الأدلة على تفضيل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم على سائر الأنبياء
Evidence for the
superiority of the Prophet (p. u. h)
Over other Prophets
The
Prophets (peace be upon them) vary in status over one another. This is
something that has been stated by Allaah in His Book and by the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in His Sunnah. Allaah says;
( تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى
بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ وَآَتَيْنَا عِيسَى
ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ
“Those
Messengers! We preferred some of them to others; to some of them Allaah
spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honour); and to ‘Eesa
(Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), We gave clear proofs and evidences, and
supported him with Rooh-ul-Qudus [Jibreel (Gabriel)]” [al-Baqarah 2:253]
Shaykh
Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: With regard
to the words وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ “others He
raised to degrees (of honour)”, in other places it is indicated that among
them is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), such as the
verses in which Allaah says:
عسى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ
رَبُّكَ مَقَاماً مَّحْمُوداً
“It
may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaam Mahmoud (a station of praise and
glory, i.e., the honour of intercession on the Day of Resurrection” [al-Isra’ 17:79]
وَمَآ
أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ
“And
We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a
warner to all mankind, but most of men know not” [Saba’ 34:28]
إِنِّي رَسُولُ الله إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعاً
“Verily, I am sent to you all as the
Messenger of Allaah” [al-A’raaf 7:158]
تبارك الذي نَزَّلَ الفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ
لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيراً .
“Blessed be He Who sent down the
criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur’aan) to His slave (Muhammad) that
he may be a warner to the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)”
[al-Furqaan 25:1]
Elsewhere Allaah indicates that
Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) is also one of them, as He says
واتخذ الله إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلا
“And Allaah did take Ibraaheem
(Abraham) as a Khaleel (an intimate friend)”
[al-Nisa’ 4:125]
إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَاماً
“‘Verily,
I am going to make you an Imam (a leader) for mankind (to follow you)’” [al-Baqarah 2:124]
Elsewhere Allaah indicates that
Dawood is one of them, as He says
وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النبيين على بَعْضٍ
وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُوراً
“And indeed, We have preferred some
of the Prophets above others, and to Dawood (David) We gave the Zaboor
(Psalms)” [al-Isra’ 17:55]
Elsewhere Allaah indicates that
Idrees is one of them, as He says
وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَاناً عَلِيّاً
“And We raised him to a high
station” [Maryam 19:87]
And here Allaah indicates that ‘Eesa
is one of them, as He says:
وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابن مَرْيَمَ البينات
“And We gave ‘Eesa (Jesus), the son
of Maryam (Mary), clear signs and supported him with Rooh-ul-Qudus [Jibreel
(Gabriel)” [al-Baqarah 2:87]
With
regard to what is narrated in the Sunnah about it being forbidden to show
preference to some of the Prophets over others, or to show preference to our
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – such as the hadeeths in al-Saheehayn,
“Do not differentiate between the Prophets” and “Do not favour me over Moosa” –
the scholars have resolved this confusion, but the scholars differed concerning
that.
Al-Khattaabi
said: What this means is that we should not differentiate between them in the
sense of belittling some of them, because that may lead to false beliefs
concerning them and failing in the duty to give them their due rights. But it
does not mean that we believe they are equal in status, because Allaah says:
تِلْكَ الرُّسُل فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضهمْ عَلَى بَعْض
“Those Messengers! We preferred some
of them to others…” End quote.
In
‘Awn al-Ma’bood it says: This means: Do not prefer some of them over
others based on your personal opinions.
Al-Qurtubi
mentioned other opinions which were along the same lines, then he said:
The
best of that is the view of those who say that refraining from differentiating
between them means with regard to prophet hood which is the same for all of
them, with no difference. Rather the differentiation has to do with
circumstances, characteristics, miracles, and words. As for prophet hood
itself, there is no differentiation; rather the differentiation has to do with
other matters that are separate to that. Hence some of them were Messengers of
firm resolve (ulu’l-‘azm), some were taken as close friends (khaleel),
some of them were spoken to directly by Allaah, and some were raised in status.
Allaah says:
وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النبيين على بَعْضٍ وَآتَيْنَا
دَاوُودَ زَبُور
“And indeed, We have preferred some
of the Prophets above others, and to Dawood (David) We gave the Zaboor
(Psalms)” [al-Isra’ 17:55]
Then he said: This is a good view,
as it reconciles between the verses and the ahaadeeth without abrogating
anything. Tafseer al-Qurtubi (3/249)
There
is no difference of opinion among the scholars concerning the fact that our
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is superior to all
of his fellow-Prophets (peace be upon them). That is clear from the evidence of
the Qur’aan and Sunnah, such as the following:
1.
He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) will attain
the station of praise and glory (maqaam Mahmoud) on the Day of Resurrection.
Allaah says
وَمِنْ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَكَ
عَسَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا
“And
in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salaah (prayer) with it (i.e.
recite the Qur’aan in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional
prayer- Nawaafil) for you (O Muhammad). It may be that your Lord will raise you
to Maqaam Mahmoud (a station of praise and glory, i.e., the honour of
intercession on the Day of Resurrection)”
[al-Isra’ 17:79]
This
refers to his intercession on the Day of Resurrection asking that judgement be
passed among all of creation. That will happen after they have been gathered
and stood for so long, and there befall the people that which will befall them.
