦۚ
وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورٗا
< <Verily, We have inspired you as We inspired Nuh and the Prophets after him; We (also) inspired Ibraheem, Isma’eel, Ishaaque, Ya’qoob, and AlAsbaat [the twelve sons of Ya’qoob], ‘Iesa, Ayub, Yunus, Haroon, and Sulaiman, and to Dawood We gave the Zaboor (Psalms). >> [Nisa: 163]
Allaah Subhanahu said:
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَ مِيثَٰقَهُمۡ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٖ وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظٗا
< <And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad), and from Nuh, Ibraheem, Moosa, and ‘Iesa, son of Maryam. We took from them a strong covenant.>>
[Ahzaab: 7]
From Abu Hurairah – Radi Allaahu anhu – that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- said:
أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ ، وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ ، وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ .
‘I am the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Judgement, the first to be taken out of the grave, the first to intercede and the first whose intercession will be accepted.’
[Collected by Muslim, Abu Dawood & Albaani declared it to be Saheeh ‘Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer’ No. 1467.]
From Hudayfah bin al-Yaman who said: The Companions of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
‘Ibraheem was the Khaleel (close friend) of Allaah, ‘Isa was the Word of Allaah and His spirit, Allaah spoke to Musa directly, and what were you given O Messenger of Allaah?
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
‘All the children of Adam will be under my banner on the Day of Judgement and I am the first for whom the doors of Paradise will be opened.’
[Silsilah Saheehah No. 2411]
4 – Striking fear into the hearts of the enemy
From Jabir bin Abdullaah who said that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said:
نُصرت بالرعب مسيرة شهر
‘I have been given aid/victory by striking fear for the distance of a month.’
[Collected by Bukhari and Muslim]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr said:
‘This distinction for the Prophet striking fear is absolute, even if he was alone without an army, the question is, is this distinction also for his Ummah after him? There is a chance.’
[Fath al-Bari 1/567]
5 – He was given Six Major Favours
From Abu Hurairah – Radi Allaahu anhu – that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- said:
فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ :أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا ، وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً ، وَخُتِمَ بِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ .
‘I was favoured over the other Prophets with six things: I was given Jawama al-Kalim (comprehensive speech), victory by striking fear, war gains were allowed for me, the dust on the earth was made as a purification for me, and a place to pray, I was sent to all of creation and Prophet hood was sealed with me.’
[Collected by Muslim, Tirmidhi & Albaani declared it Saheeh in ‘Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer’ No. 4222.]
6 – The First On the Day of Judgement
From Abu Hurairah – Radi Allaahu anhu – that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- said:
أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ ، وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ ، وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ .
‘I am the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Judgement, the first to be taken out of the grave, the first to intercede and the first whose intercession will be accepted.’
[Collected by Muslim, Abu Dawood & Albaani declared it to be Saheeh ‘Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer’ No. 1467]
7 – The First to Enter Paradise
إني لأول الناس تنشق الأرض عن جمجمتي يوم القيامة ولا فخر وأعطى لواء الحمد ولا فخر وأنا سيد الناس يوم القيامة ولا فخر وأنا أول من يدخل الجنة يوم القيامة ولا فخر
From Anas – Radi Allaahu anhu – that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- said:
‘Indeed I will be the first to be taken out of the grave on the day of Judgement and there is no boasting, and I was given the banner of al-Hamd (praise) and there is no boasting, I am the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Judgement, and there is no boasting, and I am the first to enter into Paradise on the Day of Judgement, and there is no boasting.’
[In another narration: ‘…. and I will come to the door of Paradise and take a hold of its handle.’]
[Collected by ad-Darmi, Ahmad and Albaani said: ‘Its Sanad is Jayyid, and its narrators are those of Bukhari and Muslim.’ Saheehah No. 1571]
8 – Taken on a night journey and ascended the heavens
Allaah Ta’ala said:
“سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ”
<< Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allaah) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him] Who took His slave for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him of Our Ayat. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.>>
[al-Isra 17:1]
The story is mentioned by Bukhari in his book as-Saheeh.
