3

THEPROPHETSAREHUMAN
HOWEVER...
HOWEVER

SHAYKHMUAMMADB.ALAW
AL-MLIKAL-ASAN


TranslatedbySidiSuraqahAbdulAziz
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Releasedbywww.marifah.net
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APREVIEWOF
APREVIEWOF
NOTIONSTHATMUSTBECORRECTED
SomepeoplethinkthattheProphetsmaypeaceandblessingsof
Allah be upon them  are just like other humans in all of their
statesandways.Thisisaclearmistakeandexposedignorancethat
isrefutedbysoundevidenceintheBookandtheSunna.
Even if they share with the rest of the children of <dam in the
realityoftheirnaturethatbeinghumanity,asattestedtobyHis
(Allahs)statement,exaltedbeHismention:Say:Iamonlyaman
like yourselves. (al-Kahf: 110)   still, they are different from
them in many attributes and contingent qualities. If that was not
thecase,thenwhatistheirdistinction?Howcanthefruitoftheir
distinctionandselectionbemanifestedoverothers?Inthisareaof
research,weshallmentionaportionoftheirattributesinthelife
of this world, as well as their unique qualities in the Isthmus life
(barzakh) that have been affirmed for them in texts of the Book
andtheSunna.

TheProphetsAretheMastersofMankind:
TheProphetsAretheMastersofMankind: TheProphetsarethe
specially selected and chosen ones among the servants of Allah.
Allah honoured them with Prophethood, gave them wisdom, and
providedthemwithintellectualprowess,soundopinion,andchose
themtobetheintermediariesbetweenHimandHiscreation.The
ProphetsconveytomankindthecommandsofAllahandwarn
themfromHisangerandchastisement.TheProphetsguidetheir
peopletothatwhichleadstotheirfelicityinthislifeandthenext.
ItwasfromthewisdomofAllahthattheProphetswerehumansin
order for the people to gather with them, take from them, and
follow them in their manners and spiritual practices. Their
humanity is the sum of their miraculous nature because they are
human,yetatthesametime,theyaredistinguishedfromtherest
ofhumanitywithqualitiesthatnootherscansharewiththem.This
is why, seeing their normal humanity stripped of these other
qualitiesisaviewofthetimeofignorance(jhiliyya)andidolatry.
An example of this, is the statement of the people of NF
concerning him that Allah mentioned about them when He said:
Thechiefsofthedisbelieversamonghispeoplesaid:Weseeyou
butamanlikeourselves...(Hd:27)
FromthatalsoisthestatementofthepeopleofMsandHrn:
Theysaid:Shallwebelieveintwomenlikeourselves,andtheir
peopleareobedienttouswithhumility(andweusethemtoserve
us as we like)? (al-Muminn: 47) From that also is the
statementofthepeopleofThamd:Youarebutahumanbeing
like us. Then bring us a sign if you are of the truthful.
(al-Shuar:154)
From that also is the statement of the people of Ayka to their
Prophet Shuayb: They said: You are only one of those
bewitched!Youarebutahumanbeinglikeusandverily,wethink
that you are one of the liars! (al-Shuar: 185-186) From that
alsoisthestatementoftheidolaterstoourMasterMuFammad,
those who saw him in the light of mere humanity, free (from his
special qualities): And they say: Why does this Messenger eat
food, and walk about in the markets (like ourselves)?
(al-Furqn:7)

The Attributes of the Prophets:

Prophets: The Prophets  may Allah send
upon them peace and blessings  are humans in that they eat,
drink, feel healthy, get sick, marry women, walk about in the
market place, and are exposed to the common human conditions
suchasweakness,oldage,anddeath.Despiteallofthis,theyare
distinguished with special characteristics and described with
tremendous and noble qualities. With respect to them, these
qualities are inseparable from them and are necessary traits.
Thesequalitiesaresummarizedasfollows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Truthfulness
Conveyance
Fulfillingthetrust
Intelligence
Beingfreeofloathsomedefects
Infallibility

This is not the place to go into detail regarding these qualities.
TheyhavebeencoveredindetailwithinthebooksoftawFd.Here,
weshallmentionsomeofthequalitiesbywhichtheMasterofthe
Messengersisdistinguishedfromtherestofmankind.
He
He  SeesfromBehindjustasHeSeesfromtheF
SeesfromBehindjustasHeSeesfromtheFront
eSeesfromtheFront:
ront: Thetwo
Shaykhs(al-BukhrandMuslim)narratedfromAbHurayrathat
the Messenger of Allah  said: Do you see my qibla here? By
Allah,yourbowingandprostrationisnothiddentome.Indeed,I
see you from behind me. Muslim narrated from Anas that the
MessengerofAllahsaid:Opeople,indeedIamyourImm,so
donotprecedemewitheitherbowingorprostration,forindeedI
see you from the front of me and from behind me. Abd
al-Razzqinhis Jm,al-kim,andAbNuaymnarratedfrom
AbHurayrathattheProphetsaid:IndeedIcanlookbehind
mejustasIlookinfrontofme. AbNuaymnarratedfromAb
Sad al-Khudr who said that the Messenger of Allah  said:
IndeedIseefrombehindme.

