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A complete epistle
of Shiek Islam Alhaji Ibrahim Niyass (REFORMER OF TASSAWUF)
In the name of Allah, Kind and Most Merciful
O Lord! Bestow your greetings on our Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him), the opener of what was
closed, the seal of what has passed, the helper of truth
with truth, and the guide to Your most straight, perfect
path. Let this blessing include his household, and be for
them of a magnitude that matches the magnitude of the
Prophet (SAW). For his magnitude is (indeed) a great one.
Moulana Sheikh, the Teacher, the Hadith narrator, the Sufi,
the reverent Abu Ishaq Al Hajj Ibrahim Niyass, son of Al
Hajj Abdullah Niyass Al Maliki Al Ashaari, At-Tijani of
Kaolack. May Allah grant him everlasting power and give him
long life, in order to confute the gossip of those who
disown the Prophet's (SAW) pre-eminence. May the greetings
of Allah be on him, and upon all the Prophets, and all the
Messengers? He entitled it: "The Stars of the Good Road",
dealing with the pre-eminence of our Prophet (SAW) over all
those who preached for the Lord. ***
Praise be to Allah who gave more merit to some Prophets
(peace and blessings to all of them) than to others, who set
off the glamour of some, compared with other Messengers, and
who made of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the most deserving
of all, settling him at the summit of situations. According
to the texts and to unanimous opinion, he is the most
deserving; the most perfect among beings, the chief of all
Adam's (ASW) children, and the mercy of mankind, even of
those who received the Prophecies and the Divine messages.
Holy greetings to his family, his companions, and his nation
which is the best nation humanity has known, according to
the religious texts and to verses of the Qur`an.
After this foreword, I intend to say that, since quite a
number of years, I listened to talks ascribed to Muslims,
which I have ranked as senseless lucubrations, and had
decided not to dip my pen for refuting them. Unfortunately
they went a great deal and spread. Seeing that most of our
contemporaries are uneducated, knowing of the Book but
hopes, and what scrapes their chiefs have embellished,
although it is nothing more than errors and untrue
statements pretending that not a single proof does exist so
as to confirm Muhammad (SAW) as the most deserving of all
the Prophets, Holders of truth, and Miracles, I feared that
the ignorant masses would give ear to such insinuations, so
I wrote this brief answer within reach of understanding of
the contemporaries the carelessness of whom is well-known,
and I have stated that in the Holy Qur`an the primacy among
Prophets is mentioned as well as Muhammad's (SAW) privileged
place in comparison with the Prophets and the Messengers.
This is clear as daylight and needs no proof.
As the saying goes:
How to believe in something, if the day requires proof?
As long as we deal with narrow-minded folks, our answer will
keep within bounds of their brains, therefore bearing
witness and reporting verses from the Qur`an.
We declare that the Qur`an has mentioned that Muhammad (SAW)
was the Mercy of mankind. It is proved that, on the Day of
the Last Judgment, he will intercede on their behalf, and
that he is the chief of the sons of Adam (ASW). Adam and
those who are after him will fall in under his banner on the
Day of Resurrection.
He is the latest and the leader of Prophets. His religion is
the best, his nation perfect, and his Book the most valuable
of all the Books revealed by Heaven. He is the first to
arise from earth. He is the first to reach Heaven. He has
got the means.
Allah has had regard for him more than for anyone else. He
has enhanced his glamour; He has opened everything for him,
and forgiven him everything. He has preserved his family
from blemish. He set him in a night trip to the Heavens,
swore by his name, by his time, by his country, and granted
him profusion. His verses are eternal. His religion has
abolished the other religions. He has been the Messenger of
the whole humanity.
Here are the items on what we have stated: according to the
exegetes (interpreters), there is a difference between the
positions of the Friend, our Prophet, may the greetings of
God be to him, and the others' position. You have some
verses here which partly explain this statement. Let us
first begin by the difference of position between him and
the Khalil (Friend of Allah, SAW): Al Khalil (Abraham, SAW)
begs pardon by saying: "It is from Him that I beseech the
forgiveness of my sin on the day of accounts" whereas in
that respect the position of the Habib (the Confidant of
Allah, SAW) is the following: "Yes, We made you winner of a
glamorous victory so that Allah forgives you the early
beginnings of your sin and whatever of it that has
lingered". The Friend (SAW) is in the situation of an
applicant. He says: "Do not wail out on the Day of the
Resurrection": whereas He gave satisfaction to the Confident
(SAW) without a slightest request: "The Day when Allah will
not lower the Prophet and his Companions".
The Friend (SAW) said: "Grant me a truthful tongue among the
lowest", meanwhile to the Confidant (SAW) He said: "We have
heightened your glamour".
Speaking of the Friend, he (Abraham, SAW) says: "Spare me
and my children from the worshipping of idols". While for
the Confidant (SAW): " Allah wills to spare you the blemish,
a people of the Prophet's household". The Friend (SAW) says:
"God satisfies me". Whereas for the Confidant (SAW): "O
Prophet, Allah satisfies you". The Friend (SAW) says: "I
walk towards my Allah who will lead me", when for the
Confidant (SAW): "Glory be to Him who set His servant to
journey by night", and so on.
As for the Interlocutor (one who takes part in conversation,
Moses, SAW), He has come on earth for the meeting, while
Muhammad the Confidant (SAW) is meant by: "Glory be to Him
who set his Servant in a night journey". The Interlocutor's
meditation happened on the Sinai, whereas the Confidant's
meditation took place on the Throne and on top of Heights.
Allah spoke to Moses (SAW) by Divine inspiration, while He
talked to Muhammad (SAW), verbally and obviously. God
replied to the Interlocutor (SAW): "You shall not see me".
Speaking of Muhammad (SAW) He says: "The heart was not
mistaken about what it observed". Moses (SAW) fell on
ground, thunderstruck, while the Confidant (SAW): "The eye
did not turn aside and never rebelled".
He related thus His words to Moses (SAW): "What is it that
you hold in your hand O Moses?" (Verse from the Qu`ran),
while He kept secret His conversation with the Confidant
(SAW), reporting it vaguely by saying: "He revealed to his
servant what he revealed, etc.".
According to Fakr Ar-Razy, in his comment on the verse:
"Those Prophets that we have distinguished from one
another", the nation is unanimous to consider that some of
them are more deserving than the others and that Muhammad
(SAW), is the most deserving of all. To back up this
argument, there are many reasons:
the FIRST one is this word of Allah, the Most High: "We
entrusted you with a mission only out of Mercy for
humanity". So long as he is the Mercy of humanity, it is
natural for him to be above it.
The SECOND one is the word of Allah, the Most High, "We have
heightened your glamour". In relation to this subject, they
keep repeating: that Allah has coupled Muhammad's name (SAW)
with His name, in the quotation of the Profession of Faith (Kalimah
Shahadah), in the call for prayer (Azan), and in the
'Witness Bearing Prayer' "At-Tashahhoud" whereas not one
Prophet has got the privilege of this coupled quotation.
The THIRD one is that He coupled His obedience to his: "He
who obeys to the Prophet obeys to Allah ". He coupled the
Oath of Allegiance towards Him to the one towards the
Prophet (SAW). He said: "Those who swear allegiance on your
behalf do it to Allah, the hand of God is above their
hands". He coupled His power to his own one, by saying:
"Power is the apanage (privilege, monopoly) of Allah and His
Prophet".
He also coupled His satisfaction to his own one by
announcing: " Allah and His Prophet mostly deserve
satisfaction". He even coupled His consent to his own one,
by saying: "O Faithful people! Consent to the call of Allah
and of His Prophet".
