This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book The Search for Truth.
Tawheed in Essence means to consider Allah Almighty alone in His essence, unique and without partner; He has neither a wife nor children, neither a mother nor a father, He is not a part of anyone's essence, nor is anyone a part of His essence. Shirk in Essence means to associate someone else with Allah Almighty in His essence, that is, to say that so-and-so is His child or that so-and-so is a part of His essence.
The Quran refutes the People of the Book's shirk in essence and declares them disbelievers and polytheists because of this belief:
[وَ قَالَتِ الۡیَہُوۡدُ عُزَیۡرُۨ ابۡنُ اللّٰہِ وَ قَالَتِ النَّصٰرَی الۡمَسِیۡحُ ابۡنُ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ قَوۡلُہُمۡ بِاَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ ۚ یُضَاہِـُٔوۡنَ قَوۡلَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ قٰتَلَہُمُ اللّٰہُ ۚ۫ اَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ]،[اِتَّخَذُوۡۤا اَحۡبَارَہُمۡ وَ رُہۡبَانَہُمۡ اَرۡبَابًا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ الۡمَسِیۡحَ ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اُمِرُوۡۤا اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلٰـہًا وَّاحِدًا ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ]
[And the Jews said, "Ezra is the son of Allah," and the Christians said, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their saying with their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?] [They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Mary, while they were commanded only to worship one God; there is no god but He. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.]
Reference: (At-Tawbah: 31, 30)
Attributing Children and Parts to Allah:
The polytheists of Mecca considered angels to be the daughters of Allah, but Allah Almighty refuted their false belief.
Reference: (Al-An'am:101)
Some polytheists believed in the merging of Allah's essence with creatures such as angels, jinn, and humans (this belief is called Hulool). Some polytheists believed that Allah is merged in everything in the universe (this belief is called Wahdat al-Wujud). Allah Almighty refuted all these false beliefs:[وَ جَعَلُوۡا لَہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ جُزۡءًا ؕ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَکَفُوۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ]
And for Him is whatever is in the heavens and the earth; and those who associate others with Allah say, "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position." Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ.
Reference: (Fussilat:16)
Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.
Reference: (Fussilat:17)
Reference: (Fussilat:18)
Reference: (Az-Zukhruf:15)
(
Reference: Fussilat:16
) Offspring are a part of their parents; the wrongdoers have attributed a part to Allah, what a great crime it is. (
Reference: Fussilat:17
) Those who believe in such things. (
Reference: Fussilat:18
) Their disbelief is manifest. (Tafsir Muradabadi and translation by Ahmed Raza Khan Sahib)From all these verses, it is proven that Allah Almighty has no family, He has no wife or children, neither a mother nor a father. Neither the essence of Allah Almighty is merged in any living or non-living thing in the universe, nor is He a part of anything. Neither any other living or non-living thing in the universe is merged in the essence of Allah Almighty, nor is anything a part of Allah's essence. Neither was any creation created from His light, nor is any creation a part of His light. Allah Almighty is free from associating partners in His essence.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:117,116)
To consider the Prophets as Allah in human form is disbelief and polytheism. Nowadays, some who recite the Kalima hold beliefs exactly like Christians and say:
He who was on the level of the Throne, became God
Descended in Medina as Mustafa (the Chosen One)
In fact, they wrong themselves even more because Christians called Jesus (peace be upon him) God
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah:72 to 77)
, but they have gone a few steps further and called not only the Messenger of Allah ﷺ but also ordinary elders as Allah.Like a sparrow, I go to Medina and Kot Mithan, the House of Allah
Colorless became colorful, form became radiant
In the apparent is the guide, in the inner is Allah
The delicate face of Pir Farid shows us the reason is Allah
Reference: (Hajj Faqir Bar Astana Pir p.45)
And those who say the Kalima and claim that the Prophet ﷺ is a light from the light of Allah are denying the verses of the Holy Quran in which the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned as a servant of Allah, a human being, and there is mention of his family and offspring (detailed discussion will come in the debate on light and human). Besides this, they are openly denying the following verses of the Quran, which state that there is none like Allah (neither in essence, nor in attributes, nor in powers, nor in rights):
[لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ] There is nothing like unto Allah.