9 – Allaah Protected the Prophet’s Noble Sunnah by Protecting His Noble Book
Allaah Ta’ala said:
“إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ”
<<Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption) .>>
[al-Hijr: 9]
He was forgiven his sins, both past & future
Al-Hafidh Ibn Katheer said about the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا. لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ
<< Verily, We have given you a manifest victory. That Allaah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, >>
[al-Fath:1-2]
‘This is from the distinguished matters for the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- which no-one shares with him. There is no authentic Hadeeth that there is a reward for the actions as there is the like of for him, being forgiven for his past and future sins. This is a great honour for the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam.’
[Tafseer Ibn Katheer Soorah al-Fath]
10 – The Prophet’s Ummah will be the largest on the day of judgment.
From Ibn Abbas from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- who said:
أهل الجنة عشرون ومائة صف ثمانون منها من هذه الأمة و أربعون من سائر
‘The People of Paradise will be of one hundred and twenty rows, eighty of them will be from this Ummah and forty from the rest of the other Ummahs.’
[Collected by Ahmad, Tirmidhi & authenticated by Albaani in Saheeh al-Jama no. 2526]
All the Prophets & Messengers were Human
Allaah said:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ
<< And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad) any but men, whom We sent revelation, (to preach and invite mankind to believe in the Oneness of Allaah). So ask (you, O pagans of Makkah) of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not.>> [Nahl: 43]
Prophet Isa
Allaah the Most High said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
<< And (remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): “O ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allaah?’ ”
He will say: “Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. “Never did I say to them anything except what You (Allaah) did command me to say: ‘Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. >>
[Surah al-Maida: 116 – 117]
Prophet Dawood
From Abul Darda and Abdullaah bin Amr bin Al-Aass that the Prophet – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said:
كان داودُ أعبدَ البشرِ.
‘Dawood was the one who worshipped Allaah the most from mankind.’
[Collected by Tirmidhi, al-Hakim & in Saheeh al-Jamia 4453 & Silsilah Saheehah no. 707 and graded Hasan by Al-Albaani]
Ayaat Which Prove the Humanness of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam
Allaah the Most Wise said;
{قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً وَلا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَداً}
<<Say (O Muhammad): “I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your God is One God (- i.e. Allaah). So, whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.”>>
[Surah al-Kahf: 110]
Allaah the Most High said:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
<< Say (O Muhammad): “I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (Allaah), therefore take the Straight Path to Him (with true Faith Islamic Tawheed) and obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikoon (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters, etc. >>
[Fussilat: 6]
Imam at-Tabari -Rahmatullaah alayhi- said:
‘Allaah – May His remembrance be high- said, O Muhammad say to these from your nation who reject the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, O people, I am only a human being from the son of Adam like you in species.
Allaah the Most High said:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ أَفَإِينْ مِتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ
<< And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad): then if you die, would they live forever? >>
[al-Anbiyya: 34]
Allaah said:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لا يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ
<< And We did not create the Messengers, with bodies that did not need food, nor were they immortals.>>
[Al-Anbiyya: 8]
Meaning that they were human and ate food, and that they were not going to live for eternity.
Allaah said:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِينْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ
<< Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful. >>
[Ala-Imran: 144]
Ahadeeth About the Humanness of the Prophet
- One
From Aeysha -RadhiAllaahu unha- affirmed that she saw the Prophet – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – making Dua raising his hands saying:
[اللَّهُمَّ] إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ فَلَا تُعَاقِبْنِي، أَيُّمَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ آذَيْتُهُ أَوْ شَتَمْتُهُ فَلَا تُعَاقِبْنِي فيه”.
‘O Allaah indeed I am a human so do not punish me, if I have harmed or cursed any person from the believers then do not punish me for it.’
[Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad no. 477 and graded Saheeh lighayrihi by Al-Albaani]
- Two
From Rafa’ bin Khadeej who said, the Prophet of Allaah – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – came while the people were pollinating the palm trees and he said: ‘What are you doing?’
They said: ‘we were pollinating the palm tree.’
The Prophet said:
‘Perhaps it would be better if you did not do this.’
So they left off pollination, and it did not recover. Rafa’ said they mentioned this to the Prophet and he said:
«إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَخُذُوا بِهِ وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ رَأْي فَإِنَّمَا أَنا بشر»
‘Indeed, I am a human, when I order you with something from your religion then take it and when I order you with something of my opinion then I am a human.’