The FOURTH one is that Allah has ordered Muhammad (SAW), to
hurl defiance for each chapter (Surah) of the Qur`an by
saying: "Bring only one Surah that is same". The briefest
Surah is the one of Al-Kauthar which contains only three
verses. It seems that Allah challenged them every three
verses. Since Qur`an contains more than six thousand verses,
it is logical that the miracle of Qur`an should be not a
single miracle but rather two thousand miracles and even
more. If this is proved, we say that Allah, praise be to
Him, has quoted the honor granted to Moses (SAW) in nine
verses, while the honor granted to Muhammad (SAW), is more
extensive, owing to this great number of verses.
We owe the FIFTH argument to the fact that our Prophet's
miracle (SAW), is more prodigious (magnanimous), than the
other miracles of the rest of the Prophets, which proves
it's superiority; He said indeed: "The Qur`an is to the Holy
Scriptures what Adam is to the other beings".
The SIXTH argument proves that the Prophet's miracle (SAW),
is the Qur`an. This miracle, that finds its roots in words
and voices, the nature of which is accidental (temporary)
and not lasting like that of the other Prophets' miracles,
andwill keep on endlessly until the end of time, which is
not the case for the other miracles.
The SEVENTH argument: Allah, praise be to His name,
referring to the Prophets, has said: "It is to them that
Allah showed the Good Road, so follow their track", thus
ordering Muhammad to follow the steps of his predecessors,
the matter of which is connected with principles of minor
importance not with the basic principles of the religion and
its details, because the religion of Islam has abolished the
rest of religions.
On another connection, Allah willed to say to Muhammad
(SAW): "We have taught you the way of living of the
Prophets' and their conduct, choose therefore the best of
their virtues", which implies that our Prophet (SAW)
gathered up virtues that none among the Prophets did
acquire, so is not he necessarily superior to them?
The seventh argument: Allah, praise be to His name,
referring to the Prophets, has said: "It is to them that
Allah showed the Good Road, so follow their track", thus
ordering Muhammad to follow the steps of his predecessors,
the matter of which is connected with principles of minor
importance not with the basic principles of the religion and
its details, because the religion of Islam has abolished the
rest of religions. On another connection, Allah willed to
say to Muhammad (SAW): "We have taught you the way of living
of the Prophets' and their conduct, choose therefore the
best of their virtues", which implies that our Prophet (SAW)
gathered up virtues that none among the Prophets did
acquire, so is not he necessarily superior to them?
The eighth argument is the following: the Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) is sent to all beings, his duty was most important,
and thus his merit shows up to be greater. Allah - praise to
Him - has told him indeed: "We have sent you to all beings
without exception." His merit turns out to be greater more,
and more especially because (in the beginning) he was alone,
without any means, or companions or supporters. And, while
addressing the world by saying: "Oh! World of unfaithful
people!" he set all in this world, in one instance, against
himself. Therefore the difficulties awaiting him were
numerous.
Besides, when Moses (SAW) was sent to the people of Israel,
he had only Pharaoh and his people to fear, whereas Muhammad
(SAW) had to brave the whole world. In order to understand
the unparalleled effort deployed by our Prophet (SAW),
imagine a man in a country where he has neither a friend nor
a companion and whom you sent to give un-welcomed news to
another strong and armed man, sure he would be reluctant to
go and find that person, even if the latter is but one man.
Now, ask the same person the give that un-welcomed news to
someone in a remote countryside. It would be very hard for
him to do so. As for Muhammad (SAW), he was charged with
walking day and night during all of his life to free people
that he knew not, or rather knew only because of their hate,
and their harm and scorn. And in spite of all that, he did
not seek relief from his duty. On the contrary, he hurried
in front of them so as to fulfil to the letter his duty, the
matter that brought him to endure much sufferance while
spreading the divine religion.
Allah said: "The first Companions of the Prophet have more
merit than those who supported the religion later." If this
is said of the Companions, all the more reason, that the
greatest merit should fall to the Prophet who suffered much
more than the others.
The ninth argument is owed to the fact that the religion of
Islam is the best of religions. It is then only logical that
Muhammad would be the best Prophet.
By the Will of Allah, the religion of Islam has abolished
the rest of religions, thus, is not it the best, especially
because the Prophet (SAW) has said: "He who established a
good custom shall have rewards as many as the number of
times this custom would have been practiced by others until
the Day of the Resurrection." The religion of Islam has more
rewards and credits than the other religions, by means of
consequence; its establisher must be more deserving than
other prophets.
The tenth argument is that as long as the nation that
believes in the mission of Muhammad is the best, it is only
natural for the Prophet of that mission to be the best.
Hasn't Allah (blessed be His name) said: "You will be the
best nation the world will discover". Following the precepts
of Muhammad (SAW) is deserving of that praise from Allah. In
another instance, Allah said to Muhammad (SAW): "Tell them,
if you love Allah, follow me and Allah will bless you." The
merit of the follower overspreads implicitly from the
followed person. Add to all those reasons, that the merit of
Muhammad (SAW) is shown also in the fact that he is sent to
all the creatures, and that the great number of freed beings
increases the value of the followed person.
The eleventhargument is that: from the fact that Muhammad
(SAW) is the latest sent of the Prophets, he is necessarily
their superior, because it is unusual that one who is less
deserving succeeds one who is more deserving.
The twelfth argument: the scale of the prophet's merit is
established on the basis of the number of prodigies
(extraordinary deeds) they have performed, which proves
their sincerity and settles the honors owed to them. In that
meaning, our Prophet (SAW) has been able to perform such a
number of prodigies as to be ranked on top of the three
thousand prophets at least. These prodigies are of different
kinds: some consist in satiating a great number of beings
with a small quantity of food, in quenching their thirst
with some water. Other prodigies bear closely upon the
science and the eloquence of the Qur`an. Others are
intimately connected with the Prophet's (SAW) person itself,
who is descended from the noblest lineage of the Arabs.
In another respect, our Prophet (SAW) was most courageous.
They recount his exploits of arms at battle, delivered by
`Ali (ra), the Companion of the Prophet (SAW), to Amr ibn
Abd-Ouid.
Muhammad (SAW) asked `Ali (ra): "How did you feel `Ali? I
felt very fine, I had the feeling that I could brave all the
people of Medina!... So, get yourself ready, `Ali, because
in that city, a man will revolt against you and will deliver
a terrible attack to you". There are also other wonders
concerning the Prophet's (SAW) good education, his
generosity, his faithfulness, his eloquence and his
devotion. The books of 'Hadith' are full of those numberless
prodigies and their details.
The Thirteenth argument: Muhammad (SAW) has said: "Adam (ASW)
and the rest will fall under my banner on the Day of
Resurrection", which proves that Muhammad (SAW) is above
Adam (ASW) and all his sons. The Prophet (SAW) also said:
"Without any pretension at all, I am the best of the sons of
Adam (ASW)". He said also: "Among the Prophets, I shall be
the first one to trample down the grass of Heaven; before
the others, my people too will be the first to trample it."
Anas has related that the Prophet (SAW) declared: "I shall
be the first to resuscitate on the Day of the Resurrection,
I shall be the orator at the time when the risen from the
dead shall have gathered, and their Savior when they shall
have lost hope. I behold the Banner of Allah 's Blessing and
I am his best servant among all the children of Adam (ASW),
with no pretension."
