Excerpted from the book: Ā’īnah Tawḥīd wa Sunnat — A Reply to “What is Shirk?” with Clarification on the Reality of Bidʿah Author: Shaykh Abū Ḥudhayfah Muḥammad Jāwīd Salafī✦ The Claim of the Barelwi Sect
Some Barelwi individuals claim that the Prophet ﷺ was made of nūr (light) and argue that he did not have a shadow. Due to the widespread confusion regarding this matter among the general public, it is essential to address and clarify this issue.
Many individuals, unaware of the clear and evident proofs of the Qur’an and Sunnah, adopt beliefs based on hearsay and accept such notions without investigation, treating them as final. They fail to reflect whether their belief is in line with the Qur’an and Sunnah or against it. Once a heart desires to know the evidence from Qur’an and Ḥadīth, Allah opens the doors of truth for such a person, removing the veils of ignorance and guiding them to the straight path — such a person may be opposed by crowds of the ignorant, but he remains firm, refusing to exchange truth for blind devotion.
Recognizing truth is a favor from Allah, for many who read extensively still dwell in darkness. May Allah grant us the ability to adopt beliefs solely based on clear evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✦ Do Beings Made of Nūr (Light) Have Shadows?
Barelwi scholars argue that the Prophet ﷺ had no shadow, supporting this claim with the assertion that he was a being of light, and therefore, light does not cast a shadow.
To those who hold this view, we humbly say:
Allah ﷻ has granted you eyes to see, ears to hear, and intellect to distinguish between right and wrong. Use these faculties under the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah, not the other way around. When you leave this world, only the light of Qur’an and Sunnah will benefit you. Free yourself from prejudice and analyze the proofs sincerely.
✦ ʿAnādhil Evidence from Ḥadīth
It is proven in ḥadīth that angels — who are without doubt created from nūr — do have shadows.
The Prophet ﷺ said about the martyrdom of ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥarām, the father of Jābir رضي الله عنهما during the Battle of Uḥud:
"تبكيه أولا تبكيه ما زالت الملائكة تظله بأجنحتها حتى رفعتموه"
“Weep for him or do not — the angels continued to shade him with their wings until you lifted him.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janā’iz & al-Jihād; Muslim, Kitāb Faḍā’il al-Ṣaḥābah, pg. 143This narration proves that even luminous (nūrī) beings like angels have shadows. The only difference is that human shadows are visible, while those of angels — being unseen beings — are not normally visible, except through miracles, as was granted to the Prophet ﷺ.
✦ Testimony from the Prophet’s Wives
Who would understand a man more than his own wife?
Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها was asked:
“What would the Prophet ﷺ do at home?”
She replied:
"كان بشرًا من البشر، ويحلب شاته، ويخدم نفسه"
“He was a man from among men; he would milk his own goat and serve himself.”
Musnad Aḥmad, al-Musnad al-Ṣaḥīḥ: 671This is a clear proof of his humanity — although his rank was higher than even those of luminous beings (nūrī beings).
◈ Direct Evidence of the Prophet ﷺ Having a Shadow
❖ Umm al-Mu’minīn Zaynab bint Jaḥsh رضي الله عنها narrates:
During a journey, Ṣafiyyah رضي الله عنها’s camel fell ill. The Prophet ﷺ asked Zaynab رضي الله عنها to lend her camel, to which she replied:
“Should I give my camel to this Jewess?”
Due to this, the Prophet ﷺ became upset and did not visit her for two full months.
Zaynab رضي الله عنها continues:
"One day at midday, I saw the shadow of the Prophet ﷺ approaching.”
Musnad Aḥmad, 6/132In another narration:
"فرأت ظله فقالت: إن هذا لظل رجل، وما يدخل على النبي مفت فمن هذا؟ فدخل مفت."
“She saw his shadow and thought, ‘This is surely the shadow of a man. The Prophet ﷺ is not receiving anyone — who could this be?’ Then the Prophet ﷺ entered.”
Musnad Aḥmad, 6/338❖ Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه, who served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years, reported:
During a prayer, the Prophet ﷺ stretched out his hand forward and then pulled it back. When asked, he said:
"Jannah was shown to me, and I saw its lofty trees. I intended to take some of its fruits when a command came to retreat. Then Hell was shown to me, and I saw it between me and you until I saw both my shadow and yours in it.”
al-Mustadrak ʿalā al-Ṣaḥīḥayn, al-Ḥākim, vol. 4/456; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, vol. 2/51This is undeniable proof of the Prophet ﷺ having a visible shadow.
✦ More Evidence Regarding Shadows in Ḥadīth and Qur’an
❖ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Jibrīl عليه السلام led me in ʿAṣr prayer when my shadow was equal to my height (فِئِي مِثْلِي), then again when it was twice my height."
Majmaʿ al-Zawā’id, vol. 1/303✦ Evidence from the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ has declared that everything He created has a shadow:
"أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلَالُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالشَّمَائِلِ سُجَّدًا لِلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَاخِرُونَ"
“Have they not considered what things Allah has created, whose shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah while they are humble?”
Sūrah al-Naḥl: 48And:
"وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَالُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ"
“To Allah prostrates all who are in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly — and their shadows as well — morning and evening.”
Sūrah al-Raʿd: 15✦ The Prophet ﷺ Had a Body — Thus a Shadow
The Prophet ﷺ ate food, wore garments, and had a human body.
Everything with a body casts a shadow.
Even an empty garment cast in sunlight will have a shadow — so how could a human being of flesh, bones, and blood not have one?
Allah says:
"وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ"
“What use are signs and warnings to a people who do not believe?”
Sūrah Yūnus: 101✦ The Reality of Divine Nūr (Light)
No one in this world can behold the Divine Light (Nūr) of Allah ﷻ. Even Mūsā عليه السلام, a mighty prophet, was unable to witness it:
"رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنْظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ... فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا"
“My Lord, show Yourself to me… When His Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble to dust, and Mūsā fell unconscious.”
Sūrah al-Aʿrāf: 143Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ never saw Allah’s essence with his eyes:
Abū Dharr رضي الله عنه asked: “Did you see your Lord?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"نُورٌ أَنَّىٰ أَرَاهُ؟"
“He is light — how could I see Him?”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, Ḥadīth 178✦ Statements of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها and Others
Masrūq رحمه الله asked ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“Did the Prophet ﷺ see his Lord?”
She replied:
"من زعم أن محمدا رأىٰ ربه فقد أعظم الفرية على الله"
“Whoever claims that Muḥammad ﷺ saw his Lord has fabricated a grave lie against Allah.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Tafsīr Sūrat al-Najm, Ḥadīth 4855In another narration:
"حجابه النور، لو كشفه لأحرقت سبحات وجهه ما انتهىٰ إليه بصره من خلقه"
“Allah’s veil is light. If He were to remove it, the brightness of His face would burn everything His sight reaches.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, Ḥadīth 179The Qur’an also states:
"لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ ۖ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ"
“Sight cannot perceive Him, but He perceives all sight. And He is the Subtle, the Aware.”
Sūrah al-Anʿām: 103And:
"وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا ..."
“It is not for a human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation, or from behind a veil...”
Sūrah al-Shūrā: 51✦ Conclusion
If the Prophet ﷺ had been created from divine light, he would have witnessed Allah’s light on the Night of Miʿrāj, and others would not have been able to see him.
But he was a human, a Prophet of flesh and blood, and he did have a shadow — proven by authentic narrations and the Qur’an.
