Source: Shumara al-Sunnah, Jhelum
Question:
Is it authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to see in the dark as clearly as he did in the daylight?
Answer:
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرى بالليل فى الظلمة كما يرى بالنهار من الضوء
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to see in the darkness of the night just as he used to see in the daylight.”
[Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by Al-Bayhaqi: 6/75]
Analysis of the Narration:This narration is classified as severely weak (سند سخت ضعیف) due to the following reasons:
➊ Abdul Rahman ibn Ammar Shaheed – His identity is unknown.
➋ Salih ibn Abdullah al-Naysaburi – No information is found about him.
➌ Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad ibn Khalil al-Naysaburi – Requires authentication.
➍ Mughira ibn Muslim al-Qusmali did not narrate directly from ‘Ata.
Imam Abu Zur‘ah said:
"لم يسمع المغيرة من عطاء، وهو مرسل"
“Mughira did not hear from ‘Ata; hence, the narration is mursal.”
[Tuhfat al-Tahsil, p. 313]
Imam al-Bayhaqi’s description of the chain as "not strong" (ليس بالقوي) is seen as lenient in this case.
A similar wording is attributed to A’ishah رضي الله عنها:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرى فى الظلمة كما يرى فى الضوء
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to see in the dark as he did in the light.”
[Al-Kamil fi Du‘afa’ al-Rijal by Ibn ‘Adi: 5/365; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah: 6/74; Al-Fawa’id by Tamam al-Razi: 1337; Tarikh Baghdad by al-Khatib: 4/272]
This chain is fabricated. It contains Mu‘alla ibn Hilal al-Tahhan, who is unanimously declared a forger (وضاع), discarded (متروك), and a liar (كذاب) by Hadith critics.
Another problematic narrator in the chain is ‘Abdullah ibn Mughira, also known as ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Mughira, who is rejected in hadith (منكر الحديث).
Ibn ‘Asakir records a mursal narration from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr:
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يبصر في الظلمة كما يبصر في الضوء
“The Prophet ﷺ used to see in darkness just as he did in light.”
[Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 60/387]
This chain too is severely weak.
Imam Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله (d. 597H) states:
"هذا حديث لا يصح"
“This hadith is not authentic.”
[Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanahiya: 1/168, Hadith no. 266]
Conclusion:
The claim that the Prophet ﷺ could see at night as clearly as during the day is not supported by any authentic hadith. All related narrations are either weak, fabricated, or disconnected in their chains. Therefore, such a belief cannot be established on the basis of sound evidence.
Question:
Is it authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to see in the dark as clearly as he did in the daylight?
Answer:
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرى بالليل فى الظلمة كما يرى بالنهار من الضوء
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to see in the darkness of the night just as he used to see in the daylight.”
[Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by Al-Bayhaqi: 6/75]
Analysis of the Narration:This narration is classified as severely weak (سند سخت ضعیف) due to the following reasons:
➊ Abdul Rahman ibn Ammar Shaheed – His identity is unknown.
➋ Salih ibn Abdullah al-Naysaburi – No information is found about him.
➌ Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad ibn Khalil al-Naysaburi – Requires authentication.
➍ Mughira ibn Muslim al-Qusmali did not narrate directly from ‘Ata.
Imam Abu Zur‘ah said:
"لم يسمع المغيرة من عطاء، وهو مرسل"
“Mughira did not hear from ‘Ata; hence, the narration is mursal.”
[Tuhfat al-Tahsil, p. 313]
Imam al-Bayhaqi’s description of the chain as "not strong" (ليس بالقوي) is seen as lenient in this case.
A similar wording is attributed to A’ishah رضي الله عنها:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرى فى الظلمة كما يرى فى الضوء
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to see in the dark as he did in the light.”
[Al-Kamil fi Du‘afa’ al-Rijal by Ibn ‘Adi: 5/365; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah: 6/74; Al-Fawa’id by Tamam al-Razi: 1337; Tarikh Baghdad by al-Khatib: 4/272]
This chain is fabricated. It contains Mu‘alla ibn Hilal al-Tahhan, who is unanimously declared a forger (وضاع), discarded (متروك), and a liar (كذاب) by Hadith critics.
Another problematic narrator in the chain is ‘Abdullah ibn Mughira, also known as ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Mughira, who is rejected in hadith (منكر الحديث).
Ibn ‘Asakir records a mursal narration from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr:
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يبصر في الظلمة كما يبصر في الضوء
“The Prophet ﷺ used to see in darkness just as he did in light.”
[Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 60/387]
This chain too is severely weak.
- Muhammad ibn Mughira al-Madani is unknown.
- Abu Jamahir Mukhlis ibn Muwahhid and his father Muwahhid ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Uthman are unauthenticated.
Imam Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله (d. 597H) states:
"هذا حديث لا يصح"
“This hadith is not authentic.”
[Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanahiya: 1/168, Hadith no. 266]
Conclusion:
The claim that the Prophet ﷺ could see at night as clearly as during the day is not supported by any authentic hadith. All related narrations are either weak, fabricated, or disconnected in their chains. Therefore, such a belief cannot be established on the basis of sound evidence.