As for him, Ibn Abbas (ra) relates that some of the
companions were exchanging remarks about the Messengers of
Allah. One of them said: "It is paradisiacal that Allah took
Abraham (SAW) for Companion", a second one said: "Nothing is
more wonderful than to see God speaking to Moses (SAW)", a
third one said: "Jesus (SAW) is the Spirit of Allah ", a
fourth one said: "Adam (ASW) was chosen by Allah to be the
Father of all men". Having heard their remarks, Muhammad
(SAW) turned to his Companions (ra) and said: "I heard your
remarks and your arguments. It is true indeed that Abraham
(SAW) is the Companion of Allah, that Moses (SAW) heard the
word of Allah, that Jesus (SAW) is the Spirit of Allah, and
that Adam (ASW) was Chosen by Allah, but it is equally true
that I am the Friend and the Favorite of Allah, and this is
without pretension. I shall hold the Banner of the Blessing
on the Day of Resurrection, without pretension, and shall be
the first to bequest Allah 's forgiveness to mankind, also
without pretension. And, I shall be the first to open the
Gates of Heaven, and to make my way in, accompanied by the
humble among the Faithful and this too without pretension.
And I am the most generous of all beings, all without
pretension.
Fourteenth argument: Al-Baiha (ra) who, accounting the
merits of the Prophet's Companions (ra), has related that
`Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra), having appeared at a distance,
Muhammad (SAW) said: "Here comes the Lord of Arabs" at
which,Aisha (ra), the Prophet's wife, replied: "Aren't you
the Lord of the Arabs?", to what Muhammad (SAW) said: "I am
the Lord (Sayyid) of Allah 's creatures and he (`Ali) is the
Lord of Arabs". This, once more, proves that Muhammad (SAW)
is above all Prophets (peace be upon all of them).
Fifteenth argument: Mujahid (ra) tells that ibn Abbas (ra)
said that the Prophet (SAW) asserted that he has been
granted by Allah five privileges never beheld before by
others preceding him and he counted the following
privileges: "I am sent by Allah to all the inhabitants of
earth without any distinction of color, whereas the Prophets
ahead of me are commissioned to there own people; the whole
earth was offered to me as a Chosen Land; Allah withstands
me by startling my enemy wherever I go; He provided me the
free disposal of the spoils which were Forbidden Fruit for
my predecessors; and finally, I behold the Pardon of Allah
which I keep as a privilege to those among my people who
wouldn't have cast slur on Divine Unity. Beholding all these
privileges, it is clear that Allah has granted him more
merits than the others.
Sixteenth argument: in the connection with this, Muhammad
Ben Aissa Al-Hakim Attarmadhi (ra) said: "The wealth of
every Amir depends on the importance and on the number of
his subjects." The Amir of a village should own a fortune
equal to the importance of his village, and he who has
possessed the Orient and the Occident is in need of much
more than the fortune of an Amir of a village. The example
is also good for the messenger of Allah whose duty is
limited to a particular place on earth, for the volume of
the spiritual values he has should be equal to the value of
the place where he would carry on his duty. It is therefore
necessary that he who is sent to all the beings of the
Orient and the Occident should possess knowledge allowing
him to be well informed of what (conflicts, or difficulties)
the people of Orient and Occident are embroiled with. Thus,
compared with other prophecies, the value of Muhammad's
prophecy (SAW) is the same as the value of both Orient and
Occident together compared with some well-defined country.
And so, it is most natural that he has great knowledge and
such deep wisdom as no other prophet had before; Allah said
indeed: "We have inspired him in all that We wished to
inspire him". In point of eloquence, Allah said: "You
possess all the keys of speech". The Qur`an has become the
general Encyclopedia of all books, and the people of
Muhammad (SAW) the best people earth has known.
Seventeenth argument: Muhammad Ben Aissa Al-Hakim Attarmadhi
(ra) has related in the book of prodigies that Abu Hurairah
(ra) has narrated that the Prophet (SAW) has said: " Allah,
the Most High, has taken Abraham (SAW) for Companion, Moses
(SAW) for Confidant, and me for Friend, and I swear I shall
always prefer my friend to my companion and to my
confidant".
Eighteenth argument: Humam ben Munabah (ra) has related in
the concise book of traditions that Abu Hurairah (ra) has
narrated that the Prophet (SAW) has said: "My example, as
far as the Prophets, my predecessors, are concerned, is like
the example of a man who builds houses and embellishes them
though keeping the empty space of a brick at one corner of
each house; admiring the architecture of these houses, the
visitors asked the owner: "Why don't you place a brick in
the empty space and thus your dwellings be perfect?", and
the man answered: "I am the brick in question".
Nineteenth argument: Allah, the Most High, each time he
addressed a prophet in the verses of the Qur`an, called him
by his name; such were the cases for Adam (ASW), for Abraham
(SAW), or Moses (SAW), but as for Muhammad (SAW), his name
is preceded by: "O you Prophet" at each call, which, once
more proves the superiority of the Prophet with respect to
his predecessors.
The following argument was brought forward by the
contradictor:
In the first place, he has asserted that the other Prophets
prodigies (attributes and miracles) are more significant
than Prophet Muhammad's (SAW); Adam (ASW) says he, has seen
the Angels fall on their knees at his sight, which is not
the case for Muhammad (SAW); as for Abraham (SAW), he was
thrown into a big fire, but Muhammad (SAW) saw nothing of
the sort; David (SAW) witnessed the iron becoming soft; The
devils submitted to Solomon's will, also the human beings,
the birds, the deer, and the wind, but that was not the case
for Muhammad (SAW). As for Jesus (SAW), God made him speak
since his early childhood and gave him the power to
resuscitate the dead, to heal the dumb and the leprous,
which was also not the case for Muhammad (SAW).
The contradictor's second argument mentions that Allah, the
Most High, designated Abraham (SAW) in the Qur`an as
Companion, saying " Allah took Abraham for Companion", also
Allah said: "We did speak to Moses", of Jesus (SAW) He said:
"We endowed him with life (giving)". And he says 'Now, Allah
said no such thing of Muhammad (SAW)'.
Third argument of the contradictor: it is related that Ibn
Abbas (ra) has said: "We were in the Mosque and were
exchanging remarks about the merits of the Prophets (peace
upon them), and we mentioned Noah's (SAW) great Devotion to
Allah, Abraham's (SAW) Companionship, and the Speech of
Allah the Most High to Moses (SAW), and the Ascension (or
Miraculous Birth) of Jesus (SAW). We had replied that
Muhammad (SAW) has more merit than them, for he is sent to
all the people without distinction, and was forgiven all his
previous and also subsequent sins, and came latest among
Prophets. At that moment, says Ibn Abbas (ra), Muhammad
(SAW) came in and asked us about the subject of the
discussion. We answered that we were speaking of the merits
of the Prophets (peace on them), and he said: "No one could
be better than Yahya ben Zakariya (SAW), because he has
never committed a sin, and never even started to doing so".
The answer to the assertion, stating that the Angels fell
down on their knees in front of Adam (ASW), does not
conclude to the superiority of Adam (ASW), because Muhammad
(SAW) has said: "Adam (ASW) and his sons will fall in under
my banner on the Day of Resurrection"; it is also written in
the Holy Book: "You were a Prophet and Adam (ASW) was water
and clay", and also that Angel Gabriel has set Muhammad's
(SAW) foot upon the stirrup on the Night of his Ascent, an
action that is more flattering than that of lying prone.
Muhammad (SAW) was blessed by Allah, the Most High himself,
who summoned the Angels as well as the Faithful People to
bless him by their prayers, a matter that is far better than
the Angel's prostration, as it is proved by the following
reasons:
1. Allah, the Most High, has commanded the Angels to
prostrate themselves at the feet of Adam (ASW) out of
politeness, but he commanded them to bless Muhammad (SAW) by
prayers, in order to get nearer to him.
