Summary:
Muslims have debated for centuries, without any reason, the essence of the Prophet Muhammad-saww, whether Rasool Allah-saww was Noor (Light), Bashar (mortal), or both. The first ones who objected to the Prophethood of Rasool Allah-saww were the polytheists of Makkah, who said why did God Send a Prophet who looks and walks like us and eats food? So, Allah-azwj Replied: ‘If I-azwj were to Send a Prophet-saww in the image of an angel, you would not be able to see him-saww (Quran – 25:7, 21:8).’ And Allah-azwj also Said: ‘There has come to you from Allah, Noor (a Light – The Prophet) and a Clarifying Book [5:15].’
In the Book, Allah-azwj has used the word Noor (Light) as a metaphor for guidance, which Allah-azwj Propagated through Prophet Muhammad-saww. To allow Muslims to emulate him-saww, Allah-azwj Sent him-saww in the outfit of a human body بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ (in the appearance of human beings). Allah-azwj has Sent two angels in the appearance of human beings, e.g., Harut and Marut (2:102), and a group of angels were sent in the outfit of human beings to Prophet Lut-as (11:70, 11:77, 11:81 and 29:32).
Hence, it is pointless to debate on the essence of an angel or a Prophet-as. By doing so, one would be questioning the Power of Allah-azwj, Who is able to Make them (angels/Prophets) to appear in the outfit of a human body. The responsibility of a believer is to respect the Guides from Allah-azwj and follow the Revealed Commands as being transmitted through them-as. Believers have been told (Holy Quran) not to ask for that which does not concern them.[1]
As an inferior form of living being (as humans are tainted with sins), we cannot comprehend the status of a Prophet-as nor his-as successor – and Prophet Muhammad-saww is the chief of Prophets-as.
Allah-azwj Commands believers to obey His-azwj Prophet-saww without any exceptions:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {7}
And whatever the Rasool gives you, so take it, and whatever he forbids you from, then refrain; and fear Allah, surely Allah is severe of the Punishment [59:7]
حدثنا عبد الله بن عامر عن ابى عبد الله البرقى عن الحسن بن عثمان عن محمد بن الفضيل عن ابى حمزة الثمالى قال قرات هذه الاية إلى ابى جعفر عليه السلام ليس لك من الامر شئ قول الله تعالى لنبيه وانا اريد ان اسئله عنها فقال أبو جعفر عليه السلام بل وشئ يشئ مرتين وكيف لا يكون له من الامر شئ فقد فوض الله إليه دينه فقال ما اتيكم الرسول فخذوه وما نهيكم عنه فانتهوا فما احل رسول الله صلى الله عليه واله فهو حلال وما حرم فهو حرام
It has been narrated to us by Abdullah Bin Aamir, from Abu Abdullah Al-Barqy, from Al-Hassan Bin Usman, from Muhammad Bin Al-Fazeyl, from Abu Hamza Al-Sumali who said:
‘I recited this Verse to Abu Ja’far-asws: There isn’t anything for you from the matter [3:128], the Words of Allah-azwj to His-azwj Prophet-saww, and I wanted that I should ask him-asws about it. Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘But, a thing is being done twice, and how can there not happen to be something for him-saww from the matter, so Allah-azwj has Delegated His-azwj (entire) Religion to him-saww, so He-azwj Said: And whatever the Rasool gives you, so take it, and whatever he forbids you from, then refrain [59:7]’. Whatever the Rasool-Allah-saww has permitted, it is Permissible, and what he-saww has prohibited, it is Prohibited.[2]
There are many Verses in the praise and higher status of Prophet-saww, see for example from many Verses: 4:28-29; 3:164; 7:157; 53:3-4; 9:128; 33:6; 33:21; 59:7; 4:80; 33:71; 36:1-4; 33:45-46; 21:107; 94:4; 93:5; 15:87; 33:56….
All Prophets-as of Allah-azwj are infallible, due to the Divine Light within them-as, which protects them from all kinds of harm (e.g., slip-ups) and assists them-as for whatever they desire, see for example:
https://hubeali.com/infallibility-of-prophets-as
Introduction:
The Polytheists of Makkah became very angry upon observing people sitting and listening to Rasool Allah-saww. Once, Rasool-Allah-saww was seated in Makkah, by the courtyard of the Kabah, when a group of the chiefs of the Quraysh gathered – from them were Al-Waleed Bin Al-Mugheira Al-Makhzoumy, and Abu Al-Bakhtary Bin Hisham, and Abu Jahl Bin Hisham, and Al-Aas Bin Wa’il Al-Sahmy, and Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya Al-Makhzoumy – and with them came a large group of their followers. And Rasool-Allah-saww was among a number of his-saww companions – reciting to them the Book of Allah-azwj, and entrusting to them, on behalf of Allah-azwj, His-azwj Commands and His-azwj Prohibitions.