Reference: (Ash-Shura:11)
They made the servants of Allah a part of Allah; indeed such a person has become a disbeliever:
[وَ جَعَلُوۡا لَہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ جُزۡءًا ؕ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَکَفُوۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ]
These people made the servants of Allah a part (portion) of Allah; indeed the person has openly become a disbeliever.
Reference: (Az-Zukhruf:15)
The delegation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had a debate with 60 Christians from Najran. They said: If Jesus (peace be upon him) is not the son of Allah, then tell us who his father is. And all of them started speaking. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Do you not know that a son necessarily resembles his father? They admitted this, then he said: Do you not know that our Lord is the Ever-Living, the One who does not die, and death will come to Jesus (peace be upon him)? They also admitted this. Then he said: Do you not know that our Lord is the true disposer and protector of His servants and the provider? They said: Yes! The Prophet ﷺ said: Jesus (peace be upon him) is also like this? They said: No. He said: Do you not know that nothing in the heavens and the earth is hidden from Allah? They admitted this. The Prophet ﷺ said: So does Jesus (peace be upon him) know anything of this without divine knowledge? They said: No. The Prophet ﷺ said: Do you not know that Jesus (peace be upon him) was in the womb, was born like other born beings, was fed like children, ate and drank, and had human ailments? They admitted this. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then how can he be Allah, as you imagine? They all remained silent and could not respond. Then the first 80 or so verses of Surah Al-Imran were revealed.
Reference: (Tafsir Naeemuddin Muradabadi, Al-Imran:3/2, Benefit 2)
Among the Divine attributes, Hayy means eternal, that is, one who possesses such perpetuity that death is impossible. Qayyum is the One who is self-subsisting and manages the affairs of creation in their worldly and hereafter needs:
[وَ جَعَلُوۡا لَہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ جُزۡءًا ؕ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَکَفُوۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ]
Ahmad Raza Sahib translates this verse as:
And He has taken a portion of His servants. (
Reference: F16
) Indeed (
Reference: F17
) man is openly ungrateful. (
Reference: F18
)In the Tafsir it is written (
Reference: F16
) The wrongdoers have assigned a portion to Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, what a great crime this is. (
Reference: F17
) Those who believe in such things. (
Reference: F18
) Their disbelief is evident.
Reference: (Az-Zukhruf:15)
You have observed above Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib’s translation and Naeem Murad Abadi’s Tafsir; the things which, according to Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib, the Quran is refuting—do not some who profess the Kalima hold these same beliefs about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
In the Holy Quran, many places refute “Shirk in the Essence”.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:117,116), (At-Tawbah:31,30), (Bani Isra'il:11)
At these places, Shirk in the Essence is declared as Shirk and disbelief, and it is stated that those who considered others as part of Allah's essence used to eat food and had other human needs.
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah:72 to 77), (Maryam:16 to 36)
Wherever the words darkness and light appear in the Holy Quran, they mean disbelief and faith respectively. For example,
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:17, 18, 20, 257), (Al-Ma'idah:15, 16, 44, 46), (Fatir:19 to 23), (Az-Zumar:22-59)
And in Surah Al-An'am, the meanings of darkness and light, night and day have been mentioned. No Muslim denies the radiance of the Prophethood's sun, nor the humanity of the Prophet ﷺ. The Quran, Hadith, other heavenly books, and Islam have also been called light. The Quran is called
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah:15)
, the Torah is called
Reference: (Al-An'am:91)
, Islam is called
Reference: (An-Nur:35)
, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is called
Reference: (Al-Ahzab:46)
Siraj Munir (a shining lamp). Both the Quran and Hadith are divine revelation, one is clear revelation, the other is hidden revelation, and both are light because revelation is also light. The Prophet ﷺ said: [أوتيت القرآن و مثله معه] "I have been given the Quran and something like it along with it."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad:4/131, Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Sunnah, Bab on Adherence to the Sunnah:4604
The noble character of the Prophet ﷺ was the very embodiment of the Quran. As Lady Aisha said: [ كان خلقه القرآن ] "The character of the Prophet ﷺ was the Quran."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Jami' Salat al-Layl... etc.:746, Musnad Ahmad:6/163,216, Nasai, Kitab Qiyam al-Layl, Bab Qiyam al-Layl:1602
Therefore, the character of the Prophet ﷺ is also light. Hadith is the name of the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ, and it is also light. Thus, the Prophet ﷺ is a shining lamp and light in terms of the light of prophethood and the light of guidance. This is the concept and belief of the Muslims regarding the illumination of the Master of mankind ﷺ, and the expression of this belief is proven from the Quran, Hadith, and all the Companions. And the people who present the Quranic verse, the meaning of this matter becomes even clearer from this verse, and the words "light upon light from Allah" are not there:
[قَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ نُوۡرٌ وَّ کِتٰبٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ]،[یَّہۡدِیۡ بِہِ اللّٰہُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَانَہٗ سُبُلَ السَّلٰمِ وَ یُخۡرِجُہُمۡ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَی النُّوۡرِ بِاِذۡنِہٖ وَ یَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ اِلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ] [المائدۃ:16،15]
Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (
Reference: F58
) and a clear Book (F59). Allah guides by it those who follow His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out of darkness into the light by His permission and guides them to a straight path.
