As mentioned in the hadith, that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Angel of Death (in the form of a man) was sent to Musa عليه السلام. When he came, Musa عليه السلام (not recognizing him) struck him with a strong slap and broke his eye.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari Hadith No: 1339)
The doubt is that it is far from the dignity of any prophet to dislike death and to slap the Angel of Death without reason so that his eye would be broken.
First Point:
The mentioned incident is found in the most authentic books of hadith, namely Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, which after the Book of Allah are the most authentic and reliable books, and the entire Ummah is unanimous on this. There are many scholars, muhaddithin, and huffaz who have transmitted the consensus regarding the authenticity of the hadiths contained therein. Every group has transmitted this consensus generation after generation.
As Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله narrates from Abu Ishaq Asfara'ini:
"The scholars (Muhaddithin) agree that the hadiths present in the Sahihain are definitely proven from Allah's Messenger ﷺ." Thus, there is no room for doubt regarding the authenticity of this incident.
Second point:
As for the matter that the intellect does not accept it or the mind does not approve it, these are among the unseen matters, and it is not necessary that human intellect can comprehend them; rather, faith in them is essential. Allah Almighty has praised those who have faith in the unseen and has called them pious.
Allah Almighty says:
هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2,3)
Translation: This is guidance for the righteous who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.
Third point:
It is not that this incident is beyond reason! Because there is no such difficulty as in the incident where the Angel of Death came to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) in human form and he was unaware of this, so no one would allow a stranger to take their life. This contradicts the idea that Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) considered death detestable. And the evidence for this is in the same hadith that when the same angel returned and the reality became clear to him, he accepted it willingly.
Fourth point:
As far as Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) striking the Angel of Death and causing his eye to be damaged is concerned, he did so in self-defense as anyone would do in their defense, and since the angel was in human form, the same rules apply to him as apply to a human, so there is nothing beyond reason in this.
Fifth point:
If this hadith is against reason, then is it against reason for the Prophet to lose control in anger and grab the head and beard of his elder brother to reprimand him?! As mentioned in the Quran, Allah Almighty says:
قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأْسِي….
Reference: (Surah Taha:94)
Translation: He said, "O son of my mother! Do not seize my beard nor my head."
Or killing someone by punching. Allah Almighty says:
فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ
Reference: (Surah Qasas:15)
Translation: So Moses struck him with a fist and finished him off.
So what should be said about these instances?
The angel coming in human form and the Prophet being unaware of this and even becoming fearful of it is proven from the Quran, as mentioned about Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in the Noble Quran:
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ[24] إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُنْكَرُونَ[25] فَرَاغَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ[26] فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ[27] فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ[28]
Reference: (Surah Adh-Dhariyat:24-28)
Translation: Have you heard about the honored guests of Ibrahim? When they entered upon him, they greeted him with peace. He said, "Peace be upon you, O strangers." Then he went quietly to his family and brought a roasted, fat calf. Then he placed it near them and said, "Will you not eat?" But he felt fear in his heart because of them. They said, "Do not be afraid!" And they gave him the glad tidings of a very knowledgeable boy.
For more details, see:
Reference: Tafsir al-Qurtubi (6/132)
