The Virtue of Prophets: Reconciliation Between Qur’an and Sunnah
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ما ينبغي لعبد أن يقول: أنا خير من يونس بن متى
It is not proper for a servant to say: I (Muhammad ﷺ) am better than Yūnus ibn Mattā.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4631, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2376)
In this ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ forbade saying that he is better than Yūnus عليه السلام, while in another ḥadīth he said:
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه reports:
أنا سيد ولد آدم يوم القيامة، وأول من ينشق عنه القبر، وأول شافع وأول مشفع
On the Day of Resurrection, I will be the leader of the children of Adam. I will be the first for whom the grave will be opened, the first to intercede, and the first whose intercession will be accepted.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4712, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2278)
How can these narrations be reconciled?
❖ Answer:
Without doubt, Muhammad ﷺ is superior not only to Yūnus عليه السلام but to all the great Messengers and Prophets. On the Day of Judgment, he will be the greatest intercessor, and his Ummah will also be the best among all nations.
The prohibition of claiming superiority over Yūnus عليه السلام was said out of humility and modesty, and also to prevent people from falling into exaggeration (ghulūw) or disrespect (taqṣīr). Throughout history, some people exaggerated in honoring their prophet while belittling others. To block this tendency, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not even say I am better than Yūnus عليه السلام.”
If claiming superiority over Yūnus عليه السلام —who was not among the Ulūl-ʿAzm—was forbidden, then doing so over greater Prophets would be even more inappropriate.
Thus, the intent is not denial of his superiority, but rather guidance against disrespecting or lowering the rank of other Prophets.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence
Allah Almighty says:
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۖ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ
These Messengers — We have exalted some above others. Among them are those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some in degrees.
(Al-Baqarah: 253)
So, Allah Himself affirmed that Prophets differ in rank, yet their honor remains intact without belittling one another.
❖ Scholarly Explanation
Imām ʿAbdullāh ibn Muslim ibn Qutaybah al-Dīnūrī رحمه الله (d. 276H) said:
نحن نقول: إنه ليس ههنا اختلاف ولا تناقض، وإنما أراد أنه سيد ولد آدم يوم القيامة … وأراد بقوله: لا تفضلوني على يونس ، طريق التواضع …
We say: there is no contradiction here. The Prophet ﷺ meant that he is the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgment, because on that day he will intercede, bear witness, hold the banner of praise, have the ḥawḍ (cistern), and be the first to rise from the earth. As for his statement “Do not prefer me over Yūnus”, it was said out of humility, similar to Abū Bakr’s رضي الله عنه words: “I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best of you.”
He further explained that perhaps Yūnus عليه السلام excelled in certain deeds or endured greater trials, so the Prophet ﷺ refrained from comparison in such aspects. Yet his overall superiority over all Prophets is by Allah’s divine selection and grace, not merely personal effort.
(Taʾwīl Mukhtalif al-Ḥadīth, p. 182–183; al-Masāʾil wal-Ajwibah, p. 60–61)
Conclusion:There is no contradiction between the narrations. The Prophet ﷺ is the leader and most virtuous of all Prophets, but his words regarding Yūnus عليه السلام were expressions of humility, respect, and prevention of exaggeration. Ultimately, Allah has granted Muhammad ﷺ unparalleled rank and distinction above all.