Reference: (Translation by Ahmad Raza)
(
Reference: F58
) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is called light because through him the darkness of disbelief was removed and the path of truth became clear. (
Reference: F59
) Refers to the Holy Quran.
Reference: (Tafsir by Naeem Murad Abadi)
You have observed Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib's translation and Tafseer Muradabadi, but in reality, both Noor and Kitab Mubeen refer to the Holy Quran. The "waw" (and) between them is a conjunctive explanatory particle, the clear evidence of which is the next verse of the Quran, in which it is said, __ARABIC_N__
[یَّہۡدِیۡ بِہِ اللّٰہُ] that through it Allah Almighty guides. If light and the book were two separate things, then the words [يَهْدِى بِهِمَاالله] would have been used, meaning Allah Almighty guides through both. From this text of the Holy Quran, it becomes clear that both light and the clear book refer to the same thing, that is, the Holy Quran. It is not that by light the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is meant and by the book the Holy Quran, as the innovators claim, who have fabricated the belief that the Prophet ﷺ is the light from the light of Allah and deny his humanity. Similarly, to prove this fabricated belief, they also narrate a hadith that Allah first created the light of the Prophet ﷺ and then from that light created the entire universe, although this hadith is not found in any authentic collection. Moreover, this is also against the authentic hadith in which the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
[إن أول ما خلق الله القلم] The first thing Allah Almighty created was the Pen:
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Destiny, Chapter on the Greatness of Faith in Destiny: 2155], [Abu Dawood, Book of Sunnah, Chapter on Destiny: 4700
And regarding this hadith, Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
(فالحديث حديث صحيح بلا ريب، و هو من الأدلة الظاهرة على بطلان الحديث المشهور،،أول ما خلق الله نور نبيك ياجابر!) This hadith is authentic and it invalidates the famous hadith of Jabir that Allah Almighty first created the light of your Prophet ﷺ.
Reference: Taa'leeqaat lil Albani 'ala al-Mishkah:34/1
The issue is essentially not about the humanity or luminosity of the Prophet ﷺ; the real issue is whether your creation ﷺ was from clay or from light? It is proven by evidence that your creation was from clay like ordinary humans. It is established from the Quran and Hadith that Adam (peace be upon him) was a human
Reference: (Surah Sad:71)
and Adam (peace be upon him) was created from clay.
Reference: (Al-Hijr: 26), (Ar-Rahman:14)
Then from water, i.e., sperm, the human race descended, and all humans are the offspring of Adam (peace be upon him), that is, humans:[وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ اِذَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بَشَرٌ تَنۡتَشِرُوۡنَ]
And among His signs is this, that He created you from dust; then, behold, you are human beings spreading [throughout the earth].
Reference: (Ar-Rum: 20)
[ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَۃٍ وَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَہَا لِیَسۡکُنَ اِلَیۡہَا]
It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate, that he might dwell in security with her.
Reference: (Al-A'raf: 189)
And in this matter, the prophets are also included, thus it is proven that all the noble prophets, peace be upon them, were also human:
[یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ اِمَّا یَاۡتِیَنَّکُمۡ رُسُلٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ یَقُصُّوۡنَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اٰیٰتِیۡ ۙ فَمَنِ اتَّقٰی وَ اَصۡلَحَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یَحۡزَنُوۡنَ]
O children of Adam! If there come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My verses, then whoever fears Allah and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:35)
For further references, see
Reference: (Aal Imran:79), (Az-Zumar:71)
because all the noble prophets, peace be upon them, were descendants, brothers, and forefathers of one another and were from among humans, moreover, they were men.The divine command is:
[وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا وَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡ ذُرِّیَّتِہِمَا النُّبُوَّۃَ وَ الۡکِتٰبَ فَمِنۡہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدٍ ۚ وَ کَثِیۡرٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ]
And We made Noah and Abraham messengers, and We bestowed upon their descendants prophethood and the Scripture; among them were those who guided themselves, and most of them were defiantly disobedient.