2. The prayer performed in order to bless Muhammad (SAW)
will be lasting until the Day of Resurrection, whereas the
prostration of the Angels before Adam (ASW) happened one
only and single time.
3.It is useful to remind also that it is the Angels that
laid themselves prone before Adam (ASW), while in the case
of Muhammad (SAW), it is Allah, the Great master Himself,
who did it and Who, afterwards, commanded the Angels and the
Faithful to perform it too.
4. The Angels received order to lay themselves prone before
Adam (ASW) because he bears on the forehead the Light of
Muhammad (SAW).
If they say that Allah, the Most High, has provided only
Adam (ASW) with knowledge, by saying: " Allah taught Adam (ASW)
all the names", while to Muhammad (SAW) Allah said: "You
knew neither what was the Book nor the Faith", it is also to
Muhammad (SAW) that God has said: "He found you lost and
lead you to the Good Road".
They are also saying that it is Allah Himself Who taught
Adam (ASW) all he knew, and that Allah, the Most High, said
indeed: " Allah taught Adam (ASW) all the names", while for
Muhammad (SAW), it is the Angel Gabriel who was his teacher,
the answer to this is the following: Allah, the Most High,
said of Muhammad's education (SAW): " Allah taught you what
you knew not and His favor to you is priceless". In that
meaning, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: " Allah guided me
and He did it to perfection". Allah also said: " Allah, the
Most Kind, taught you the Qur`an". Muhammad (SAW) used to
say: "Show us the things as they are". Allah said to
Muhammad (SAW): "Say! My Allah, never shall I have enough of
learning".
So Angel Gabriel inspired him with the words of Allah, but
for the knowledge, it comes from Allah Himself. Allah, the
Most High has said: "Say, that the Angel who is in charged
to call you beside Allah, will do so when Allah will command
it". Then God added: "The Most High will call for the souls
at their death hour".
And if they say that Noah (SAW) has said: "I can not send
back the faithful" and that Allah said to Muhammad (SAW):
"Do not send back those who pray to Allah ", which shows
that Noah's character is better than Muhammad's (SAW), we
shall reply that the Most High has said: "We have sent Noah
to put his people on guard against a severe punishment of
Allah " Thus Allah warned that people against a severe
punishment if he went on in the bad road. As for Muhammad
(SAW), Allah told him: "We only have sent you to save the
world". Allah, the Most High, also said: "We have sent you a
Prophet, among you, your future is dear to him, etc. [to the
end of the verse].
The end in store for Noah's action brought him finally to
say: "My Allah, do not strike down the Faithful people's
homes", while the end in store for Muhammad's action (SAW)
provided him with the ownership of Divine Mercy.
According to the prodigies (remarkable talents) mentioned in
the book entitled "The Marks of Prophecy", Muhammad's (SAW)
exceeded those of the other Prophets. However, this book is
not worthy of mentioning more than what we have done.
The most learned M. Muhammad Ben Ahmed Bennis has said in
his book entitled: "The Firmament of the Star that Shines
with Dazzling Brightness", in the explanation by Al-Mamazia
of Al-Bussairi, the verses of the Qur`an, the Hadith (SAW),
the remarks of the Ulamaa (Scholars), attest the superiority
of the Prophet (SAW) over all the creatures of the whole
world. And if there is a scale of value for the human
beings, Muhammad (SAW) stands in the top position. The
Scholars have asserted indeed that he is better than any
other Prophet taken singly, and that he is also better than
them altogether, distinguishing here the oneness and the
party as a whole, so as to punctuate clearly and without
ambiguity the merit of Muhammad (SAW), who is also above
Angels.
The Sheikh Senussi has said: "Muhammad's merit and his
superiority over all human beings are well known truth, set
by simple logic, and need no producing of proof. Does the
day need proof to show its presence?"
Unanimous opinion gives Muhammad (SAW) as the best of
Prophets. The fact that the prescriptions of Sunnah admit
the superiority of the Prophets over Angels, it is obvious
the same prescriptions would acknowledge him the superiority
over Angels because he is the better of the best, and even
more, according to that Sunnah he is above any dispute. It
is said of the Prophet (SAW): "He is the best of all
creatures unexceptionally". The narrator goes on to say: "I
have read in the explanation given by Nesfi of the verse:
"Neither Jesus (SAW) nor the closest Angels will hesitate
one moment to serve Allah; that the choice part of the human
beings that represents the Prophets (peace be upon them), is
superior to the choice part of the Angels, who are Gabri'el,
Mika'el, Azra'el. It is understood that the choice part of
Angels is superior to the choice part of the simply Faithful
people and that the choice part of human beings is superior
to the mere Angels.
What we have just stated owes its evidence to the fact that
the choice part of human beings has mastered their senses by
worshipping Allah, the Most High, whereas before, they
habitually to made use of them; and the Prophets (peace be
upon them) are also like Angels by their virtues, and have
more merit in mastering their senses and their physical
pleasures, therefore their obedience to Allah carries more
weight seeing the difficulties it implies, while the
obedience of the Angels, considering their nature, doesn't
imply sufferance from their part. In respect of that, it is
said:
"The true brave is not the one who saves his skin from fire
and from the scuffle on the war day, but rather the one who
willingly avoids committing a sin. Indeed, it is harder to
overcome one's own will than to defeat others."
The narrator goes on: "It is established that merit does not
necessarily imply superiority, and that the following story
does not contest at all the merit of Muhammad (SAW); once a
Jew, in the market, swore by the merit of Moses (SAW) as for
Allah, then a pious Muslim that stood beside him struck him
on the mouth. Hearing of the facts, the Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) begged the assistant never to mention again his
superiority over Moses (SAW).
Allah, the Most High, has said: "When they will blow the
horn, everyone, in Heaven and earth, will be panic-stricken,
except those to whom Allah will spare fright; at the second
call of the horn, everyone will stand up, Muhammad said. I
shall see Moses (SAW) standing at one leg of Allah 's
throne, but I did not realize if he stood ahead of me or if
he was part of those whom Allah spared. This is a
particularity unconnected with superiority as is proved by
Angels, while his wish, as not to make use of his name in
the superlative (better than), is meant to avoid a
comparison which would provoke dispute and forming parties
and even bring down the value of the lower party; that is
why, out of modesty, Muhammad (SAW) mentioned the merit of
Moses (SAW)".
About the Prophet's (SAW) merit, Ibn Mardau'ih relates after
Ibn Abbas, that the Prophet (SAW) has said: "God has set
Moses (SAW) near to Him by taking him for Confidant, on the
Mount Sinai." Moses (SAW) said to Allah; "Oh! My Allah, am I
not your favorite since you have chosen me for Confidant and
have spoken to me?" Allah replied: "Muhammad is nearer to
Me, and has more merit." Moses (SAW) asked again: "If
Muhammad (SAW) has more merit than myself, does this mean
that his people are better than the people of Israel to whom
You have opened the sea, whom You have saved from Pharaoh
and his soldiers, and whom You fed with Manna (sort of a
fruit) and with Salu'a (Quail, or a bird whose flesh is very
soft)." Allah answered: "Yes, the people of Muhammad (SAW)
are better to Me than the people of Israel".
Moses (SAW): "Oh! My Allah, show me that people." Allah:
"You shall not see them, but if you wish I shall make you
hear the voice of that people." Moses (SAW): "Yes, I sure
want to, my Allah."
