Does the Prophet ﷺ Have Authority to Grant Provision?
Clarification in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Qur’an o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Zaid’s Claim:
Zaid asserts that Allah has entrusted the keys of provision for creation to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, granting him the authority to give as much as he wills to whomever he wills.
‘Amr’s Position:
‘Amr strongly rejects this claim, stating that it is utterly false. According to him, no one has even the smallest degree of authority over provision; all sustenance is in the sole control of Allah alone. He gives to whomever He wills and withholds from whomever He wills.
Zaid’s belief is false and contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Claiming that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been entrusted with the provision of creation is entirely incorrect in the light of Qur’an and Hadith. Zaid either has not studied the Qur’an and Sunnah or is deliberately persisting in misguidance. The Qur’an and Sunnah explicitly refute such a belief.
➊ Surah Hud, Ruku 1:
﴿وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا﴾
(There is no creature on earth except that its provision is upon Allah.)
➋ Surah Fatir, Ruku 1:
﴿هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
(Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth?)
➌ Surah Ash-Shura, Ruku 2:
﴿لَّهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ﴾
(To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlarges provision for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills. Indeed, He is Knowing of all things.)
➍ Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ruku 3:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ﴾
(Indeed, Allah is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.)
➎ Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ruku 1:
﴿وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ﴾
(And in the heaven is your provision.)
Mishkat al-Masabih, Bab al-Istighfar, authentic narration from Sahih Muslim:
«يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلَّا مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ، يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلَّا مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ»
(O My servants! All of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food and I will feed you. O My servants! All of you are naked except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you.)
In light of the Qur’an and Hadith, it is absolutely clear that the keys of provision for all creation are solely in the control of Allah. No prophet or saint has even the smallest authority over it. Holding such a belief, or considering anyone besides Allah as the provider, is shirk, from which one must completely refrain.
Claim:
It is said that the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ visits every home and place.
This belief is false and baseless.
Mishkat al-Masabih, Bab as-Salah ‘ala an-Nabi ﷺ, narration of an-Nasa’i and ad-Darimi:
«إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّاحِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ يُبَلِّغُونِي مِنْ أُمَّتِي السَّلاَمَ»
(Allah has angels who roam the earth and convey to me the greetings of my Ummah.)
Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi, from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
«مَنْ صَلَّى عِنْدَ قَبْرِي سَمِعْتُهُ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ نَائِيًا أُبْلِغْتُهُ»
(Whoever sends salutations upon me at my grave, I hear him, and whoever sends salutations from afar, it is conveyed to me.)
If the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ truly roamed every place, the ahadith would state that the Prophet ﷺ personally hears the salutations everywhere and is present at all locations. However, the ahadith clearly mention that the angels convey these salutations, which proves that the belief in the blessed soul’s presence everywhere is unfounded.
It is regrettable that some people, despite calling themselves Muslims, hold beliefs that are directly against the Qur’an and Sunnah. One must remember:
Being present everywhere and having knowledge of everything at all times is a unique attribute of Allah alone, with no partner.
To attribute this quality to anyone else is clear shirk, and it is essential to avoid it completely.
Clarification in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Qur’an o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Examining Beliefs Regarding Provision and the Blessed Soul ﷺ Visiting Every Place
❖ First Question:
Zaid’s Claim:
Zaid asserts that Allah has entrusted the keys of provision for creation to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, granting him the authority to give as much as he wills to whomever he wills.
‘Amr’s Position:
‘Amr strongly rejects this claim, stating that it is utterly false. According to him, no one has even the smallest degree of authority over provision; all sustenance is in the sole control of Allah alone. He gives to whomever He wills and withholds from whomever He wills.
Shar‘i Ruling:
Zaid’s belief is false and contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Claiming that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been entrusted with the provision of creation is entirely incorrect in the light of Qur’an and Hadith. Zaid either has not studied the Qur’an and Sunnah or is deliberately persisting in misguidance. The Qur’an and Sunnah explicitly refute such a belief.
Evidences from the Qur’an:
➊ Surah Hud, Ruku 1:
﴿وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا﴾
(There is no creature on earth except that its provision is upon Allah.)
➋ Surah Fatir, Ruku 1:
﴿هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
(Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth?)
➌ Surah Ash-Shura, Ruku 2:
﴿لَّهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ﴾
(To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlarges provision for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills. Indeed, He is Knowing of all things.)
➍ Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ruku 3:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ﴾
(Indeed, Allah is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.)
➎ Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ruku 1:
﴿وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ﴾
(And in the heaven is your provision.)
Evidence from Hadith:
Mishkat al-Masabih, Bab al-Istighfar, authentic narration from Sahih Muslim:
«يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلَّا مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ، يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلَّا مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ»
(O My servants! All of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food and I will feed you. O My servants! All of you are naked except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you.)
Conclusion:
In light of the Qur’an and Hadith, it is absolutely clear that the keys of provision for all creation are solely in the control of Allah. No prophet or saint has even the smallest authority over it. Holding such a belief, or considering anyone besides Allah as the provider, is shirk, from which one must completely refrain.
❖ Second Question:
Claim:
It is said that the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ visits every home and place.
Shar‘i Ruling:
This belief is false and baseless.
Evidences from Hadith:
Mishkat al-Masabih, Bab as-Salah ‘ala an-Nabi ﷺ, narration of an-Nasa’i and ad-Darimi:
«إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّاحِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ يُبَلِّغُونِي مِنْ أُمَّتِي السَّلاَمَ»
(Allah has angels who roam the earth and convey to me the greetings of my Ummah.)
Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi, from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
«مَنْ صَلَّى عِنْدَ قَبْرِي سَمِعْتُهُ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ نَائِيًا أُبْلِغْتُهُ»
(Whoever sends salutations upon me at my grave, I hear him, and whoever sends salutations from afar, it is conveyed to me.)
Shar‘i Conclusion:
If the blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ truly roamed every place, the ahadith would state that the Prophet ﷺ personally hears the salutations everywhere and is present at all locations. However, the ahadith clearly mention that the angels convey these salutations, which proves that the belief in the blessed soul’s presence everywhere is unfounded.
Error and Danger of Such a Belief:
It is regrettable that some people, despite calling themselves Muslims, hold beliefs that are directly against the Qur’an and Sunnah. One must remember:
Being present everywhere and having knowledge of everything at all times is a unique attribute of Allah alone, with no partner.
To attribute this quality to anyone else is clear shirk, and it is essential to avoid it completely.