Reference: (Al-Hadid:26)
And after Abraham, all the prophets are his descendants:
[وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡ ذُرِّیَّتِہِ النُّبُوَّۃَ وَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ اَجۡرَہٗ فِی الدُّنۡیَا ۚ وَ اِنَّہٗ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ لَمِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ]
And We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and We placed among his descendants prophethood and the Scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is among the righteous in the Hereafter. (Al-Ankabut:27)
It is a strange coincidence that the first nations (who denied) told the Prophets (peace be upon them) that you are human, we do not accept you as prophets, and the deniers of this era say that we do not consider the Prophet human, while the Quran says that all the Prophets (peace be upon them) were human and were prophets. Those who said that humans cannot be prophets also denied revelation, and now those who say that our Prophet is not human have also denied countless verses of the Quran, which is a very dangerous matter and an act of great audacity and boldness. These people do not remember the Day of Judgment.
The earlier deniers said you are human, not a prophet, even though he was both a prophet and human.
Reference: (Ash-Shu'ara 154 to 186)
And the Prophets said that we are human:[قَالُوۡۤا اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُنَا ؕ تُرِیۡدُوۡنَ اَنۡ تَصُدُّوۡنَا عَمَّا کَانَ یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُنَا فَاۡتُوۡنَا بِسُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ]،[قَالَتۡ لَہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ اِنۡ نَّحۡنُ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَمُنُّ عَلٰی مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ لَنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّاۡتِیَکُمۡ بِسُلۡطٰنٍ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَلۡیَتَوَکَّلِ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ]
[They said: You are just like us, you want to prevent us from worshipping what our forefathers worshipped, so bring a clear miracle.] [Their messengers said: Surely, we are only men like you, but Allah bestows His favor on whom He wills among His servants, and it is not for us to bring you any miracle except by Allah’s permission, and the believers should put their trust only in Allah.]
Reference: (Ibrahim: 10, 11)
[ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّیۡ ہَلۡ کُنۡتُ اِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُوۡلًا]،[وَ مَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ اَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡۤا اِذۡ جَآءَہُمُ الۡہُدٰۤی اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ قَالُوۡۤا اَبَعَثَ اللّٰہُ بَشَرًا رَّسُوۡلًا]،[قُلۡ لَّوۡ کَانَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مَلٰٓئِکَۃٌ یَّمۡشُوۡنَ مُطۡمَئِنِّیۡنَ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ مَلَکًا رَّسُوۡلًا]
Say! Pure is my Lord, who sent man (
Reference: F196
) and what prevented people from believing when guidance came to them except that they said, "Has Allah sent a man as a messenger?" (
Reference: F197
). Say! If there were angels on earth (
Reference: F198
), We would have sent down to them a messenger from among the angels (
Reference: F199
).
Reference: (Bani Israel: 93 to 95)
(
Reference: F199
) Because he would be of their kind, but when men dwell on earth, it is very unreasonable to ask for a messenger from among the angels.
Reference: (Translation by Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib, Tafsir by Muradabadi)
The Quran repeatedly states that the prophets were from among their own people and were their brothers.
Reference: (Ash-Shu'ara: 106,124,142,161), (Al-Ahqaf: 21)
Here, the word "brother" is used everywhere.
Reference: (Hud: 25,27,28,30,36,38,50,61,63)
All these references are about the people, meaning the noble prophets (peace be upon them) were from among their own people:[وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖۤ ۫ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ]
And We sent Noah (peace be upon him) to his people, surely I am to you a clear warner.
Reference: (Hud: 25)
[وَ مَا جَعَلۡنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ الۡخُلۡدَ ؕ اَفَا۠ئِنۡ مِّتَّ فَہُمُ الۡخٰلِدُوۡنَ]
And We did not grant to any man before you eternity; so if you die, will they live forever?
