Author: Maulana Abul Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
There is a debate among us: some people say that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a shadow, while others believe the opposite. Please guide us towards the correct understanding.
Answer:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a distinguished prophet and a human being chosen by Allah. Allah created him from the lineage of humanity, and it is evident from his human nature that humans have shadows.
✿ In the Quran, Allah states:
"And to Allah prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons."
(Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:15)
✿ At another place, Allah says:
"Have they not considered what things Allah has created? Their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah while they are humble."
(Surah An-Nahl 16:48)
↰ From these two verses, it is understood that all creations in the heavens and the earth have shadows, and since the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is also a creation of Allah, he too had a shadow.
There are several Hadiths concerning the shadow of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
❀ Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one night, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led us in prayer and during the prayer, he suddenly extended his hand forward and then quickly withdrew it. We asked, "O Messenger of Allah, today you did something in the prayer that you never did before." He replied, "No, but the fact is that Paradise was presented before me just now, and I saw its finest fruits. It came to my mind to take some of them, but immediately I was ordered to withdraw, so I stepped back. Then Hell was presented before me, and in its light, I saw my shadow and your shadows. Seeing this, I gestured for you all to move back."
(Mustadrak Hakim 4/456)
❀ In another Hadith, it is mentioned:
"Lady Zainab and Lady Safiya (may Allah be pleased with them) were traveling with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Safiya's camel fell ill, and Zainab had two camels. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Give one of your extra camels to Safiya.' Zainab replied, 'Why should I give it to this Jewess?' Upon hearing this, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) became upset and did not visit Zainab for approximately three months, until Zainab packed her belongings out of despair. Lady Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: 'While I was one day at noon, suddenly I saw the shadow of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approaching.'"
(Musnad Ahmad 6/132, Tabaqat al-Kubra 8/127, Majma al-Zawa'id 4/323)
↰ Logically, shadows are cast only by solid objects that obstruct sunlight. If an object is so clear and transparent that it does not block sunlight, its shadow is not visible. For example, if clear glass is exposed to sunlight, its shadow is not seen because it lacks the capacity to block the rays. In contrast, the blessed body of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was solid and not like glass through which everything would pass.
↰ Therefore, it is undeniable that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a shadow. If the blessed body had no shadow, would the clothes worn by him also cast no shadow? If those clothes were so delicate that they had no shadow, how would they protect the modesty and cover?
↰ Those who deny the shadow argue that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was made of light (Noor), and light does not cast a shadow. They also say that the absence of his shadow was a divine protection against anyone stepping on it, which would have been disrespectful. Regarding the first claim that he was Noor and that Noor does not have a shadow, this is completely incorrect. The shadow of beings made of light is confirmed by authentic Hadiths. When Sayyiduna Jabir's (may Allah be pleased with him) father Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the Battle of Uhud, his family gathered around him and began to weep. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"The angels continued to shade him with their wings until you lifted him up."
(Bukhari, Book of Funerals: Chapter on Entering Upon the Deceased After Death 1244)
↰ As for the second argument, it is also contrary to reality because a shadow cannot be underfoot. Whenever someone steps on a shadow, the shadow moves on top of the foot, not beneath it. Therefore, these ungrounded and unfounded arguments against rational and textual evidence hold no actual weight.
Question:
There is a debate among us: some people say that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a shadow, while others believe the opposite. Please guide us towards the correct understanding.
Answer:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a distinguished prophet and a human being chosen by Allah. Allah created him from the lineage of humanity, and it is evident from his human nature that humans have shadows.
✿ In the Quran, Allah states:
"And to Allah prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons."
(Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:15)
✿ At another place, Allah says:
"Have they not considered what things Allah has created? Their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah while they are humble."
(Surah An-Nahl 16:48)
↰ From these two verses, it is understood that all creations in the heavens and the earth have shadows, and since the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is also a creation of Allah, he too had a shadow.
There are several Hadiths concerning the shadow of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
❀ Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one night, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led us in prayer and during the prayer, he suddenly extended his hand forward and then quickly withdrew it. We asked, "O Messenger of Allah, today you did something in the prayer that you never did before." He replied, "No, but the fact is that Paradise was presented before me just now, and I saw its finest fruits. It came to my mind to take some of them, but immediately I was ordered to withdraw, so I stepped back. Then Hell was presented before me, and in its light, I saw my shadow and your shadows. Seeing this, I gestured for you all to move back."
(Mustadrak Hakim 4/456)
❀ In another Hadith, it is mentioned:
"Lady Zainab and Lady Safiya (may Allah be pleased with them) were traveling with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Safiya's camel fell ill, and Zainab had two camels. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Give one of your extra camels to Safiya.' Zainab replied, 'Why should I give it to this Jewess?' Upon hearing this, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) became upset and did not visit Zainab for approximately three months, until Zainab packed her belongings out of despair. Lady Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: 'While I was one day at noon, suddenly I saw the shadow of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approaching.'"
(Musnad Ahmad 6/132, Tabaqat al-Kubra 8/127, Majma al-Zawa'id 4/323)
↰ Logically, shadows are cast only by solid objects that obstruct sunlight. If an object is so clear and transparent that it does not block sunlight, its shadow is not visible. For example, if clear glass is exposed to sunlight, its shadow is not seen because it lacks the capacity to block the rays. In contrast, the blessed body of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was solid and not like glass through which everything would pass.
↰ Therefore, it is undeniable that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a shadow. If the blessed body had no shadow, would the clothes worn by him also cast no shadow? If those clothes were so delicate that they had no shadow, how would they protect the modesty and cover?
↰ Those who deny the shadow argue that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was made of light (Noor), and light does not cast a shadow. They also say that the absence of his shadow was a divine protection against anyone stepping on it, which would have been disrespectful. Regarding the first claim that he was Noor and that Noor does not have a shadow, this is completely incorrect. The shadow of beings made of light is confirmed by authentic Hadiths. When Sayyiduna Jabir's (may Allah be pleased with him) father Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the Battle of Uhud, his family gathered around him and began to weep. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"The angels continued to shade him with their wings until you lifted him up."
(Bukhari, Book of Funerals: Chapter on Entering Upon the Deceased After Death 1244)
↰ As for the second argument, it is also contrary to reality because a shadow cannot be underfoot. Whenever someone steps on a shadow, the shadow moves on top of the foot, not beneath it. Therefore, these ungrounded and unfounded arguments against rational and textual evidence hold no actual weight.