Then Allah said: "People of Muhammad (SAW), answer, your
Allah." The people of the Prophet (SAW) answered although it
was not yet completely structured: "Here we are, Lord. Our
Lord, we are Your true servants. Allah said: "Yes, you spoke
the truth. I am your Lord and you are My truthful servants.
I forgive you your sins and grant you privileges before you
ask Me for it. Anyone who sees Me on the Day of
Resurrection, believing I am the One and Only Allah, shall
enter into Paradise."
Ibn Abbas goes on: By sending the Prophet (SAW) to preach,
Allah wanted to grant him privileges meant for him and his
people, and He said to Muhammad (SAW): "You were not next to
Mount Sinai when We called for your people." Besides, it is
said in the book of Hadith (Sahih Bukhari) after Lyadh, that
Muhammad was named Ahmed (SAW) before coming to the world,
the former Holy Books having thus reported his name. It is
in the Qur`an, later, that the name Muhammad was quoted. The
name Ahmed is derived from the verb; to praise Allah, and
this name was given to the Prophet (SAW) because he is the
first one to have praised Allah before the others. The Day
of Resurrection will be the same. The Prophet (SAW) will
praise Allah and obtain His blessing, and the body people
will praise Him in its turn, the act of praise having been
dedicated to Allah only. It is a custom for the people of
Muhammad (SAW) to praise Allah after eating and drinking.
This is why they are called a people of 'praises'.
Al-Bukhari narrated after Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet
(SAW) has said: "My example in relation to the other
Prophets, peace be upon them, is similar to the example of a
man who built a beautiful house but left at one of its
corners the empty space of a brick, which he omitted
intentionally. While visiting his house, and admiring his
architectural art, his guests asked him the reason for which
he left empty the space of the brick and the man replied: "I
am the brick in question". It is said in the book of the
explained examples that Allah granted more merit to Muhammad
(SAW) than to the rest of the Prophets (peace be upon them)
and it is by him that He ended the list of His Messengers on
earth, and that it is him whom He charged to preach for the
final religion on earth.
Abu Hurairah (ra) has said in the book of Hadith (the
Genuine, by Al-Bukhari) that the Prophet (SAW) has said:
"The centuries have followed one another since Adam's (SAW)
coming on earth until the century that saw me come in my
turn, which was the best of all".
Then Allah made of each batch three tribes and wanted me to
belong to the best tribe. That is why He also said: "There
are the ones on the right, and the ones on the left, as well
as the advanced ones; and not only did He wish me to stand
among the advanced but to be their chief. Afterwards, Allah
created three groups and saw to it that I was born in the
best one of these groups. I am the most pious of Adam's
(SAW) sons, and all without pretension I am most deserving
of all as to Allah, the Most High, Who has divided up the
tribes into several families and saw to it that I was born
in the best of all these families.
Aisha (ra), the Prophet's wife (SAW) narrated that Muhammad
(SAW) has said: "Angel Gabriel came to me and told me; "I
have searched high and low all over the world and I have
found no man as virtuous as Muhammad (SAW) or a lineage as
noble as that of the Banu Hashim family.""
Abu Talib (ra) has written an excellent poem in that meaning
wherein he says among many more besides: If a day comes when
I'd praise myself..., It will be accountable to Muhammad
(SAW) the best and most pious of all.
The same Abu Talib (ra) has said, on another hand: Ahmed
(speaking of the Prophet, SAW) has come to us, and since
that day no one dares to measure himself to his lineage.
In the same meaning, Talib ibn Talib (ra) has said: The
tribe of Quraish couldn't have but boundless honor.
CHAPTER II
Muhammad (SAW) is the best creature in the world that has
walked on earth.
The Qadi Lyadh (ra) has reported many stories in his book "Ikhiffa"
about Muhammad's (SAW) prophesy, which has been related by
his predecessors before his coming on earth. Here are some
of them.
Allah, the Most High, has said: " Allah pledged the
prophet's word on that book We have given to you, on the
wisdom it beholds, then He will send you a prophet. Believe
in his word and back him up, etc. (see the verse).
In the same meaning, Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) has said: "
Allah sends no prophet here before He has taken his avowal
that Muhammad (SAW) is His prophet, so as to acknowledge him
as such and to introduce him to his people in case he comes
to the world during his lifetime."
Suddi and Kotada narrate that Muhammad the Prophet (SAW) has
said: "I have been the first of human creatures to be
promoted to the rank of prophet and I am the last one to
assume a divine mission, and this is why Noah (SAW) as well
as the other prophets have announced my arrival in the
world."
Arbadh ibn Saria (ra) has said: "I have heard the Prophet
(SAW) say: 'I am Allah 's servant and the last of these
Prophets, Adam (ASW) was only clay when Allah willed me to
be the Oath of Abraham (SAW) and the Presage of Jesus (SAW),
son of Mary (ra). When Adam was in the beyond, he was
already called by the name of the Father of Muhammad (SAW)
and of the others. It is even said that he begged of Allah
in the name of Muhammad, to be forgiven his sin when he
committed the sin eternal.
As for him (SAW), Al-Baraa'a says: "Once we asked the
Prophet (SAW): 'When were you described as Prophet?' and he
replied: 'I was already prophet at the time when Adam (ra)
was still in the making.'"
They also say that Umar ibn Al Khattab (ra), the Prophet's
companion, once spoke words so touching that the Prophet
(SAW) couldn't hold back his tears. These words were
addressing Muhammad (SAW): "Oh Prophet! Your merit is so
great for Allah that He made your coming a follow-up of all
the Prophets while the presage of your arrival preceded them
all. Oh Prophet! Your merit is so great that the people in
hell, amid the flame, wished they had obeyed you and said to
each other: "Oh! If only we had obeyed Allah and His Prophet
we would not have been here."
The Sheikh Abu Al Hassan Al Harrani Al Maghribi reports in
the book he has written about the meanings of the Prophet's
names (SAW), that Muhammad (SAW), in explaining his origin,
has said: "I am Ahmed and I am Muhammad son of Abdullah son
of Abdul Muttalib." And he went up the line of ancestors
until Adam (ASW), and then said: "Adam (ASW) proceeds from
clay and the clay from foam, and foam proceeds from waves,
and waves proceed from water, and water proceeds from rain,
and rain proceeds from misty clouds and misty clouds proceed
from the brightness of Muhammad (SAW). If this account is
true, Muhammad (SAW) is the origin of human existence.
In the same meaning, the most learned Abi Abdullah At
Tarmadhi has written a good poem indeed where he says of the
Prophet (SAW), among others:
From his parents, he (Muhammad) inherited nobility.
And has left to his sons (the Muslims) that very nobility.
He has shone in the world as a sparkling star.
And glory became his mate.
By the Holy Grace he became pure.
And has purified all those who neared him, etc.
On the other hand, Ibn Abbas (ra) relates that the Prophet
(SAW) has said: "When God created Adam (ASW), He sent me
down to earth in his backbone. I was also in Noah's (SAW)
backbone when he was in his Ark, and I was in Abraham's
(SAW) backbone when he was thrown into the fire. And God
hadn't ceased conveying me from one pure backbone to another
pure backbone until the day I was born of my parents, who
never fell into the way of wrongdoing.
One day, the Prophet's (SAW) Uncle, Abbas (ra) told the
Prophet (SAW): "Oh Messenger of Allah! I would like to honor
you in a poem." And Muhammad (SAW) answered: "Speak, and may
God give you eloquence."