Reference: (Al-Anbiya:34)
Further reference
Reference: (Bani Isra'il:93 to 95)
whose translation has already been given above.You ﷺ are a servant, a descendant of Adam. The family of the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned in the Quran:
[اَلنَّبِیُّ اَوۡلٰی بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ مِنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجُہٗۤ اُمَّہٰتُہُمۡ]
The Prophet (ﷺ) has a greater right over the believers than themselves, and his wives are their mothers.
Reference: (Al-Ahzab:6)
For more references see
Reference: (Al-Ahzab:28 to 59,33)
① You ﷺ were from among the people of Mecca:
[لَقَدۡ مَنَّ اللّٰہُ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ اِذۡ بَعَثَ فِیۡہِمۡ رَسُوۡلًا مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ یَتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتِہٖ]
Allah has conferred a favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses.
Reference: (Aal Imran:164)
For more references see
Reference: (At-Tawbah:128)
② You ﷺ were a man, and all prophets were men. They had wives and children, they ate food, and all faced death.
Reference: (Yunus:2), (Al-A'raf:69,63), (Yusuf:109), (Al-Anbiya:34) and (Al-Furqan:20,7), (Al-Anbiya:8,7)
In Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and Mishkat al-Masabih, there is detailed mention of the parents of the Prophet ﷺ, the birth of the Prophet ﷺ, the eating and drinking of the Prophet ﷺ, the sleeping of the Prophet ﷺ, the relieving of needs of the Prophet ﷺ, the wives and children of the Prophet ﷺ, the illness and death of the Prophet ﷺ, the resting of the Prophet ﷺ due to fatigue, and other human necessities. And
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Virtues of the Ansar, Chapter on the Mission of the Prophet ﷺ, under, Hadith: 3850
contains the names of the left descendants of the family of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and here we want to cite a hadith from Bukhari. Holding the hand of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Abbas رضي الله عنه said: By Allah! It seems to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will pass away in this illness, because I recognize the faces of those who died from the sons of Abdul Muttalib.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Military Expeditions, Chapter on the Illness and Death of the Prophet ﷺ: 4447
And it is the law of Allah that only human beings are born from human beings.
Reference: (Aal Imran:47)
And from humans, no luminous (in terms of creation) being is born.
Reference: (Al-Furqan:54)
He is: and He is the same Being who created man from water (sperm) and then determined his relatives and in-laws, and your Lord is the All-Powerful. This Quranic interpretation of man applies truthfully to the best of mankind ﷺ. Those who say that you ﷺ are light from the light of Allah refer to a verse of the Quran and a narration by the author Abdul Razzaq. In this regard, it should be noted that the mentioned verse of the Quran does not contain the words "light from the light of Allah"; at most, you can prove that you ﷺ are light in terms of attribute, which no Muslim denies. The chain of narration of the Abdul Razzaq narration is required to determine whether it is authentic or not, because no hadith can be accepted without a chain of narration.
As is in
Reference: the introduction of Sahih Muslim.[Chapter on Clarifying that the Chain of Narration is part of the Religion... etc.: 26-32
What would be the reconciliation between this narration and other evidences from the Quran and hadith, which prove that the Prophet ﷺ was created from clay and man?
Some of these arguments we have also mentioned. (A forged manuscript of the author Abdul Razzaq, titled Al-Juz' Al-Mafqood, has been presented by the Barelvi group, in which the chain of narration of the Noor (Light) tradition is given. Its complete investigation, the story of the forged part, and the scholars of Rabani can be seen in the book published by Maktaba Islamia.)
If the Prophet ﷺ was created from the Light of Allah, then how could sleep, death, and other things that are contrary to the essence of Allah occur to him ﷺ? The Prophet ﷺ should have been free from eating, drinking, and marriage like Allah Almighty. It is understood that the Prophet ﷺ was not created from the Light of Allah, otherwise the attributes of Allah Almighty would have been present in the Prophet ﷺ.
In the introduction of the famous Hanafi fiqh book Hidayah, the classification of hadith books has been made. In the first category are Bukhari, Muslim, and Muwatta Imam Malik. In the second category are Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, and Abu Dawood, etc. In the third category are Musnad Shafi'i, Musannaf Abdul Razzaq, etc., and it is written that the hadiths in these books are not reliable without criticism.
