Allah, the Lord of Glory, has bestowed countless favors and innumerable blessings upon humanity, whose gratitude is beyond the capacity of His servants. Among these great blessings, the greatest is that Allah Almighty has included us in the nation of the Prophet of the Last Age, Muhammad ﷺ. This nation is the most excellent, moderate, and best among all nations.
In the present article, the virtue and superiority of the Muhammadan nation are explained in the light of the Quran and Hadith, clarifying the special distinctions Allah Almighty has granted this nation in both this world and the Hereafter. This article will detail the religious status of the Muhammadan nation, its legislative distinctions, and its exalted position.
The Virtue of the Muhammadan Nation in the Light of the Quran
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَكَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا ﴾
Translation:
“And thus We have made you a justly balanced nation and have revealed to you the Scripture.”
This verse is a clear proof that the Ummah of Muhammad has been endowed by Allah Almighty with moderation, justice, and excellence.
Similarly, Allah Almighty says:
﴿ كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّٰهِ ﴾
Translation:
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
This verse explains the fundamental reason for the Ummah of Muhammad being the best nation, namely enjoining good, forbidding evil, and complete faith in Allah.
The Excellence of the Ummah in the Prophetic Hadith ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained this verse by saying:
(( أَنْتُمْ تُتِمُّونَ سَبْعِينَ أُمَّةً، أَنْتُمْ خَيْرُهَا وَأَكْرَمُهَا عَلَى اللّٰهِ ))
Translation:
“You will complete the number of nations to seventy, and you are the best among them and the most honored in the sight of Allah.”
Similarly, Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) explained this verse by saying:
(( خَيْرُ النَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ، تَأْتُونَ بِهِمْ فِي السَّلَاسِلِ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ حَتَّى يَدْخُلُوا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ ))
Translation:
“You are the best people for mankind; you bring them (through jihad) to the state where they have collars around their necks, until they enter Islam.”
Meaning, when they accept Islam, the collars of humiliation and slavery automatically fall off.
Special Virtues Granted to the Prophet ﷺ
Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أُعْطِيتُ مَا لَمْ يُعْطَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ))
“I have been given things that no other prophet has been given.”
The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! What are they?
Then you ﷺ said:
(( نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ، وَأُعْطِيتُ مَفَاتِيحَ الْأَرْضِ، وَسُمِّيتُ أَحْمَدَ، وَجُعِلَ التُّرَابُ لِي طَهُورًا، وَجُعِلَتْ أُمَّتِي خَيْرَ الْأُمَمِ ))
Translation:
“My help was granted with awe and grandeur, the keys of the earth were given to me, my name was made Ahmad, the earth was made pure for me, and my Ummah was made the best among all Ummah.”
From all these evidences, it becomes as clear as daylight that the Ummah of Muhammad is superior to all previous Ummah.
The Real Basis of Superiority: The Religion of Islam
It should be kept in mind that the superiority of the Ummah of Muhammad is not based on any racial or familial grounds, but because of its religion. This Ummah believes in Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the Holy Quran, while other nations have not accepted this blessing.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَلِلّٰهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴾
Translation:
“Honor is only for Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.”
This reality was expressed by Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab رضي الله عنه in these words:
(( إِنَّا كُنَّا أَذَلَّ قَوْمٍ فَأَعَزَّنَا اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا الدِّينِ، فَمَهْمَا نَبْتَغِ الْعِزَّةَ فِي غَيْرِهِ أَذَلَّنَا اللّٰهُ ))
Translation:
“We were the most humiliated people, Allah honored us through this religion, so whenever we seek honor in anything other than it, Allah will humiliate us.”
The False Claim of the Jews and Christians and Its Refutation
The Jews and Christians claimed that they are the sons of Allah and His beloved people and that they are the most superior nation, but Allah Almighty has clearly rejected their false claim.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللّٰهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُمْ بِذُنُوبِكُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ بَشَرٌ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَلِلّٰهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ ﴾
Translation:
“The Jews and Christians say, ‘We are the sons of Allah and His beloved.’ Say: Then why does He punish you for your sins? Rather, you are among the humans He has created. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the return.”