The people will go to the Prophets and each one will excuse himself from interceding
for them, until they come to our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him). He will go to his Lord and fall prostrate before Him, and
he will ask to intercede for the people and it will be granted to him. It is
called al-maqaam al-mahmoud (a station of praise and glory) because all of
creation will praise Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for
that status, because his intercession will be a cause of their suffering in the
lengthy standing coming to an end.
عن ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ
عَنْهُمَا يَقُولُ : ( إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَصِيرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ جُثًا ،
كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ تَتْبَعُ نَبِيَّهَا يَقُولُونَ : يَا فُلانُ اشْفَعْ ،
يَا فُلانُ اشْفَعْ ، حَتَّى تَنْتَهِيَ
الشَّفَاعَةُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَلِكَ يَوْمَ
يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ الْمَقَامَ الْمَحْمُودَ ) رواه البخاري
It
was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “On the Day
of Resurrection the people will come on their knees, each nation following its
Prophet, saying, ‘O So and so, intercede! O So and so, intercede!’ until
intercession comes to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
On that day Allaah will raise him to the station of praise and glory.” Narrated
by al-Bukhaari (4441).
2.
He was given conciseness speech, supported with fear cast
into the hearts of his enemies, war booty was permitted to him, the earth was
made a place of prostration and a means of purification for him, the line of
Prophets ended with him and he will be granted intercession.
Allaah says:
مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
“Muhammad is not the father of any
of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the
Prophets. And Allaah is Ever All‑Aware of everything” [al-Ahzaab 33:40]
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ
لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا
“Blessed be He Who sent down the
criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur’aan) to His slave (Muhammad) that
he may be a warner to the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)” [al-Furqaan 25:1]
It
was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said:
عَنْ جَابِر بْن عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ
: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا
لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْ الأَنْبِيَاءِ قَبْلِي : نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ
مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِي الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا وَأَيُّمَا
رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِي
الْغَنَائِمُ ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ
إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً ، وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ) رواه البخاري
The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have
been given five things that were not given to any of the Prophets before me: I
have been supported with fear (cast into the hearts of my enemies) for a
distance of one month’s travel; the earth has been made a place of prostration
and a means of purification for me, so when the time of prayer comes for any
man among my ummah, let him pray; war booty has been permitted for me; a
Prophet would be sent only to his own people, but I have been sent to all of
mankind; and I have been given the power of intercession.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (427) and Muslim (421).
وعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ
اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : ( فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى
الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ : أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ
، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا
، وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً ، وَخُتِمَ بِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ )
It
was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been favoured over the other
Prophets in six ways: I have been given the gift of concise speech; I have been
supported with fear; booty has been made permissible for me; the earth has been
made a means of purification and a place of prostration for me; I have been
sent to all of mankind; and the (line of) Prophets ends with me.” Narrated by
Muslim (523).
3.
He
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) will be the first one among the
Messengers who will be permitted to cross the Siraat.
من حديث أبي هريرة الطويل ، وفيه قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم (فَأَكُونُ
أَوَّلَ مَنْ يَجُوزُ مِن الرُّسل بِأُمَّتِهِ)
Al-Bukhaari
(773) narrated a lengthy hadeeth from Abu Hurayrah, in which the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I will be the first one among the
Messengers who will cross with his ummah.”
4.
He
will be the first one for whom the grave will be opened, the first to intercede
and the first whose intercession will be accepted.
عَن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، وَأَوَّلُ
مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ ، وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ ، وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ ) ) .
It
was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I will be the leader of the sons of
Adam on the Day of Resurrection, the first one for whom the grave is opened,
the first one to intercede and the first one whose intercession will be
accepted.” Narrated by Muslim (2278).
5.
Allaah,
may He be exalted, forgave him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) all
his sins, past and future.
Allaah says:
قال الله تعالى : ( إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا .
لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ
اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ
عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا )
“Verily,
We have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory.
That
Allaah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, and complete His
Favour on you, and guide you on the Straight Path” [al-Fath 48:1-2]
6.
He
was called as a Prophet and Messenger
Allaah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا
وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا .
“O
Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad
tidings, and a warner” [al-Ahzaab
33:45]
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ
مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
“O
Messenger (Muhammad)! 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” [al-Maa’idah 5:67]
His fellow Prophets were called by
their names only.
7.
Allaah
commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to follow the
guidance of the Prophets, peace be upon them.
Allaah says:
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ
هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ
“They are those whom Allaah had
guided. So follow their guidance”
[al-An’aam 6:90]
Shaykh
‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This means: Walk,
O noble Messenger, behind these good Prophets, and follow their way. He (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) obeyed the command and followed the
guidance of the Messengers who came before him, thus acquiring all the
qualities of perfection that they had which made him superior to all of
creation. Thus he is the leader of the Messengers and the imam of the pious.
May the blessing and peace of Allaah be upon them all.
