The Excellence and Unique Virtues of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ

Source: Sermons of Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid, compiled by Tawḥīd.com

The Countless Blessings of Allah upon Humanity​

Allah, the Lord of Might and Majesty, has bestowed innumerable favors and countless blessings upon mankind—so many that no servant can ever fully express gratitude for them. Among these great blessings, one of the greatest is that Allah Almighty has included us in the Ummah of the Final Prophet, Muḥammad ﷺ.

This Ummah is the most virtuous, the most balanced, and the best of all nations.

In the following article, the virtue and superiority of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ are explained in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is made clear which special distinctions and honors Allah has granted this Ummah in both this world and the Hereafter. The religious status, legislative distinctions, and exalted rank of the Ummah are explained in detail.

The Virtue of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ in the Light of the Qur’an​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا ﴾

Reference: Al-Baqarah: 143

Translation:
“And thus We have made you a moderate and best Ummah.”

This verse is a clear proof that Allah Almighty has granted the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ the qualities of moderation, justice, and superiority.

Allah Almighty also says:

﴿ كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّٰهِ ﴾

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 110

Translation:
“You are the best Ummah brought forth for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.”

In this verse, the fundamental reason for the Ummah’s excellence is stated clearly: enjoining good, forbidding evil, and complete faith in Allah.

The Virtue of the Ummah in the Prophetic Sunnah​

Explaining this verse, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( أَنْتُمْ تُتِمُّونَ سَبْعِينَ أُمَّةً، أَنْتُمْ خَيْرُهَا وَأَكْرَمُهَا عَلَى اللّٰهِ ))

Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 3001

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 4288

Translation:
“You complete seventy nations, and you are the best of them and the most honorable of them before Allah.”

Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه explained this verse by saying:

(( خَيْرُ النَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ، تَأْتُونَ بِهِمْ فِي السَّلَاسِلِ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ حَتَّى يَدْخُلُوا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4557

Translation:
“You are the best people for mankind: you bring them with chains around their necks until they enter Islam.”

Meaning: when they accept Islam, the shackles of humiliation and slavery fall away on their own.

Special Virtues Granted to the Prophet ﷺ​

ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( أُعْطِيتُ مَا لَمْ يُعْطَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ))

“I have been given what was not given to any other Prophet.”

The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! What are they?

He ﷺ said:

(( نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ، وَأُعْطِيتُ مَفَاتِيحَ الْأَرْضِ، وَسُمِّيتُ أَحْمَدَ، وَجُعِلَ التُّرَابُ لِي طَهُورًا، وَجُعِلَتْ أُمَّتِي خَيْرَ الْأُمَمِ ))

Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 763, 1361

Translation:
“I was aided with awe, I was given the keys of the earth, I was named Aḥmad, the earth was made a means of purification for me, and my Ummah was made the best of all nations.”

These evidences clearly establish that the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ is superior to all previous nations.

The True Basis of Superiority: Islam​

It must be understood that the superiority of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ is not based on lineage or ethnicity, but solely on its religion. This Ummah believes in Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the Noble Qur’an—while others rejected this blessing.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿ وَلِلّٰهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴾

Reference: Al-Munāfiqūn: 8

Translation:
“All honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers.”

ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه said:

(( إِنَّا كُنَّا أَذَلَّ قَوْمٍ فَأَعَزَّنَا اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا الدِّينِ، فَمَهْمَا نَبْتَغِ الْعِزَّةَ فِي غَيْرِهِ أَذَلَّنَا اللّٰهُ ))

Translation:
“We were the most humiliated people, and Allah honored us through this religion. Whenever we seek honor in anything else, Allah will humiliate us.”

The False Claim of the Jews and Christians and Its Refutation​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿ وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللّٰهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ ﴾

Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 18

Translation:
“The Jews and Christians say: ‘We are the sons of Allah and His beloved.’ Say: Then why does He punish you for your sins? Rather, you are human beings among those He created…”

Because they rejected Islam, the Jews were declared “those who incurred anger” and the Christians “the misguided”, and thus were deprived of this great virtue.

Distinctive Characteristics of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ​

① Completion of the Religion​

﴿ اَلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ ﴾

Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 3

Translation:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you.”

② Ease in Religion​

﴿ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ﴾

Reference: Al-Ḥajj: 78

﴿ يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ﴾

Reference: Al-Baqarah: 185

③ Removal of Burdens from Previous Nations​

﴿ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ ﴾

Reference: Al-Aʿrāf: 157

④ Special Five Gifts to the Prophet ﷺ​

(( أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي… ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 438

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 521

⑤ Forgiveness of Mistakes, Forgetfulness, and Compulsion​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5269

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2043

⑥ The Ummah Will Never Be Completely Destroyed​

Reference: Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 1638

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2890

⑦ The Ummah Will Never Unite upon Misguidance​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 1786

⑧ A Group Will Always Remain upon the Truth​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1920

⑨ The Ummah of Mercy​

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4278

Virtues of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ in the Hereafter​

⑩ Rows Like the Angels​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 522

⑪ Greater Reward for Less Deeds​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3459

⑫ Guidance to Friday​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3486

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 855

⑬ First in Judgment on the Day of Resurrection​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 856

⑭ Shining Limbs Due to Wuḍūʾ​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 249

⑮ First to Be Reckoned​

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 4290

⑯ Witnesses over the Nations​

Reference: Al-Baqarah: 143

⑰ First to Cross the Ṣirāṭ​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7437

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 182

⑱ Majority of the People of Paradise​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6528

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 221

⑲ Seventy Thousand Without Reckoning​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3410

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 220

Conclusion​

These immense favors upon the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ demand that we hold firmly to Islam, follow the Qur’an and Sunnah, and reform our actions.

May Allah make us true representatives of this Ummah, keep us steadfast upon the religion, and include us among those who enter Paradise without reckoning.
Āmīn Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.