Since the Jews and Christians did not accept Islam, Allah Almighty declared the Jews as those who incurred His wrath and the Christians as those who went astray, and they were deprived of the great virtue that the Ummah of Muhammad attained.
Characteristics of the Ummah of Muhammad (in the light of Quran and Hadith)
Now we mention the characteristics of the Ummah of Muhammad which indicate that it is the best of all Ummah.
➊ Completeness of the Religion
The greatest characteristic of the Ummah of Muhammad is that its religion is complete and perfect.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اَلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ﴾
Translation:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.”
The completion of the religion is a great favor from Allah Almighty; otherwise, if the religion had been left incomplete, everyone would have altered it according to their own desires, and thus the religion would have become a toy in the hands of people.
The greatness of this verse is understood from the incident when a Jewish scholar came to Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and said:
“O Commander of the Faithful! If this verse had been revealed to us Jews, we would have made this day a festival.”
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said that this verse was revealed on the day of Arafat, on a Friday.
➋ No hardship or difficulty in the religion
One great characteristic of the Ummah of Muhammad is that its religion is easy and no harshness has been imposed in it.
(1) Evidence from the Quran
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ﴾
Translation:
“He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in religion.”
(2) Permission for Tayammum
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ مَا يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَلٰكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴾
Translation:
“Allah does not want to make difficulty for you, but He wants to purify you and complete His favor upon you so that you may be grateful.”
(3) Intention of Ease
﴿ يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَنْكُمْ وَخُلِقَ الْإِنْسَانُ ضَعِيفًا ﴾
Translation:
“Allah wants to lighten your burden, for man was created weak.”
(4) Ease in Fasting
﴿ يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ﴾
Translation:
“Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.”
3. Removing Burdens from the First Nations
Allah Almighty removed from the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ the burdens that were upon the earlier nations through the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ﴾
Translation:
“And they remove from them their burdens and the shackles which were upon them.”
Some examples of this:
❀ Among the Children of Israel, if urine touched the cloth or skin, it had to be cut with scissors.
❀ A menstruating woman was isolated, whereas in the Ummah of Muhammad it is permissible to eat, drink, and live with her, except for intercourse.
❀ Among the Children of Israel, it was an eye for an eye, whereas Islam permits blood money (diyat).
❀ The sin of the sinner was written on his door, whereas this Ummah is veiled.
❀ Previously, eating and drinking after sleeping during the fast was forbidden, whereas this Ummah is allowed until Fajr.
➌ The spoils of war being lawful
➍ Making soil a means of purification (taharah)
➎ Making the entire earth a place of prostration
These three great characteristics were mentioned by the Noble Prophet ﷺ in a comprehensive hadith:
(( أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي: كَانَ كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى كُلِّ أَحْمَرَ وَأَسْوَدَ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَلَمْ تُحَلَّ لِأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْأَرْضُ طَيِّبَةً طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا، فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلَاةُ صَلَّى حَيْثُ كَانَ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ مَسِيرَةِ شَهْرٍ، وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ))
Translation:
“I have been given five things which were not given to any prophet before me:
Every prophet was sent only to his own nation, whereas I have been sent to every white and black person.
The spoils of war have been made lawful for me, which were not lawful for anyone before me.
The earth has been made pure and a mosque for me, so wherever the time for prayer comes, pray there.
Within a month’s distance, fear of me is instilled in the hearts of the enemy.
And I have been granted intercession.”
Explanation:
❀ In the earlier nations, spoils of war were not lawful; rather, they would collect the wealth and leave it, and if fire came down from the sky and consumed it, it was a sign of acceptance.
❀ For the Ummah of Muhammad, soil was made a means of purification, meaning that when water is not available or harmful, tayammum (dry ablution) is permitted.
❀ The entire earth has been made a place of prostration, so a Muslim can pray wherever he is; a mosque is not a condition.
