Letters to the Editor

Muhammad Rahman, via email

I have two queries about fiqh. Please answer quoting references from books of hadith.

Many Muslims believe that the Prophet (SAS) existed even before Adam (AS) was created by Allah (SWT).

YMD

This is incorrect.

However, before we proceed, we must remind whenever such questions come into discussion, that our entry into Paradise does not hinge upon such questions as, e.g., whether the Prophet was the first in creation or not, whether he is dead or alive in his grave, whether he is made of light or earthly material, etc. Our salvation depends on our strength of faith and deeds carried out in confirmation with the guidance shown by the Qur’an and Sunnah. We are also required to love the Prophet. But such love has to be expressed in ways approved by him.

Let us assume a person held the belief that the Prophet was the first to be created. Is he going to be ushered into Paradise on that account? Far from that. He could be punished more than other neglectors and sinners for the fact that when he turned to religious issues, it were only those that were none of his business, that interested him. He wasted his energies where he was not required to. He had been urged to pay attention to those issues that would determine whether he will gain salvation or not. But he decided on different priorities.

In any case, it is incorrect to say that the Prophet was the first human to be created. It was Adam who was the first man to be created. Hence he is known as Abu al-Bashr, meaning, father of the humankind.

Allah said in the Qur’an, and right at the beginning, so that eyes could not miss: “And (recall) when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am to place a khalifah on the earth.’ They said: ‘Will you place therein one who will do corruption in it and shed blood, while we chant Your praises and sanctify Your Name?’ He said: ‘Verily, I know what you do not know.'” (Al-Baqarah, 30).

A hadith in Tirmidhi says, “I was a Prophet even the while Adam was between body and spirit.” This has been explained by the scholars of Islam as meaning, the decision about the Prophet’s Messengership had been taken even before the creation of Adam took place: that is, it was a part of Allah’s scheme scribed in the ‘Lawh al-Mahfooz.’ We do not know of any scholar of the past who thought this means the Prophet was already in existence before the creation of Adam.

Those who have derived the meaning you have noted must be extremely ignorant who do first refer to the Qur’an which speaks of Adam as the first human in the heaven and on the earth. They also seem to have a penchant for untrustworthy reports in place of the trustworthy ones found in major collections, which speak of creation. This kind of idea circulates among those whose religion is closer to the worship of the Prophet, rather than worship of Allah. In this they are on the same path as the Christians who believe that if they can please God’s son, they will please God. Similarly, some people imagine that if they can please the Prophet, they would earn Allah’s good pleasure. Not surprisingly, they place the Prophet before Allah. They fall prey to forged ahadith about him, those concerning his special position with Allah, in fact, his special position in the scheme of creation itself.

They further claim that Adam saw kalima shahadah written on `Arsh when he came into being.

YMD

It is interesting to see how the ignorant can get caught on the wrong foot. They say that Muhammad was the first person in creation. They also say that Adam saw the Kalimah written on the `Arsh. In evidence they present a hadith. But, the hadith they quote to prove that Adam saw the Kalimah Shahadah written on the `Arsh, denies the earlier statement: namely, the Prophet was the first in creation.

The hadith that they cite is as follows:

 

لما اقترف آدم الخطيئة قال: يا رب! اسألك بحق محمد إلا غفرت لي، فقال الله تعالى: وكيف عرفت محمدا ولم أخلقه بعد، قال: يا رب! لأنك لما خلقتني بيدك ونفخت في من روحك رفعت رأسي فرأيت على قوائم العرش مكتوبا (لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله) فعلمت أنك لم تضف إلى اسمك إلا أحب الخلق إليك، فقال الله عز وجل: صدقت يا آدم! إنه لأحب الخلق إلي وإذا سألتني بحقه فقد غفرت لك، ولولا محمد ما خلقتكط، ص وأبو نعيم في الدلائل، ك وتعقب بأن فيه عبد الرحمن بن زيد بن أسلم ضعيف هق في الدلائل وضعفه وابن عساكر – عن عمر)

 