So Abbas (ra) wrote a poem in which he praised the high
nobility of the lineage of the Messenger of Allah pointing
out that he has been conveyed from one backbone to another
since the beginning of the word until he saw the day of his
birth with his parents, adding that Allah, the Most High,
has honored him by granting His blessings to him.
The narrator insists upon the fact that the preceding story
confirms what was reported by Abdur Razaq by the account of
Jabar who has said: "I have asked the Messenger of Allah:
'What is it that Allah created before creating the world?'
Muhammad (SAW) replied to me: ' Allah had created the
brightness of your Prophet before creating the world.' And
He wanted this brightness to be moved by His Holy Will. At
the time, there was no Paper, no Pen, no Paradise, no Hell,
no Kingdom, no Heaven, no Earth, Sun, Moon, Jinns, nor human
beings.
And when Allah willed to create the world He divided this
brightness into four parts. Out of the first part He made
the Pen, of the second the Paper, of the third the Throne of
Allah, and afterwards God divided the fourth part into four
parts. Of the first part of this He made the Holders of the
Kingdom of Allah, of the second the Throne, of the third the
rest of the Angels and divided once more the fourth part
into four parts. He made of the first one the Skies, of the
second the Land, of the third Paradise and Hell, and divided
the fourth part into four. Out of the first part He made the
brightness of the faithful people's thoughts, of the second
the Light of their hearts, which means the Faith in Allah,
and of the third the Light of their existence, which means
the Proclamation that there is only One Allah, and that His
Prophet is Muhammad (SAW). What results mainly from the
story above is that Muhammad (SAW) is the origin of all
divine creatures.
Al-Hafiz narrates in respect of a story told by Abu Hurairah
who has reported that the Messenger of Allah the Most High
(SAW), has said: "I have prayed to Allah who heard my wish
and promised me, that seventy thousand people of my people
will go to Paradise, and that each one-thousand of those
people will be joined another seventy thousand. Other
narrators were saying that `Umar (ra), the Prophet's (SAW)
companion, at hearing this, shouted out: "How Generous Allah
is!", and the Prophet (SAW) responded and said that each
person of the seventy thousand will ask and obtain Mercy of
Allah as well, for their parents and for their next of kin".
Al-Kalabadhi relates in the book: "The Meaning of the
Narratives" (Ma`ani al-Akhbar) that Aisha (ra) had once lost
track of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and was looking for
him. She found him at last in the place known by the name of
"Makhrabah", praying. She remarked that the Prophet's head
(SAW) was crowned by three lights, and she asked him the
reason for that. The Prophet (SAW) answered her by saying:
"Three times I have received a messenger of Allah. The first
time he promised me that seventy thousand people of my
people will enter Paradise because of the Mercy of Allah.
Then a second time, the same messenger came to inform me
that Allah will let enter His Paradise, for each person out
of the seventy thousand, another thousand people. And a
third time, the same messenger came to tell me that Allah
will let enter in Paradise another seventy thousand people
for each person numbered previously, so I said to Allah:
"Oh! My Allah, my people will never amount to this great
number." And Allah replied to me: "I shall complete the
number for you by the Arab nomads who otherwise would have
never prayed or fasted".
Al-Kalabadhi explains the conception of 'people' spoken of
in the above narrative (Hadith) and says that the people of
Muhammad (SAW) are made up of three kinds of people. The
first kind consists of the Prophet's (SAW) companions and
the pious Muslims. The second kind consists of the people
that adopted Islam and followed its teachings, and the third
kind consists of all the people for whom the Prophet (SAW)
came to preach.
Al-Hafiz ibn Hajar, for his part, has spoken lengthily of
the merit of Muhammad the Prophet (SAW), in the explanation
he gives of the narrative (Hadith) about Mercy. He has said:
"The merit of Muhammad (SAW) is greater than that of the
rest of all human creatures. The Messengers of Allah, the
Prophets, and the Angels are superior to the rest of all
creatures and Muhammad (SAW) is being above them all.
The Imam Jalal ud-Deen As-Si'uthi has observed in his book (Tazyin
Al Araikh) that Muhammad (SAW) is the Prophet of all
Prophets and that his merit is certain and beyond doubt,
which is the reason why, says he, the other Prophets will
fall in under his banner on the Day of the Resurrection.
The same happened on that night of the Prophet's (SAW)
Ascent to the Heavens, when he fulfilled prayer before all
the other Prophets. The same narrator pointed out that had
Muhammad (SAW) come at the time of Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), all of them as
well as their people would have been obliged to believe in
his Mission and support him, and that is because they would
have all come at the same time, and not because he has less
merit (or ability) than anyone (so that he might have needed
help).
Besides, Allah has taken the promise of all Prophets that
they preach on behalf of the Mission of the last Messenger
of Allah, who is Muhammad (SAW). That is why near the end of
time, when Jesus (SAW) returns, he will belong to Muhammad's
(SAW) religion, though he is himself a pious Prophet. The
same will happen with Moses, Abraham, Noah and Adam (peace
be upon them all) because Muhammad's Mission is most
important and most perfect and his religion more consonant
with the other Religions of the Book although more precise
and somewhat different in its details. The other religions
are specific to the time in which they came and to a certain
group of people. Whereas Muhammad's (SAW) religion suits all
people of the world and is for all times.
As-Sabki related after Abada ibn As-Samad and also Jabar ibn
Abdullah, who both advanced a solid proof of the other
Prophet's belief in Muhammad's (SAW) religion; on Solomon's
ring, as they say, it is written "There is only one Allah
and his Prophet is Muhammad".
Ashraf Al-Busairi who preceded As-Sabki has written a
valuable poem, the meaning of which is consonant with the
narrative of As-Sabki. Among others he said:
All that has been bestowed by Prophets to humanity
Is inspired from your radiant light
They are like Stars sparkling in the night, to shine upon
people
And you are the Sun, the light of which is glittering in the
Stars.
And if it is confirmed that Muhammad (SAW) is the Prophet of
Prophets and their Messenger, and that the Prophets are
superior to Angels, then, by means of consequence, it is
certain that the Angels belong to Muhammad's attendance.
Many arguments confirm this point of view. Among others, the
Angels granted to Muhammad (SAW) favors they did not grant
to his predecessors, like joining in battle by his side and
walking behind him to protect him from unexpected assaults,
and naturally this proves they belong in his attendance and
believe in his religion.
Ar-Rafai has said in the speech of Al-Muharir: "The Angels
served him". In the same meaning, Ibn Abbas mentions
services rendered by the Angels, in the verses of Qur`an
where Allah the Most High has said: "We provided him with
guardians to serve him, some walking ahead of him, and
others protecting him from behind".
In the book (Ad-Dalaël) Ibn Al-Mundhir relates after Ibn Abu
Hatim according to At-Tabarra'i and also Ibn Mardau'i,
according to Abu Na`eem, that Muhammad the Prophet (SAW) has
said: "Allah the Most High has backed me up with four
ministers, two of whom are the Angels Gabriel and Michael
and the other two are my companions Abu Bakr and `Umar. It
is well known, usually, that a minister belongs in general
to the monarch's attendance. It is equally as well known,
how high the rank is where Gabriel and Michael stand among
the Angels, as well as Abu Bakr and `Umar amongst the
community of human beings.
It is also said that when Muhammad (SAW) died, all the
Angels without exception prayed over his body, a thing that
they have not done for any of the other Prophets, that the
Angels stood by his people's side every time his people
engaged in battle to protect and reinforce the religion of
Islam, that Angel Gabriel attends each Muslim at his death
hour to cast the devil out of his presence at that hard
moment, that the Angels come down from the Heavens every
year on the Night of Power to offer their best wishes to the
people of Muhammad (SAW), that the Angels can read the
Fatiha of Qur`an whereas they never read anything of the
other Holy Books.