➏ Mistakes, doubts, and compulsion are forgiven.
Allah Almighty has shown special mercy on this Ummah by forgiving mistakes, thoughts of the heart, and actions done under compulsion.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهَا مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَتَكَلَّمْ ))
Translation:
“Allah Almighty has forgiven the thoughts and whispers of the hearts of my Ummah as long as they do not act upon them or speak of them.”
And He said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ ))
Translation:
“Allah Almighty has forgiven the mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do of my Ummah.”
➐ The entire Ummah of Muhammad will not be destroyed
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(( سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ، فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً ))
“I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, for three things concerning this Ummah, and He granted me two and withheld one from me.”
Then you ﷺ explained in detail:
(( سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا ))
(( وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا ))
(( وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا ))
Translation:
“I asked my Lord for three things; two were accepted and one was not accepted.
I prayed that my Ummah should not be completely destroyed like the previous nations, and it was accepted.
And I prayed that an external enemy should not overpower our entire Ummah, and this was also accepted.
And I prayed that we should not be divided into sects, but this prayer was not accepted.”
A narration on the same subject is also in Sahih Muslim.
➑ The entire Ummah of Muhammad cannot be gathered on misguidance
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ أَجَارَ أُمَّتِي أَنْ تَجْتَمِعَ عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ ))
Translation:
“Allah has protected my Ummah from all being gathered upon misguidance.”
A group of this Ummah will always remain steadfast on the truth:
(( لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ… ))
Translation:
“A group of my Ummah will always remain dominant on the truth, and those who oppose them will not harm them until the command of Allah comes.”
Imams of the Salaf such as Imam Ahmad, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Ibn al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on them, considered this group to mean the Ahl al-Hadith.
➒ The Ummah of Muhammad is a merciful Ummah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أُمَّتِي هٰذِهِ أُمَّةٌ مَرْحُومَةٌ، لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا عَذَابٌ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، عَذَابُهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا الْفِتَنُ وَالزَّلَازِلُ وَالْقَتْلُ ))
Translation:
“My Ummah is a merciful Ummah; there will be no punishment for it in the Hereafter. Its punishment in this world will be in the form of trials, earthquakes, and killing and fighting.”
Characteristics of the Ummah of Muhammad related to the Hereafter
In the second part, we now mention those characteristics that the Ummah of Muhammad will have on the Day of Judgment and in the Hereafter, which further clarify the greatness and virtue of this Ummah.
➓ The ranks of the Ummah of Muhammad will be like the ranks of the angels
Hazrat Hudhaifah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلَاثٍ: جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا، وَجُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُورًا إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ ))
Translation:
“We have been given superiority over people in three matters:
Our rows are made like the rows of angels,
The entire earth has been made a mosque for us,
And when we do not find water, the soil of the earth has been made a means of purification for us.”
In the narration of Musnad Ahmad, an additional superiority is mentioned:
(( وَأُعْطِيتُ هٰذِهِ الْآيَاتِ مِنْ آخِرِ الْبَقَرَةِ مِنْ كَنْزٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ لَمْ يُعْطَهَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلِي ))
Translation:
“And I was given the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah from the treasures beneath the Throne, which were not given to any prophet before me.”
⓫ Greater reward for less action
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّمَا أَجَلُكُمْ فِي أَجَلِ مَنْ خَلَا مِنَ الْأُمَمِ مَا بَيْنَ صَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى مَغْرِبِ الشَّمْسِ ))
Translation:
“Your lifespan compared to the lifespan of previous nations is like the time from Asr to Maghrib.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ gave the example of laborers and said that the Ummah of Muhammad is given double the reward in less time.
This is a great favor of Allah upon this Ummah that despite having a shorter lifespan, many times more reward is granted.
⓬ Special Guidance for Friday
The Ummah of Muhammad was given special guidance specifically for the day of Friday, whereas previous nations differed on this matter.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( نَحْنُ الْآخِرُونَ السَّابِقُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ … ))
Translation:
“We came last in this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, we will be foremost. The day of Friday was made obligatory upon the nations before us, but they differed in it, and Allah guided us in it.”
