The Ruling on Leading Prayer by One Who Believes the Prophet ﷺ to Be “Light from the Light of Allah” and a Knower of the Unseen
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
❖ The Question
What is the ruling on a person who believes that the Prophet ﷺ is not a human being but “Nūrun min Nūrillāh” (light from the light of Allah), that he possesses the knowledge of the unseen, that he is called upon for help, and that he has power over benefit and harm? Is it permissible to pray behind such a person?
❖ The Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Whoever believes that the Noble Prophet ﷺ is not human but “Nūrun min Nūrillāh,” and that he has knowledge of the unseen, has indeed denied Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and is considered a disbeliever. Such a person is in enmity, not friendship, with Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, because this belief clearly contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This belief itself is tantamount to rejecting Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and such rejection is disbelief (kufr).
Qur’anic Proofs
① The Prophet ﷺ is human:
﴿قُل إِنَّما أَنا۠ بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم﴾ (Al-Kahf: 110)
“Say: I am only a human being like you.”
② Only Allah knows the unseen:
﴿قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِى السَّمـوتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ﴾ (Al-Naml: 65)
“Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah.”
③ The Prophet ﷺ himself declared he did not know the unseen:
﴿قُل لا أَقولُ لَكُم عِندى خَزائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعلَمُ الغَيبَ…﴾ (Al-An‘ām: 50)
“Say: I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I know the unseen…”
④ The Prophet ﷺ declared he had no power over benefit or harm:
﴿قُل لا أَملِكُ لِنَفسى نَفعًا وَلا ضَرًّا إِلّا ما شاءَ اللَّهُ…﴾ (Al-A‘rāf: 188)
“Say: I have no power over benefit or harm for myself except what Allah wills…”
Prophetic Proofs
① The Prophet ﷺ said:
«اِنَّمَا اَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُکُمْ اَنْسٰی كَمَا تَنْسَوْنَ…»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 401; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 572)
“I am only a human being like you. I forget as you forget. So when I forget, remind me.”
② Calling upon the Prophet ﷺ for help and believing him to have power over harm and benefit is shirk and kufr, because Allah said:
﴿وَقالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادعونى أَستَجِب لَكُم…﴾ (Ghāfir: 60)
“Your Lord has said: Call upon Me, I will respond to you…”
③ The Prophet ﷺ declared:
﴿قُل إِنّى لا أَملِكُ لَكُم ضَرًّا وَلا رَشَدًا﴾
﴿قُل إِنّى لَن يُجيرَنى مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَن أَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًا﴾ (Al-Jinn: 21-22)
“Say: I do not possess for you harm nor guidance. Say: None can protect me against Allah, nor can I find refuge besides Him.”
④ To his own family, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«لَا اُغْنِیْ عَنْکُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْئًا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2753; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 206)
“I cannot avail you against Allah in anything.”
Ruling on Prayer Behind Such a Person
- It is not permissible to pray behind one who holds these false beliefs.
- Such a person cannot be appointed as an imam.
- Praying behind him is invalid and haram for Muslims.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