Reference: (Introduction of Hidayah:1/114)
Thus, the mentioned book is of the third category. Allah Almighty is manifest above the heavens on the great Throne.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:54), (Yunus:3)
The Dual Attitude of Barelvi People:
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse:9)
According to the benefit (
Reference: 13
), Naeem Murad Abadi writes the second issue: From this, it is understood that calling someone a human implies a denial of their virtues and perfections. Therefore, in the Holy Quran, those who call the Prophets human are declared disbelievers, and in reality, such a word is far from respect for the status of the Prophets and is the practice of disbelievers.And under the benefit (
Reference: 55
) of (
Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 30
) it is written: That is, My wisdoms are not apparent to you. The point is that among humans there will be Prophets, Awliya (saints), scholars, and those who possess both scholarly and practical virtues. (That is, here Allama Muradabadi has referred to all Prophets as humans himself)Under the benefit (
Reference: 2
) of (
Reference: Surah Aal-e-Imran, verse 2
) it is written:The Prophet ﷺ said: Do you not know that Hazrat Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام was in the womb, was born like others, was fed like children, ate and drank, had human ailments, and he acknowledged this. (That is, here Allama Muradabadi himself referred to Isa عليه السلام as a human)
Under the benefit (
Reference: 67
) of (
Reference: Surah Aal-e-Imran, verses 32 to 35
) it is written that Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), and Imran were from the same lineage.In
Reference: Aal-e-Imran:79
, Allah Almighty called all Prophets humans, and in
Reference: Ash-Shura:52,51
, Allah Almighty called all Prophets humans and also called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a human.
Reference: (Bani Israel: 93 to 95)
Allah Almighty referred to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a human being and made him proclaim, "Say, I am a human being." Ahmad Raza translated it as: "Say! If there were angels on earth walking peacefully, We would have sent down a messenger from among them who is an angel." Here, Muradabadi Sahib writes under (
Reference: Faida:199
): Because he would be of their kind, but when humans dwell on earth, it is very inappropriate to ask for a messenger from among the angels. That is, here Muradabadi Sahib called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a human being.Under (
Reference: Bani Israel, verse: 87
) in Faida (
Reference: 190
) he writes: He revealed the Quran upon you ﷺ and preserved it, and made you the leader of all mankind and the Seal of the Prophets and granted you the Praiseworthy Station: that is, here Muradabadi Sahib himself called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the leader of mankind.Under (
Reference: Verse 70 of Bani Israel
), in Faida (
Reference: 158
) it is written: The special humans, i.e., the Prophets (peace be upon them), are superior to the special angels. That is, here Muradabadi Sahib himself referred to the noble Prophets as humans. (For further references, see
Reference: (Faida: 3, 2 under An-Nisa:1)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 264, 53 under Al-A'raf:35,143)
. See the translation of
Reference: (Az-Zumar:71)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 82 to 98 under Maryam:49 to 58)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 66 under Al-Ankabut:27)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 307 under At-Tawbah:128)
. See
Reference: (An-Nahl:43, Faida: 90, 89)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 67, 66 under Al-Anbiya:34)
. See
Reference: (Faida: 12 under Ha Mim As-Sajdah:6)
. See
Reference: (Az-Zukhruf:15), (Ibrahim:11,10)
and
Reference: (Ar-Rahman:3)
.After reviewing the above-mentioned places along with Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib’s translation and Muradabadi Sahib’s tafsir, it is absolutely clear that he has repeatedly referred to the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) and our beloved Prophet ﷺ as human, man, and insan in the Quran. At the beginning of this chapter, Muradabadi Sahib issued a fatwa of disbelief against those who called the noble Prophets human. On whom exactly does that fatwa apply? Is there a need to think about it?