[Collected by Muslim]
- Three
From Abdullaah bin Mas’ood that the Messenger of Allaah – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – prayed five Rakat for the Dhuhr prayer. It was asked of him, ‘Has the prayer been increased?’
The Prophet replied, ‘And why is that?’
They replied, ‘You prayed five Rakat.’ So the Prophet made two Sajdas after giving the Salam.
In another narration the Prophet said:
‘Indeed, I am a human like you, I forget like you forget, when I forget remind me. When one of you doubts in his prayer, then he should strive to remember the correct amount and make up the amount of missed prayer, then he should give Salam and then perform two Sajdas.’
[Collected by Bukhari & Muslim]
- Four
From Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allaah – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said:
«إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَيَّ وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَقْضِي لَهُ عَلَى نَحْوِ مَا أَسْمَعُ مِنْهُ فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ حَقِّ أَخِيهِ فَلَا يَأْخُذَنَّهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّار»
‘Indeed, I am a human and indeed you bring your disputes to me, and perhaps some of you are more eloquent with your evidences than others. I judge for a person according to what I hear from him.
Therefore, for whomsoever I gave a judgement, in anything which was actually rightfully for his brother, then he should not take that matter, otherwise he would have taken a piece from the Hell fire.’
[Collected by Bukhari and Muslim Silsilah as-Saheehah no. 455]
- Five
From Zaid bin Arqaam who said:
قام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما فينا خطيبا بماء يدعى ( خما ) بين مكة و المدينة ، فحمد الله ، و أثنى عليه ، و وعظ و ذكر ، ثم قال : أما بعد ، ألا أيها الناس ، فإنما أنا بشر ، يوشك أن يأتي رسول ربي فأجيب ، و أنا تارك فيكم ثقلين ، أولهما كتاب الله ، فيه الهدى و النور ( من استمسك به و أخذ به كان على الهدى ، و من أخطأه ضل ) ، فخذوا بكتاب الله ، و استمسكوا به – فحث على كتاب الله و رغب فيه ، ثم قال : – و أهل بيتي ، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي ، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي ، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي
‘The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- stood amongst us one day to give a Khutbah at a watering place called ‘Khumma’ between Makkah and Madina, he praised Allaah and glorified Him, he admonished and reminded us, then he said:
‘To proceed, O people, indeed I am a human being, the messenger (angel of death) of my Lord is about to come to me so that I may respond. I am leaving two weighty valuable things amongst you, the first of which is the Book of Allaah, in it is guidance and light [whoever adheres to it and takes to it then he is upon guidance, and whoever errs becomes astray]. So take the Book of Allaah, and adhere to it – so the Prophet encouraged with the Book of Allaah and awakened the desire for it. Then he said: – and the people of my household, I remind you of my household for the sake of Allaah, I remind you of my household for the sake of Allaah, I remind you of my household for the sake of Allaah.’
[Collected by Muslim, Tahawi in ‘Mushkil al-Athar’, Ahmad, Ibn Abi Aasim in ‘as-Sunnah’ and Tabrani from Yazeed bin Hayyaan at-Tameemee from him]
The Prophet’s Shadow
The Lajna Daimma lil-Iftaa was asked:
Here in Pakistan the scholars of the Barielawi sect believe that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- did not have a shadow and this proves that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- was not human. Is this hadeeth Saheeh that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- did not have a shadow?
The Answer:
‘This statement is false, it negates the texts of the Qur’aan and the clear Sunnah which indicate that the Prophet -sallawaat Allaah wa sallamuhu alayhi- was human and him being created as a human is not different to the people, and he has a shadow like any other human.
Allaah having honoured him with the message does not exit him from the human form which Allaah created him upon from a mother and a father.
Allaah Ta’ala said:
( قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوْحَى إِلَيَّ )
《Say (O Muhammad): “I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me》[Khaf:110]
Allaah Ta’ala said:
( قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِنْ نَحْنُ إِلاْ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ )
《Their Messengers said to them: “We are no more than human beings like you》[Ibraheem:11]
As for what is narrated that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- was created from the light of Allaah, then this is a fabricated Hadeeth.’