⓭ The Last Nation but Foremost on the Day of Resurrection
It is in Sahih Muslim:
(( نَحْنُ الْآخِرُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْأَوَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمَقْضِيُّ لَهُمْ قَبْلَ الْخَلَائِقِ ))
Translation:
“We came last in this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, our judgment will be first.”
⓮ On the Day of Resurrection, the Limbs Used in Ablution Will Shine
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْتُونَ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنَ الْوُضُوءِ، وَأَنَا فَرَطُهُمْ عَلَى الْحَوْضِ ))
Translation:
“My Ummah will come on the Day of Resurrection shining because of ablution, and I will welcome them at the Pond.”
⓯ The Account of the Ummah of Muhammad Will Be Taken First
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates:
(( نَحْنُ آخِرُ الْأُمَمِ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يُحَاسَبُ ))
Translation:
“We are the last among the nations, but our reckoning will be first.”
⓰ Testimony in favor of the Prophets, peace be upon them
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that on the Day of Resurrection, the Ummah of Muhammad will testify to the invitation of all the Prophets.
Then he ﷺ recited this verse:
﴿ وَكَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ﴾
Translation:
“And thus We have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people.”
⓱ The Bridge of Sirat will be crossed first by the Prophet ﷺ and the Ummah of Muhammad
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(( وَيُضْرَبُ الصِّرَاطُ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَيْ جَهَنَّمَ فَأَكُونُ أَنَا وَأُمَّتِي أَوَّلَ مَنْ يُجِيزُهَا ))
Translation:
“Above Hellfire, the Bridge of Sirat will be placed, then I and my Ummah will be the first to cross it.”
This is a great honor for the Ummah that even in the terrifying stages of the Day of Judgment, it will be given precedence.
⓲ The majority of those entering Paradise will be from the Ummah of Muhammad
Hazrat Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أَمَا تَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبْعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ؟ ))
Then he said:
(( أَمَا تَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ؟ ))
Then he said:
(( إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا شَطْرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ))
Translation:
“Are you not pleased to be a quarter of the people of Paradise?
Are you not pleased to be a third of the people of Paradise?
I hope you will be half of the people of Paradise.”
Similarly, in another hadith:
(( أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ عِشْرُونَ وَمِائَةُ صَفٍّ، ثَمَانُونَ مِنْ هٰذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَأَرْبَعُونَ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ ))
Translation:
“There will be one hundred and twenty rows of the people of Paradise, eighty of which will be from this Ummah and forty from the other nations.”
⓳ Countless people from the Ummah of Muhammad will enter Paradise without reckoning
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( عُرِضَتْ عَلَيَّ الْأُمَمُ … فَقِيلَ لِي هٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكَ، وَمَعَهُمْ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ))
Translation:
“Various nations were presented to me… then I was told: This is your Ummah, and among them will be seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without reckoning.”
The Prophet ﷺ described the characteristics of these people as follows:
(( هُمُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَسْتَرْقُونَ، وَلَا يَتَطَيَّرُونَ، وَلَا يَكْتَوُونَ، وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ))
Translation:
“These are the people who do not use the siwak (tooth-stick), do not take bad omens, do not get branded with fire, and rely solely on their Lord.”
Another narration states:
(( مَعَ كُلِّ أَلْفٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا، وَثَلَاثُ حَثَيَاتٍ مِنْ حَثَيَاتِ رَبِّي ))
Translation:
“For every thousand, there will be seventy thousand more, and in addition, my Lord will grant three more Chullo (periods).”
Conclusion
These great favors of Allah Almighty upon the Ummah of Muhammad demand that we firmly hold on to the religion of Islam, follow the Quran and Sunnah, and correct our deeds.
We pray to Allah Almighty to make us truly worthy of this Ummah, keep us steadfast on the religion, and include us among those fortunate people who will enter Paradise without reckoning.
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds
