Written by: Maulana Abul Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
I have heard some people say that what Allah has decreed can be undone by Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), but what Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has decreed cannot be undone by anyone. I want to ask, is the will of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) superior to the will of Allah?
Answer:
This belief is incorrect.
❀ It is mentioned in a Hadith:
"Narrated by Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما): A man said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), 'Whatever Allah wills and you will.' The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, 'Have you made me an equal to Allah? Rather, say what Allah alone wills.'"
This narration is considered Hasan (good) due to the chain involving Ajalh Abdullah.
❀ This Hadith is also narrated in another form where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"If one of you swears an oath, do not say, 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' but rather say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what you will.'"
This Hadith is found in Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 136, 139, and Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Expiations: Chapter on the prohibition of saying 'Whatever Allah wills and you will' (2/200, 2117).
❀ Hudhayfah bin Yaman (رضي الله عنه) narrated that a man among the Muslims had a dream where he met a person from the People of the Book. The person said, "You are a good nation if you do not commit shirk. You say, 'Whatever Allah wills and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wills.'" He mentioned this to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who said:
"By Allah, I know of this saying. Rather, say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wills.'"
This narration is found in Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 137, Musnad Ahmad (5/393), Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah by al-Nasa'i 980, and Sunan Ibn Majah 2118.
↰ The meaning of this is to not associate Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) with Allah, but to mention Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) after Allah because no one is equal to Allah, and everyone is His servant.
↰ A Hadith with a similar meaning is also narrated by Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها). [Musnad Ahmad 5/72, Darimi 2072]
❀ A woman from the tribe of Juhaina, named Qatila, narrated that a Jew came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said: "You commit shirk and associate partners with Allah. You say, 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' and you swear by the Kaaba." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) instructed them:
"When you intend to swear an oath, say, 'By the Lord of the Kaaba,' and each of you should say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what you will.'"
This narration is found in al-Nasa'i, Book of Oaths: Chapter on Oaths by the Kaaba 3804, Musnad Ahmad 6/371, and Mustadrak al-Hakim 4/297.
↰ This Hadith has been authenticated by Imam Hakim and Imam Dhahabi (رحمهما الله).
Question:
I have heard some people say that what Allah has decreed can be undone by Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), but what Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has decreed cannot be undone by anyone. I want to ask, is the will of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) superior to the will of Allah?
Answer:
This belief is incorrect.
❀ It is mentioned in a Hadith:
"Narrated by Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما): A man said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), 'Whatever Allah wills and you will.' The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, 'Have you made me an equal to Allah? Rather, say what Allah alone wills.'"
This narration is considered Hasan (good) due to the chain involving Ajalh Abdullah.
❀ This Hadith is also narrated in another form where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"If one of you swears an oath, do not say, 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' but rather say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what you will.'"
This Hadith is found in Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 136, 139, and Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Expiations: Chapter on the prohibition of saying 'Whatever Allah wills and you will' (2/200, 2117).
❀ Hudhayfah bin Yaman (رضي الله عنه) narrated that a man among the Muslims had a dream where he met a person from the People of the Book. The person said, "You are a good nation if you do not commit shirk. You say, 'Whatever Allah wills and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wills.'" He mentioned this to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who said:
"By Allah, I know of this saying. Rather, say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wills.'"
This narration is found in Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 137, Musnad Ahmad (5/393), Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah by al-Nasa'i 980, and Sunan Ibn Majah 2118.
↰ The meaning of this is to not associate Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) with Allah, but to mention Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) after Allah because no one is equal to Allah, and everyone is His servant.
↰ A Hadith with a similar meaning is also narrated by Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها). [Musnad Ahmad 5/72, Darimi 2072]
❀ A woman from the tribe of Juhaina, named Qatila, narrated that a Jew came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said: "You commit shirk and associate partners with Allah. You say, 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' and you swear by the Kaaba." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) instructed them:
"When you intend to swear an oath, say, 'By the Lord of the Kaaba,' and each of you should say, 'Whatever Allah wills, then what you will.'"
This narration is found in al-Nasa'i, Book of Oaths: Chapter on Oaths by the Kaaba 3804, Musnad Ahmad 6/371, and Mustadrak al-Hakim 4/297.
↰ This Hadith has been authenticated by Imam Hakim and Imam Dhahabi (رحمهما الله).