He
He  SeeswhatWedontSeeandheHearswhatW
Seeswhat WedontSeeandheHearswhatWedontH
WedontSeeandheHearswhatWedontHear
edontHear:
ear:

AbDharsaidthattheMessengerofAllahsaid:IndeedIsee
whatyoudonotseeandIhearwhatyoudonothear.Theheavens
creak and it has every right to creak. By the One in whose Hand
restsmysoul,thereisnotaplaceintheheavensthatisthewidthof
fourfingersexceptthatthereisanAngelplacingitsforelockthere
lying prostrate to Allah. By Allah, if you knew what I know, you
wouldlaugh less andcrymore, and would not take pleasure with
women in your beds, and would go out to open areas and seek
protection from Allah. Ab Dhar said after mentioning this
narration:WouldthatIcouldbeabushthatischewedup.1
His
His  NobleArmpits
NobleArmpits:
rmpits: ThetwoShaykhs(al-BukhrandMuslim)
narrated from Anas who said: I saw the Messenger of Allah 
raising his hands in supplication until I saw the whiteness of his
armpits. Ibn Sad narrated from Jbir who said: When the
Prophetwouldprostrate,thewhitenessofhisarmpitscouldbe
seen.
Therearenumerousadthfromthecompanionsmentioningthe
whiteness of his armpits . Al-MuFib al-Rabar said: From his
unique characteristics is that the armpits of people are of a
different colour than the rest of their body whereas his were the
same. Al-QurTub said similar to this and added that along with
this,therewasnohairuponhisarmpits.
He  Never Yawned
Yawned:
awned: Al-Bukhr in his book of history, Ibn Ab
Shaybainhis MuUannaf,andIbnSad,allnarratedfromYazdb.
Asammwhosaid:TheProphetneveryawned.IbnAbShayba
narratedfromMuslimab.Abdal-Malikb.Marwnwhosaid:No
Propheteveryawned.
His
His NobleSweat
NobleSweat:
weat:MuslimnarratedfromAnas
whosaid:The
Prophet  came to us and then took a nap at our place. During
thistime,hebegantosweat,whereupon,mymothercamewitha
small bottle and collected his sweat inside of it. After this, the
Prophetwokeupandsaid:OUmmSulaym!

NarratedbyAFmad,al-Tirmidh,andIbnMjah

What are you doing? She replied: We place the sweat in our
perfumeanditisthesweetestofourscents.
Muslim also narrated a similar wording from Anas
 who said:
TheProphetusedtocometoUmmSulaymandtakehisnaps
atherhouseandshewouldlayoutamatforhimtosleepon.He
usedtosweatagreatdeal,soshewouldgatherhissweatandplace
it in perfume and bottles. He once said: O Umm Sulaym! What
areyoudoing?Shereplied:Iaddyoursweattomyperfume.
His  Height:
eight:Ibn Khaythama in his book of history, al-Bayhaq,
andIbnAskir,allnarratedfrom<ishawhosaid:TheProphet
 was neither exceedingly tall nor short. If he walked alone, he
wouldbeconsideredofaverageheight,yet,therewasneveratime
that he walked with a group of tall people, except that he would
seem taller than the rest. Perhaps he would be around two tall
peopleyethewouldseemtaller,andwhenhewouldwalkaway,he
would seem of average height. Ibn Saba mentioned this in his
collection of unique qualities and added to it that when he 
would sit, his shoulders would be higher than the rest of those
sitting.
His  Shadow:
Shadow: Al-kim al-Tirmidh narrated from Dhakwn
thattheMessengerofAllahdidnotcastashadowfromeither
thesunorthemoon.IbnSabasaid:Fromhisuniquequalitiesis
thathedidnotcastashadowontheground.Hewaslightwhenhe
walkedoutinthesunorthemoonandhehadnoshadow.Some
of them said: This is strengthened by the adth wherein he 
said:Andmakemealight
QW IyW mentioned in his Shif, and al-Azf mentioned in his
Mawlidbook,thatamonghisuniquequalities,isthatflieswould
never descend upon him, Ibn Saba mentioned in his collection:
Fliesneverdescendeduponhisclothes.Healsomentionedthat
amonghisqualitiesisthatliceneverinfestedhim.



