Shar’i Evidence for the Humanity of the Noble Prophet ﷺ
Source: Fatawa al-Deen al-Khalis, Vol. 1, p. 77
Question:
Is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made of light (Noor), as claimed by the Barelvi school of thought?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a human being (bashar), not a being of light (Noor). This belief is clearly established through the Qur’an, authentic Hadith, scholarly consensus (Ijma’), and sound reasoning.
📖 Evidences from the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ has clearly stated in multiple places in the Qur’an that the Prophet ﷺ was a human being:
➊ Surah Al-Kahf:
﴿قُل إِنَّما أَنا۠ بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يوحىٰ إِلَىَّ﴾ (18:110)
“Say: I am only a man like you, to whom revelation has been sent.”
➋ Surah Al-Anbiya:
﴿وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ﴾ (21:34)
“We did not grant everlasting life to any human being before you.”
➌ Surah Yusuf:
﴿وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحى إِلَيهِم﴾ (12:109)
“We did not send before you any but men from the people of the towns to whom We revealed.”
➍ Surah Ar-Ra’d:
﴿وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا رُسُلًا مِن قَبلِكَ وَجَعَلنا لَهُم أَزوٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً﴾ (13:38)
“We certainly sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring.”
These verses are conclusive proofs that the Prophet ﷺ was a human being, not Noor.
📖 Evidences from the Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ himself clarified his humanity in many authentic narrations:
📌 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَخُذُوا بِهِ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ رَأْيِي، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ“
“I am only a human being. When I instruct you regarding your religion, then accept it. But when I give you my opinion, then know that I am a human being.”
(Sahih Muslim: 2361)
📌 When A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) was asked about what the Prophet ﷺ would do at home, she replied:
“كَانَ بَشَرًا مِنَ الْبَشَرِ يَفْلِي ثَوْبَهُ، وَيَحْلُبُ شَاتَهُ، وَيَخْدُمُ نَفْسَهُ“
“He was a human being among humans—he would remove lice from his clothes, milk his goat, and serve himself.”
(Shama’il al-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 23)
📌 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ أَنْسَى كَمَا تَنْسَوْنَ“
“I am only a human being like you; I forget just as you forget.”
(Sahih Muslim: 572)
These narrations explicitly show that the Prophet ﷺ affirmed his humanity. Had he been Noor, he would not have made such statements.
📚 Consensus of the Ummah
The scholars of Islam have unanimously agreed that all Prophets were humans, not beings of light.
📌 Imam Al-Alusi (رحمه الله) said:
“To believe that the Prophet ﷺ is not a human but rather Noor is completely against the Qur’an and Sunnah, and whoever holds such a belief is misguided.”
(Ruh al-Ma’ani, Vol. 4, p. 113)
📌 Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ was a complete human being, and his excellence was despite his humanity.”
(Majmu’ al-Fatawa, Vol. 11, p. 96)
Refutation of the Barelvi Belief
The Barelvi claim that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor has no valid evidence to support it.
📌 Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz (رحمه الله) stated:
“The belief of the Barelvis that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor is absolute misguidance and an innovation.”
(Fatawa Bin Baz, Vol. 1, p. 312)
📌 Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) stated:
“To call the Prophet ﷺ Noor is contrary to the Qur’an and Sunnah, for Allah Himself said that he is a human being.”
(Majmu’ al-Fatawa, Vol. 3, p. 226)
❖ Conclusion
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a human being, not a being of light.
This belief is supported by:
✔ The Qur’an
✔ Authentic Hadith
✔ Consensus of the Ummah
✔ Sound Reason
The Barelvi claim that the Prophet ﷺ is Noor is false, misguided, and a clear innovation.
Anyone who denies the humanity of the Prophet ﷺ is in fact rejecting the Qur’an and Sunnah.
We therefore invite our Barelvi brothers to turn sincerely toward the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah and abandon this innovated belief.
❖ References:
📘 Sahih Muslim
📘 Sahih Bukhari
📘 Tafsir Ibn Kathir
📘 Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah
📘 Ruh al-Ma’ani
📘 Fatawa Bin Baz