That is, “When Adam (asws) had committed his sin (in Paradise), he pleaded: ‘My Lord! I beseech You in the name of Muhammad that You forgive me.’ Allah (swt) asked: ‘Adam, how could you know Muhammad when I have not yet created him?’ Adam replied: ‘My Lord! When you made me with Your hand and blew into me the spirit from You, I raised my head and saw written on the pillars of the `Arsh: “There is no god but Allah, (and) Muhammad is His messenger.” From that I knew that You will not allow a name appear next to Yours but that of the most beloved to You.’ Allah said: ‘You spoke the truth Adam. He indeed is the most beloved to Me. Ask Me by his name and I will forgive you. If not for Muhammad, I would not have created you.’” (Kanz al-`Ummaal, from Tabarani, Abu Nu`aym and others, hadith no. 32138)

Now, firstly, this hadith is a fabrication and a lie attributed to the Prophet. Famous Hadith collector Bayhaqi says about the above hadith that one of the narrators is unreliable. Tabarani reported it but said, ‘We do not know of this hadith through any other chain of narrators except this one.’ Haythami said in his Al-Majma` that ‘although Tabarani has reported this hadith, there are some narrators in it who are unknown to me.’ Ibn `Asaakir also distrusted one of the narrators. An authority like Dhahabi thinks that the above report is a khabr batil (a false report). Hafiz ibn Hajr agrees with him and adds on his own unfavorable remarks in his authoritative work Al-Lisan. Ibn Kathir has also mentioned this in his Taarikh and has expressed the same opinion. Ibn Taymiyyah says this hadith is one of those that stood rejected.

Apart from the above experts of Hadith, other scholars such as `Ali ibn al Madini, have either expressed their ignorance of one or the other narrator of this hadith or worse, have accused one of the narrators of distorting the chain of narration (Isnad).

So you see, how the ignorant get caught in a trap of their own. If they accept the above false report as true, which says Adam found the testimony written on the `Arsh, then the same hadith also reports, “Allah (swt) asked: ‘Adam, how could you know Muhammad when I have not yet created him?’”

Yet, although the hadith is fabricated, it is quite dear to such people who commit excesses in their expression of love for the Prophet. It is dear to some others because it allows “waseelah” (Means of Access) which happens to be an important issue with them.

And the lesson we learn is that we need to place authentic ahaadith into our memories.

In short, it is said that if it was not for Muhammed, Allah would not have created the whole world and mankind. Please let me know if it is mentioned in any book of hadith.

YMD

Above we have stated the concerned hadith and the opinion of the hadith experts. At this point we might use our own reason. If the object of creation of humankind, and that of the universe was no more than the creation of Muhammad, then, obviously, we all do not matter. With the creation of Muhammad, the objective was achieved. Why we? And why should we be questioned for our deeds? After all, our trial is not the objective: it is, to repeat, the creation of Muhammad?

But, according to the Qur’an, our trial is the main objective of sending down the first man Adam from Paradise to the earth. Allah said, “Indeed We created man from a mixed drop in order to try him.” Indeed, it turns out that it is for our trial that the system that operates the universe was created. The Qur’an said, “Blessed is He in whose hand is the Kingdom. He has power over all things. He who created life and death in order to try you, as to who is better of deeds.” (67: 1,2)

Thus, the Qur’an specifically states the reason of our creation. But misguided people dig out, or seize upon such stories, and hold dear what are false reports, which contradict Qur’anic statements. No doubt, in all this, it is Satan who is their guide. He puts them on a holy grail that leads them away from what in truth the Prophetic guidance stands for, and demands of them.

The above gives us the message that, the safest Islam is that which is derived, first and foremost, from the Qur’an. Without a good standing in the Qur’an, one can be led away the right course by spurious ahadith, or trustworthy ahaadith, but not understood properly. On the other hand, if one is well versed in the Qur’an, false or difficult ahaadith cannot deflect him the right course.

A hadith very popular among Muslims says that the Prophet Muhammed (SAS) had the strength of thirty men, he also had sexual power of thirty men. Please inform if it is true.

YMD

Some of the Companions did believe that the Prophet had the power of thirty men. But, one or two reports which state that the Prophet himself claimed such a thing have been discredited by hadith experts.

Finally, if Muhammad Rahman is your true name, you need to change it. You can leave Muhammad at the beginning. But you have to add `Abdul after it and before Rahman. That is, the full name will then read Muhammad `Abdul Rahman.

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