That often the Angels enjoy listening to the recitation of
Qur`an by the human beings, a preference that they have not
for the rest of the Holy Books, that the Prophet (SAW) has
received throughout his lifetime the greatest number of
Angels sent by Allah to the world, that the Angel of Death,
before entering the presence of the Prophet (SAW), asked him
for permission to approach, a thing which he has not done
for any of the other Prophets, that the guardianship of the
Prophet's tomb has been assigned to an Angel who used to
transmit to him the greetings of the pilgrims visiting the
tomb, that seventy thousand Angels keep him company in his
tomb, praying for him all day, and that seventy thousand
others pray for him all night in turn until the Day of the
Resurrection.
It is said in the Etymology (Ruh Al Ma'ani) as to explain
the verse: "The Messenger of God (SAW) has more merit the
ones than the others". That the narrator says: "here 'the
ones' meant the Prophet-may the blessings of Allah be on
him-because the stories and the narratives have proved his
merit. He has accomplished great deeds and distinguished
himself mostly by unlimited qualities, not only
theoretically but also practically. People of great renown
have humbled themselves in his presence and sat at his feet.
He is sent by Allah to be the Mercy of all the human beings
and is well known to have had the best education and the
best character of all the Messengers of Allah. He has
received by Inspiration the Genuine Qur`an, the religion of
which is confirmed by ascertained miracles. He is the
beholder of the Divine Mercy when comes the Day of the
Resurrection."
In an explanation of the same verse, that is to say the
superior merit of some Prophets in regard to others, the "Siraj
Munir" observed that Muhammad's (SAW) merit is manifested in
the fact that he is sent to all the creatures and that he is
the last of Prophets, and that his people are the most
numerous, and that by the Creed of his religion he abrogated
all the other religions, and that he (Muhammad, SAW) is the
Mercy of all the beings, his Qur`an having amazed creatures
of Heaven and earth by being suitable to all times and all
places, remaining thus the greatest miracle in the world
until the Day of the Resurrection.
It is also said in the enumeration of the Prophet's (SAW)
miracles that the moon split in two at the simple gesture of
the Prophet, and that a branch broke off from a tree to
follow him, and that a stone has greeted him, and that some
animals spoke to him, and that water flew from his fingers,
and many more such as these.
On another hand, the narrator relates that the Prophet (SAW)
has said: "that the Prophets who preceded had numbers of
people in keeping with the importance of the words they have
received from God, and as for me, since Allah inspired me
with the Qur`an, I hope I'll have the most numerous people
when comes the Day of the Resurrection".
The same narrator relates that the Prophet (SAW) has said: "
Allah gifted me with five privileges my predecessors did not
have:
1) He backed me up by frightening my enemies.
2) He gave me the whole earth as favorite land, and I may
pray wherever I please or I intend to,
a privilege that is also granted to all Muslims.
3) The spoils of war are lawful to me but were not to my
predecessors.
4) I behold the Mercy of Allah.
5) I am sent to all creatures of the earth with no
distinction of color or race, and I am the last of all the
Prophets.
In the book "Ruh Al Bayaan" and in an explanation of the
verse: "Wherever you do go, you will find Allah in front of
you", it is said that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) went to visit a
greatly renowned person's home where he was surrounded by
the most learned of men and very notable people. Someone in
the middle of the disciples asked Muhammad (SAW): "How can
one know that Allah has no definite place while he has said:
Allah stands in His kingdom?" "It is simple, replied the
Prophet (SAW); the proof lies in the words of Prophet Yunus
(SAW) when he found himself in the entrails of the whale,
and said: "You are only one and single, my Allah, oh! How
unfair I was!
At that, the disciple was astonished and did not grasp the
meaning of the Prophet's (SAW) words, so the host asked the
Prophet (SAW) to shed more light, for the disciple, on what
he had just said, and the Prophet (SAW) told them: "there is
a poor man here who owes a debt of one thousand Dirhams. If
you pay for him his debt I shall explain my words to you."
Them the host hurried to pay the debt of the poor man and he
(the Prophet, SAW) said: "When Muhammad (SAW) went up in the
Heavens on the Night of his Ascent, he said: 'Oh! My Allah,
I cannot thank you', and when Prophet Yunus (SAW) found
himself in the dark entrails of the whale, deep in the
bottom of the seas, he said: 'There is no Allah but my
Allah. How unfair I was'. Both Muhammad (SAW) and Prophet
Yunus (SAW) addressed Allah in the present tense, which
proves that Allah is present everywhere, in the highest sky
as well as in the bottom of the sea."
The Prophet (SAW) has said besides: "Do not give me more
merit than Yunus ibn Mata (SAW) who has seen in the entrails
of the whale what I have seen from the height of Allah 's
throne". Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was referring to the
similitude of his position and that of Prophet Yunus (SAW),
when speaking to Allah, the Most High.
CONCLUSION
The great and most pious scholar Yusuf Nabhani, has written
in his book "Noujoum al Muthadeen", a comparison between our
Prophets Muhammad (SAW) and Jesus (SAW). He said: "Both are
Messengers of Allah, the Most High, and both are created
beings of Allah, the Most Great, therefore Allah is the
Genuine creator and the two of them are his creatures, they
are the nearest to him and the most deserving. Both of them,
Muhammad (SAW) and Jesus (SAW), were at their beginning weak
individuals. As for Muhammad (SAW), Allah the Most High
reinforced him and granted victory to him over all his
enemies.
He also commanded him to wage war on his enemies and at the
same time He protected him from their misdeeds. Allah
constantly heightened his importance more and more until his
death. All the Arabs obeyed to him and rallied to Islam
under his authority. Many of the kings, the Romans as well
as the Persians, the Copts, and the Ethiopians, feared him
when they heard of his might and authority. Some of those
kings rallied to his religion, others offered him presents
in friendship or alliance, and by the time Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) left this world, he had raised an army of a hundred
and twenty thousand warriors, each of whom was ready to
sacrifice his life and his wealth for him and for Islam. He
accomplished all that owing to the miracles and the great
deeds he had performed, the most important of which is the
miracle of the Holy Qur`an. Except for this miracle, the
great people of Arabia, who were so uneducated and wild, and
who worshipped idols, would not have followed him.
Even his own tribe, which must have been the first one to
produce his followers, was at that time among his worst
enemies, and had done everything in its power to fight
against him, to injure him and to send away people from him.
This very tribe plotted his death, when he was weak. The
abusive wrongs he endured only reinforced him in his faith,
and encouraged him all the more to popularize the mission
entrusted to him by Allah, the Most High, and to struggle
against the obscure beliefs and traditions of his next to
kin. The latter, having seen the Prophet's (SAW) miracles
and deeds and heard the Qur`an reciting, and unable still to
get rid of their father's religion, proposed to the Prophet
(SAW) that he become their king, but with one condition;
that he not to injure their religion. But alas!
The Prophet (SAW) refused their bargain, and persisted in
spreading abroad the teachings of Allah, while in their
turn, they decided to injure him more and more. The
situation went on from bad to worse. Finally, they decided
to kill him and one night broke into his house, but could
not find him. He had been informed of their plot by angel
Gabriel who had been charged by Allah to inform His Prophet
(SAW) of the schemes woven by his enemies against him. He
commanded him to go into exile in the city Medina where he
found many followers. All the inhabitants of Mecca who
believed in him, accompanied him into exile, and from that
time forth (the exile) Allah has not ceased heightening him
and lowering his enemies. Islam grew tremendously, and the
Prophet's (SAW) influence increased more and more until many
nations were convinced of the authenticity of his message.