Please refer to Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib’s Quranic translation and tafsir and further references of Muradabadi.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is called a human, a man in
Reference: (An-Nahl:43, verses: 89, 90)
, and it is written in
Reference: (An-Nisa:1, verse: 3)
that Adam عليه السلام is the father of mankind. He was created from clay without a mother or father, and all humans, including Sayyid al-‘Alam ﷺ and Sayyiduna Ya‘qub عليه السلام, are descendants of Sayyiduna Adam عليه السلام. In
Reference: (Al-A‘raf:35, verse: 53)
, it is written that all the messengers are from the descendants of Adam عليه السلام, and the special Sayyid al-‘Alam, the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ, is from the descendants of Adam. In
Reference: (Al-Anbiya:34, verse: 66)
, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is called a man, and his death is mentioned. In
Reference: (Al-Hajj:75, verse: 193)
, you find that the Messenger ﷺ, Sayyiduna Ibrahim عليه السلام, Sayyiduna Musa عليه السلام, and Sayyiduna ‘Isa عليه السلام are called humans and men. In
Reference: (Ha Mim As-Sajda:6, verse: 12)
, the Messenger ﷺ is acknowledged as a human, and in
Reference: (Yunus:2, verses: 2, 3)
, the Messenger ﷺ is called a human. In
Reference: (Hud:1, verse: 1)
, the old age of the Messenger ﷺ is mentioned. In
Reference: (An-Nur:45, verses: 104, 106)
, it is written that Allah Almighty created all kinds of living beings from the element of water, and water is the origin of all of them. Humans and birds walk on two feet. In
Reference: (Al-Mu’minun:12 to 16, verses: 9 to 14)
, it is written that man, i.e., Adam عليه السلام, was created from clay, then the human lineage continued from a drop of water, and he was passed through various stages in the mother's womb, then he was born, and after completing his lifespan, he died, and then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be raised (this applies to every human being, including the noble prophets عليه السلام).And in
Reference: (An-Najm:6, p:8)
and
Reference: (Ar-Rahman:3, p:3)
and
Reference: (Al-‘Alaq:2 to 5, p:6)
everywhere, you ﷺ are written as a human, and in
Reference: (Saba:46, p:124)
it is written that you ﷺ are one person from Quraysh and from mankind, and it is written that you ﷺ are descendants of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Ismail (peace be upon him). See their tafsir
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:1,90,129,130,133,150)
and
Reference: (Fawaid:154,234,238,242,273)
and the shadow of you ﷺ is written.
Reference: (An-Nur:11, p:15)
and the chamber of you ﷺ is written
Reference: (Al-Anfal:30, p:51)
and the mention of your ﷺ relieving yourself
Reference: (An-Nisa:102, p:283)
and your ﷺ marriage, wives, sons and daughters, your ﷺ father, mother, grandfather and children and your ﷺ age and death and eating food and clothing and your ﷺ relatives and your ﷺ birth and resting under the shade of a berry tree is mentioned, and you ﷺ are called a servant of Allah and a creation. See Ahmad Raza Khan’s Quranic translation with tafsir
Reference: (Ar-Ra’d:37, p:105) (Al-Ahzab:28, p:73,40, p:103,33, p:85), (Al-Ahqaf:15, p:39), (Ad-Duha:6, p:7), (At-Tariq:1, p:2), (Al-Ahqaf:20, p:56), (Al-Mumtahina:7, p:20), (Al-Fil:5, p:5), (Bani Isra’il:1, p:5), (Ash-Shu’ara:227, p:195), (Ham-Sajda:6, p:11)
and it is written that the servant of Allah and creation cannot be a deity. Like Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him
Reference: (Maryam:38 p:59)
and it is written, "Ilah," meaning there is only one deity.
Reference: (Ham-Sajda:6, p:11)
It is remembered that according to the Quran and Hadith, the Prophets, peace be upon them, are superior to all creation, but they were human beings, men. Here, mentioning a supplication of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which he used to make at the time of the morning prayer, is not out of place:
[اللهم اجعل في قلبي نورا ، وفي بصري نورا ، وفي سمعي نورا ، وعن يميني نورا ، وعن يساري نورا ، وفوقي نورا ، وتحتي نورا ، وأمامي نورا ، وخلفي نورا ، واجعل لي نورا]
O Allah! Make light in my heart, and make light in my eyes, and make light in my ears, and make light on my right and left, and make light in front of me and behind me, and grant me light.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Supplications, Chapter: Supplication when waking up at night:6316], [Muslim, Book of Traveler's Prayer, Chapter: The Prophet’s Prayer and Supplication at Night:763
What would those who consider the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as the Light of the Light of Allah say about the above supplication which you ﷺ used to make at every morning prayer? If you were the Light of the Light of Allah, then there would be no need to make this supplication.
Further evidence of the Prophets, peace be upon them, being human beings:
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:177, verse:312)
states that the Prophets were men.
Reference: (An-Nisa:1, verse:3)
states that all Prophets were human beings and men.