[Fatawa Lajna ad-Daimaa 1/464]
Mu’aawiyah The Scribe of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam-
Taken from ‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’ By the Muhaddith, Shaykh, Allamaa’ Muhammad Nasir uddeen al-Albaani
From Ibn Abbas:
‘That the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- sent someone to Mu’aawiyah to write something for him, and this person said he is eating, then the Messenger sent the person again, and again he said he is eating. Then the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
‘May Allaah not let his stomach become satisfied.’
Collected by Abu Dawood at-Tayyalisi in his ‘Musnad’ (2746) I (Albaani) say: This Isnaad is Saheeh, its narrators are all trustworthy, they are the narrators of Imam Muslim.
It seems that the hadeeth was summarized by Ahmad or by some of his Shaykhs, and they mentioned an extra wording:
‘. . . .and he was his scribe’,
And its chain is authentic.
Some of the sects took opportunity of this hadeeth, as a way of attacking Mu’aawiyah -Radi Allaahu anhu- but there is nothing in this hadeeth which helps them on this, and how can it, since in the hadeeth it mentions that he was the scribe of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, and this is why al-Hafidh Ibn ‘Aasakir said: (16/349/2):
‘This is the most authentic narration which has been mentioned about the excellence of Mu’aawiyah.’
What is evident from this supplication from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- is that it was not intentional, rather it is from what is the practice of the Arabs when using certain style of speech unintentionally; such as the statement of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- regarding some of his wives:
‘May you be affected by pain in your throat’[1] [Collected by Bukhari & Muslim]
Also
‘May your right hand be covered in dust’ [Collected by Bukhari & Muslim]
and like his -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- statement in the hadeeth of Anas:
‘May your age not increase.’
It is possible that this statement from the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- about Mu’aawiyah was spurred on by his humanness which he has eloquently mentioned about himself -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in many reoccurring Ahadeeth, and from them is the hadeeth of ‘Aeysha -Radi Allaahu anha- who said:
‘Two men entered upon the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- they spoke to him about something but I did not know what it was about, and they caused him to get angry, so he -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- cursed them and reviled them, then when they left I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Good will reach everyone except these two people.
The Messenger asked: ‘And why is that?
She said: ‘You cursed them and reviled them.’
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
‘Did you not know that I have a contract with my Lord? I said: O Allaah indeed I am a human, so any Muslim whom I cursed or reviled, then designate it as charity and a reward for him.’
[‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’ No. 83]
Collected by Imam Muslim along with the previous hadeeth before this in the chapter entitled:
‘Chapter: Whoever the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- cursed, reviled or supplicated against and he was not qualified for that; then it is a charity, reward and mercy for that individual.’
Then Imam Muslim narrated here the hadeeth of Anas bin Malik who said: ‘There was an orphan girl with Umm Sulaym, who was called Umm Anas, the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- saw the orphan girl and said:
‘Are you her? Verily you have grown up, may your age not lengthen.’
Then the orphan girl went back to Umm Sulaym crying; Umm Sulaym said to her ‘What is wrong young girl?’
The young girl said: ‘The Prophet of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- supplicated against me that my age should not ever lengthen.’ Or she said: ‘my generation.’
So Umm Sulaym went out hastily wrapping her headscarf on her head, until she met the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam-, and the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said to her: ‘What is wrong O Umm Sulaym?’
She replied: ‘O Prophet of Allaah! Did you supplicate against my orphan girl?’
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- asked:
‘And how is that O Umm Sulaym?’
She answered: ‘She claims that you supplicated that her age should not lengthen nor should her generation.’
The narrator said: The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- laughed then he -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
‘O Umm Sulaym! Did you not know that I have a contract with my Lord, and I said: Indeed I am a human and I become pleased just like a human becomes pleased, and I get angry just as a human gets angry so whoever from my Ummah I supplicated against with a supplication of which he was not deserving, then make that as a purification for him and a charity and a means of coming closer to Allaah on the Day of Judgement?’
[‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’ Hadeeth No.84]
Then Imam Muslim follows up this hadeeth with the hadeeth of Mu’aawiyah and with that he completed the chapter. This was an indication from Imam Muslim -Rahimullaah- that this hadeeth of Mu’aawiyah is from one chapter and has the same meaning, therefore, just like the supplication of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- does not harm the orphan girl – rather it is a charity and a means of coming closer to Allaah; likewise, was the supplication of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- for Mu’aawiyah.
Imam an-Nawawi said in his ‘Explanation of Saheeh Muslim’ (2/325 – Indian Print):
‘As for the supplication upon Mu’aawiyah, then it has two responses:
One of which is : that it was said upon the tongue without intent.
The second: that it was a punishment for Mu’aawiyah for being late, and Muslim -Rahimullaah- understood from this hadeeth that Mu’aawiyah was not deserving of the supplication upon him, therefore, this is why Imam Muslim entered this hadeeth into this chapter. Other scholars have placed this hadeeth from the virtues of Mu’aawiyah because in reality this does become a supplication for him.’
Dhahabi indicated to this second meaning, he said in ‘Siyaar ‘Alaam an-Nubala’ (9/171/2):
‘I say: Perhaps it is said: this is a virtue for Mu’aawiyah due to the saying of the Messenger of Allaah! The one who I cursed or reviled, make that a charity and mercy for him.’
Know that the statement of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in these Ahadeeth:
‘Indeed I am a human and I become pleased just like a human . . . ; is indeed an explanation for the statement of Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta’ala:
<< Say, I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. >> [Khaf: 110]
Perhaps some of those who follow desires and rash emotions hasten to reject the likes of this hadeeth by their claim of veneration for the Prophet –alayhi as-Sallat wa Sallam – and clearing him from having said this statement!
There is no scope for the likes of this rejection, since verily the hadeeth is Saheeh (authentic), rather we see it as Mutawatir (has recurring chains).
It has been collected by Muslim from the hadeeth of ‘Aeysha and Umm Sulaym as we have mentioned, and from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah and Jabir -Radi Allaahu anhuma, and it has been mentioned from the hadeeth of Salman, Anas, Samrah, Abu Tufayl, Abu Sa’eed and other than them. See: ‘Kunz al-‘Amal’ (2/124).
Veneration of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- is a veneration which is legislated, but it is done with having Eemaan with everything authentically established that came from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, and along with having that Eemaan is him -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- being a slave and Messenger without going to extreme or being negligent. For he -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- is a human with the testification of the Book and the Sunnah, however he is the chief of the humans and the best of them without exception because of the text of the authentic Ahadeeth, just as the history of his life and his biography indicate to.
And from what Allaah Ta’ala bestowed him with of noble manners and praiseworthy characteristics, which no human has in entirety as it is completely in the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- and Allaah The Great was truthful when he addressed the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- with His Noble statement:
<< and indeed you are on exalted standard character>> [Qalam:4]
[Taken from ‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’ vol. 1 hadeeth no 82-84 p.164]
Also another hadeeth from ‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’:
From Abu Huraira that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي اتَّخَذْتُ عِنْدَكَ عَهْدًا لَنْ تُخْلِفَنِيهِ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ فَأَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ آذَيْتُهُ شَتَمْتُهُ لَعَنْتُهُ جَلَدْتُهُ فَاجْعَلْهَا لَهُ صَلَاةً وَزَكَاةً وَقُرْبَةً تُقَرِّبُهُ بِهَا إِلَيْكَ يَوْم الْقِيَامَة»
‘O Allaah, indeed I make a pledge to You which I won’t break. Indeed, I am a human being; so any believer who I harmed, reviled, cursed or punished; make that as prayer for him, Zakat and a means of being close to You on the Day of Judgement.’
[Collected by Muslim, Ahmad & in Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah No. 3999]
All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace
and blessings be upon our final
Prophet Muhammad, his
family, his companions
and all those who
follow his
guidance
[1] T.N. al-hafidh Muhammad bin Nasr al-Humaydi (d.488 A.H.) said: ‘These are words which the Arabs supplicate with, when they get angry with someone. The meaning is ‘May Allaah make her barren and destroy her.’ Which is that she be affected by pain in her throat. This is to show how great the matter was which caused the person to get angry.’ [Taken from: ‘Tafseer Ghareeb ma Fee Saheehayin al-Bukhari & Muslim’ p.141]