Muhammad's (SAW) Companions and Successors were unequalled
in their reasoning, their nobility, their perfect moral
behavior, their vigor, their courage, their knowledge, their
fair and honorable character, and other qualities. Even
their enemies attest to their character, and all the more
their friends.
After the Prophet's death (SAW), it has been through them
that Allah has maintained the establishment of his religion.
And He has allowed the Prophet's Companions and Successors
to spread this religion in all areas of the world, and
extend Islam into new continents by the will and the might
of Allah, the Most High, not by mere coincidence. Allah has
never ceased in bringing the righteous leaders and learned
people of all countries and times to the service of
Muhammad's religion (SAW), spreading it, and preserving its
Creed and its details, so that it remains intact until this
present day. It is useful to note that in spite of the
miracles and deeds done by Muhammad (SAW) throughout his
lifetime, none of the believers among his people have ever
pretended that Muhammad (SAW) is a Allah, in spite of his
numberless and perfect qualities.
All the Muslim Nation is unanimous in saying that he is the
Servant of Allah and his Messenger. Muhammad (SAW) valued
greatly his quality of being human and being the Messenger
of Allah, the Most High, and has often made this remark: "I
am a human being, I eat like the rest of men and sit like
them". He said in other circumstances: "Make it my Allah,
that I live poor and that I revive on the Day of
Resurrection among the poor". To a woman, who was trembling
with emotion and respect, he said: "Calm down, my lady, I am
only the son of a woman from the tribe of Quraish that used
to eat dried and preserved meat". The books of Hadith are
full of traditions and narratives that proved the Prophet's
(SAW) worshipping of his Allah and the love he had for his
people and the advice he gave to his people in order not to
be taken for a Allah, as it happened with the Christians
concerning Prophet Jesus (SAW).
As for Jesus (SAW) goes on the narrator, he began weak and
without means like Muhammad (SAW), but on the contrary,
Allah granted him no honors, no strength, no possibilities,
no allegiance of nations, and no spreading of his religion
before his ascent in the Heavens, which was not the case for
our master Muhammad (SAW).
The narrator points out that if Allah has reserved a
different attitude for Jesus (SAW) in comparison with the
one he reserved for Muhammad (SAW), He is the Only Judge and
it belongs to Him alone to allot to his creatures the fate
he has chosen for them. Allah has weakened Jesus (SAW) and
his followers in their struggle against His enemies. On the
contrary he increased the strength of the enemies in spite
of their number and their primordial force. Jesus has been
injured and despised. All the books, even the Christian
ones, admit this difficult situation that Jesus (SAW) had to
endure. And finally, they reverse the roles and put a
different face on the reality of things, referring
particularly to the power of having nothing, the honor of
degradation, the greatness and respectability of lowness.
In those hard times, the Jews, who were the worst enemies of
Jesus (SAW), hounded him and inflicted the worst injures on
him until the moment when Allah came to his rescue and
raised him to Heaven. When the betrayer of Jesus (SAW) led
his enemies to his home, He changed the betrayers physical
features so that he resembled Jesus (SAW), and it is the
betrayer that has been crucified instead of him. All the
while, the Christians believe that Jesus (SAW) has been
crucified, and that he is the son of Allah, and not His
creature and His Prophet. The merit of Muhammad (SAW) finds
here its most indisputable proof, so long as Allah has
reinforced him and weakened his enemies, whereas he allowed
the enemies of Jesus (SAW) to inflict the worst of injures
on him.
As for the reasons and objections against the superiority of
Muhammad's Prophethood (SAW), for which these statements and
facts have been recounted and explained, they are baseless,
and every reasonable person pays them no attention. And in
fact, for those same reasons, it is right to believe in the
eminent superiority of Muhammad (SAW) over Jesus (SAW). All
the verses of Qur`an, the Hadiths, the narratives and the
texts written by the great scholars illuminate clearly and
precisely the genuine superiority our master Muhammad (SAW),
son of Abdullah, Messenger of Allah. He was a Prophet when
Adam (ASW) was something between water and clay, and he has
been sent by Allah to save the world and it is out of his
brightness that the Prophets and the Messengers of God have
been created. He is holder of Divine Mercy when comes the
Day of the Resurrection. He who disowns all this is nothing
but an apostate.
May the blessings of Allah be on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW),
his parents and his companions, and may He grant him
salvation. Only Allah can light for people the 'good road'
and lead them. I end this message by a poem as an answer to
the untrue statements spoken against the Prophet (SAW). (In
that poem is said the following):
Allah is holding hell in store for the apostate
You have rebelled against Ahmed the great Prophet
You are neither pious nor generous
So keep silent until you join your place in hell for your
final sojourn.
You have rebelled against Ahmed the great Prophet
Best of all creatures without exception
Noble scholars have believed in his word
And you dare to disavow him, you shallow lowborn,
He that was generous and has defeated such number of
enemies,
And his companions, trustful people and noble lords who
fought against ignorance.
Faith springs up from the heart and is above the brain,
Follow the good understandingly, and free from constraint.
The Jews, false-hearted and sightless, have disavowed Jesus
stubbornly,
As for you, you have granted him much, much more than even
what Allah has granted him.
You have divinized him, whereas he is only creature of
Allah.
To the prejudice of Muhammad you have worshipped him, and
against the will of Allah you
Have adored him.
Enough lies, enough calumnies
It serves you nothing to calumniate Muhammad.
The poem goes on, bringing forward the arguments contained
in the precedent text and refuting the untrue statements
that have shed a doubt on the evident superiority of the
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over his predecessors, the other
Prophets.
The great scholar M. Abdur Rahman ibn As-Salik bin Bab
Al-Alawi At-Tijani, may Allah give him long life and gift
him good will, has said in the critique he made of the book
'Noujoum Al-Houda'; that it is an important and interesting
work, well-informed on the subject and representing a piece
of jewelry in a theological library. He has asserted that
when an important and not well-informed person tries to
explain things, most of the time he or she induces people to
false belief, which was not the case for that book. May
Allah reward its author and multiply similar achievement.
As for him, the most learned and expert, Sheikh bin Khalifa
Muhammad bin Sheikh Ahmed bin Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hafid
Al-Alawi At-Tijani who is also a great poet, has composed a
poem to enumerate the qualities of the book 'Noujoum Al-Houda'.
He said:
Nojoum Al-Houda is a magic lamp,
which gives light to those who wish to learn.
He who is enlightened by Noujoum Al-Houda
will never loose his way.
On another hand, Muhammad Fal bin Abdullah ibn Bal Al-Alawi
At-Tijani has written a poem in the same meaning and in
which he says:
Noujoum Al-Houda has illuminated us
It will beam and will radiate
It will heighten the voice of the truth
And reinforce the position of the religion
And Islam will make profit of its arguments that are derived
from the best sciences of all times. # # #
The noble scholar and brilliant poet Muhammad Al bin Fata
composed a poem to show the great qualities of Noujoum Al-Houda
where he says:
Noujoum Al-Houda has appeared on the horizon, it will smooth
out every trace of obscurity and ignorance from the world.
He also said:
He who believes in the Prophet and doubts of his merit is
like one who holds in the same hand water and fire. And he
who proves the Prophet's merit is like one who points out
the sun and the moon.
May the blessings of Allah be on our master Prophet
Muhammad, as long as the Stars of Noujoum Al-Houda will
shine high above.
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