Reference: (Yusuf:109, p:236,235)
states that all prophets were human.
Reference: (Al-Hajj:75, p:193)
states that prophets are human beings.
Reference: (Al-Mu’minun:24, p:33)
states that not accepting a human as a messenger is the height of foolishness.
Reference: (At-Taghabun:6, p:11)
states that they denied the humanity of the messenger, which is the height of irrationality and ignorance. Please refer to further references.
Reference: (Bani Isra’il:94, p:197)
Those who did not accept the messenger as human were extremely irrational and ignorant. But those who today do not accept the noble prophets, peace be upon them, as human—does this not also show their extreme irrationality and ignorance? Because they too denied revelation, and this is also because the Quran repeatedly calls the noble prophets, peace be upon them, human.
In the Quran, every prophet is called the brother of his people.
Reference: (Al-A’raf:65,73,85), (Hud:50,61,84)
which means a member of the same people and tribe, sometimes also described as (رسولا منهم) or (من أنفسهم) or (منکم).
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:151,129), (Aal Imran:164), (Al-A’raf:35), (Az-Zumar:71 p:4)
It is also said that such and such is the nation of a particular prophet.And the meaning of all this is that a Messenger and Prophet is also a human being from among humans, whom Allah Almighty selects for the guidance of people and reveals His book and commandments to him through revelation, and thus he becomes superior to all ordinary humans as a Messenger and Prophet.
In this chapter, it is stated that first, Naeem Muradabadi said in his Tafsir that those who called the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) "bashara" (humans) in the Holy Quran were declared disbelievers.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:13 Issue)
After that, taking a twofold approach, he wrote in his Tafsir that the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) were called "bashara," "insan," and "mard" (human and man) at various places, which we have discussed in great detail, and then taking a threefold approach, he wrote that they always considered the Messengers as mere humans and did not acknowledge their position of prophethood and the perfections granted by Allah Almighty; this was the essence of their disbelief. That is, Muradabadi Sahib wrote the main point here.
Reference: (Bani Isra'il:94, p.197)
Reference: (Surah Yusuf, verse: 31)
states: When those women saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands, and it slipped from their tongues, "Masha Allah, this is certainly not a human; this is surely a noble angel."From this, it is understood that due to the extraordinary qualities and distinctions of the Prophets (peace be upon them), people of every era who are unfamiliar with prophethood and its status have considered them as luminous beings rather than humans.
Reference: (Surah Hijr, verse: 33)
states: He said, "I am not one to prostrate to a human whom You created from black, foul-smelling clay." Satan explained the reason for his refusal as Adam being made of dust and human. This means that considering humans and mankind as insignificant and inferior because of their humanity is the philosophy of Satan, which cannot be the belief of the people of truth. That is why the people of truth do not deny the humanity of the noble Prophets (peace be upon them), because the Quran itself has clearly explained their humanity.Considering any angel, prophet, or any other creature as the son or daughter of Allah Almighty, or as a part of Allah, or as light from Allah's light is shirk (associating partners with Allah), whereas Allah Himself is the Creator of light.
Reference: (Al-An'am:1)
Holding the belief that Allah Almighty is one among three, or three among one, is shirk.- Believing that the blessed essence of Allah Almighty is present in everything in the universe is called Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existence), and having faith in this is shirk.
- The belief that a servant merges into the essence of Allah is called Wahdat ash-Shuhud (Unity of Witnessing), and having faith in this is shirk.
- The belief that Allah Almighty merges into the essence of a servant is called Hulool (Incarnation), and having faith in this is shirk.
Tawheed Fi Dhāt (Oneness in Essence) is:
That Allah Almighty is above all the heavens, manifest on the great Throne, and He is the Creator, and everything else besides Him is created. There is none like Allah Almighty, but regarding the Messenger of Allah ﷺ it is said: Say, "I am only a man like you."
Reference: (Al-Kahf:110)
I have human needs like you: birth, death, eating, drinking, sleep, forgetfulness, fatigue, marriage, children, etc. This is the reality of your ﷺ person, but at the same time it is established that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is superior to all creation; this is your status. Remember that on the Day of Judgment, the Jews and Christians will be thrown into Hell without reckoning due to their polytheism in the Divine Essence.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on Affirming the Vision of the Believers...etc:183
And consider for yourself what will be the end of such people from the Ummah of Muhammad?