His
His  Blood:
Blood: Al-Bazzr, Ab Yal, al-Rabarn, al-kim and
al-Bayhaq, all narrated that Abdullh b. Zubayr came to the
ProphetwhilehewasgettingaFijma2performed.Whenhewas
finished,hesaid:OAbdullh!Takethisexcessbloodanddispose
ofitinaplacewherenoonewillseeyou.Abdullhthentookit
and drank it. When he returned, he  said to him:
O Abdullh! What did you do? Abdullh replied: I disposed
ofitinthemostconcealedplacethatIknowof.Itishiddenfrom
thepeople.TheProphetsaid:Didyoudrinkit?Hereplied:
Yes! The Prophet  then said: Woe to the people from you
and woe to you from the people. Afterwards, the people would
seethathehadextrastrengthduetothebloodhedrank.
His
His  Sleep:
Sleep: ThetwoShaykhs(al-BukhrandMuslim)reported
from <ishawho said: O Messenger of Allh! Are you going to
sleepbeforeyoupraythewitrprayer?Hereplied:O<isha!My
eyes sleep whereas my heart sleeps not. The two Shaykhs
reported from Anas b. Mlik
 who said: The Messenger of
Allhsaid:Myeyessleep,whereasmyheartsleepsnot.He
said: The eyes of the Prophets sleep, whereas their hearts sleep
not.
His  Sexual Prowess:
Prowess: Al-Bukhr reported from the route of
QatdafromAnaswhosaid:TheProphetusedtotaketurnsin
visitinghiswives(forconjugalrelations),oneaftertheotherinone
day,andtheywereeleveninnumber.Qatdasaid:IaskedAnas:
Was he capable of such a thing? Anas replied: We used to say
thathewasgiventhestrengthofthirtymen.
The Prophet  was Protected
Protected From
From Having Wet Dreams:
Dreams:
Al-RabarnreportedfromtherouteofIkrimafromAnasandIbn
Abbs,andal-Daynrinhiswork al-Mujlasa,reportedfromthe
routeofMujhidfromIbnAbbswhosaid:NoPropheteverhad
awetdreamandindeed,itisonlyfromSatan.


I.e.Bloodletting/Cupping

HisBlessedUrine:
HisBlessedUrine : asanb.Sufyninhis Musnad,AbYal,
al-kim,al-DraquTn,andAbNuaymallnarratedfromUmm
Aymanwhosaid:TheProphetgotuponenightandurinatedina
bowl. During that night, I rose in the state of thirst so I drank
whatever was in the bowl. In the morning I told Him what I had
done, after which he smiled and said: Surely you will never have
paininyourstomach.
Abdal-RazzqnarratesfromIbnJurayjwhosaid:Iwastoldthat
the Prophet used to have a wooden bowl in which he used to
urinateanditwasplacedunderHisbed.Once,hesearchedforit
and found that it was empty. He then asked a woman named
Baraka,whowastheservantofUmmabbawhocamewithher
whenshereturnedfromAbyssinia.Heasked:Whereistheurine
thatwasinthebowl?Shereplied,Idrankit.TheMessengerof
Allah  then said: O Umm Yusuf! You will most certainly be
healthy!This(UmmYsuf)washernickname.Sheneverbecame
ill after that day save the sickness that immediately preceded her
death.IbnDaFiyyasaid:Thisstoryisdifferentfromthestoryof
Umm Ayman, and this Baraka Umm Ysuf is different from
BarakaUmmAyman.
A Beneficial Conclusion:
Conclusion: Some have composed lines of poetry
whereintheysummarizedtheuniquephysicalcharacteristicsofthe
Prophetthatdistinguishedhimfromeveryoneelse:

OurProphetwaschosenwithtenspecialqualities
Neverdidhehaveawetdreamandnoshadowdidhehave
WhatisexpelledfromhimtheEarthdoesindeedswallow
Justastheflieskeepawayfromhim
Hiseyessleepwhereashisheartsleepsnot
Heseesfrombehindjustasheseesfromthefront
Neveroncedidheyawnandthisistheseventhquality
Andhewasborncircumcised
Thebeastsknowhimwhenheembarksuponthem
Quicklytheyapproachhimandtheyfleenot
Hetowersoverthosearoundhimwhensittingingatherings
MaypeaceandblessingsofAllahbeuponhim
bothnightandmorning

InsectiontwoofourresearchconcerningthePropheticqualities,
we mentioned some of the unique Prophetic qualities and our
basic view concerning them; that these unique qualities are quite
numerous. Some of them have authentic chains, some of them
haveweakchains,andsomearedifferedoveramongthescholars
with some holding the view that they are authentic, and others
holdingtheviewthattheyareweaktherefore,theseareissuesof
disagreement.
In the times of old, the words of the scholars concerning these
reports centred around what is deemed as either correct or
incorrect, or what is authentic or false. Never did their words
centrearoundfaithanddisbelief.Wehavementionedasampleof
suchuniquequalities;someofwhichareauthentic,someofwhich
arenotauthentic.Someofthemareacceptable,andsomearenot.
Wementionedthesereportssotheyserveasexamplesshowingthe
leniencyof someImms incitationwithoutcheckingor criticism.
(Our) intent behind this was not to go into discussion regarding
theirauthenticityorweakness,sounderstandthis.