The Polytheists said to each other, ‘The matter of Muhammad-saww has grown strong, and his sermons (have become) great. Come, let us censure him-saww, and reproach him-saww, and rebuke him-saww, and argue against him-saww, and invalidate whatever he-saww has come with – in order to humiliate his-saww sermons upon his-saww companions, and belittle his-saww worth in their presence. Perhaps, he-saww would be removed from what he-saww is (indulging) in, from his-saww error and his-saww falsehood, and his-saww rebellion and his-saww tyranny. So, either it ends, or else we shall work with the sharp sword’.
Abu Jahl-la said: ‘So who (will be the one to) follow his-saww speech and contest it?’ Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya Al-Makhzoumy said, ‘I am for that. Are you not pleased with me as a counterpart to reckon with, a sufficing debater?’ Abu Jahl-la said, ‘Yes’.
فَأَتَوْهُ بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ، فَابْتَدَأَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، لَقَدِ ادَّعَيْتَ دَعْوَى عَظِيمَةً، وَ قُلْتَ مَقَالًا هَائِلًا، زَعَمْتَ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَ مَا يَنْبَغِي لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ خَالِقِ الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ- أَنْ يَكُونَ مِثْلُكَ رَسُولًا لَهُ!
They came altogether, and Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya initiated, and he said, ‘O Muhammad-saww! You-saww have claimed a great claim, and you-saww said a speech which boggles (the mind). You-saww claimed that you-saww are a Rasool-saww of the Lord-azwj of the worlds, and it is not befitting for the Lord-azwj of the worlds and Creator of the entire creatures that the likes of you-saww should become a Rasool-saww for Him-azwj (an extract, Hadith to follow).[3]
So, Allah-azwj, after reproducing their objections, Replied to them as:
وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَٰذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ ۙ لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيرًا {7}
And they are saying, ‘What is the matter with this Rasool? He is eating the food and walking in the markets. If only a great Angel had been Sent down instead of him, so he would have been a warner along with him [25:7]
وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لَا يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ {8}
And We did not Make them as bodies not eating the food, and, nor were they to remain (alive) forever [21:8]
To their allegations, Allah-azwj replied (18:110):
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا {110}
Say (O My Prophet): ‘But rather, I am a Bashar in your appearance (lookalike). (But) He (Allah) Reveals unto me. But rather, your God is One God. So, the one who wishes to meet his Lord, so let him do (the) righteous deed and he should not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord’ [18:110]
In a Hadith, we find the explanation of the above Verse:
الإمام أبو محمد العسكري (عليه السلام)، عن أبيه، علي بن محمد (عليهما السلام) في حديث طويل، في مناظرة جماعة من قريش، عن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ قُلْ إِنَّما أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يَعْنِي آكُلُ الطَّعَامَ يُوحى إِلَيَّ أَنَّما إِلهُكُمْ إِلهٌ واحِدٌ يَعْنِي قُلْ لَهُمْ: أَنَا فِي الْبَشَرِيَّةِ مِثْلُكُمْ، وَ لَكِنْ رَبِّي خَصَّنِي بِالنُّبُوَّةِ دُونَكُمْ، كَمَا يَخُصُّ بَعْضَ الْبَشَرِ بِالْغَنَاءِ- وَ الصِّحَّةِ وَ الْجَمَالِ دُونَ بَعْضٍ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ، فَلَا تُنْكِرُوا أَنْ يَخُصَّنِي أَيْضاً بِالنُّبُوَّةِ.
The Imam Abu Muhammad Al-Askari-asws, from his-asws father-asws, Ali-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, in a lengthy Hadeeth, during a debate with a group from Quraysh, from Rasool-Allah-saww, having said: Then Allah-azwj the Exalted Revealed unto him-saww: ‘O Muhammad-saww! Say: But rather, I am a human being like you [18:110] – meaning, I-saww eat the food, He Reveals unto me. But rather, your God is One God – meaning say, ‘I-saww am, with regards to being a human being, am like you all, but my-saww Lord-azwj Specialised me-saww with the Prophet-hood besides you all, just as He-azwj Specialised some of the human beings with the riches, and the good health, and the beauty besides the other humans. Therefore, you should not be denying that He-azwj can Specialise me-saww with the Prophet-hood as well’’.[4]
فَإِنْ قُلْتَ إِنَّ عِيسَى خَرَجَ عَنْ طَبِيعَةِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ قُلْتُ هَذِهِ دَعْوَى بَاطِلَةٌ لِأَنَّهُ قَالَ تَعَالَى لِأَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ص قُلْ إِنَّما أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ
(Rasool Allah-saww argued with the Polytheist) If you were to say that Isa-as is outside from the appearance of the human beings, I say this claim is false, because the Exalted has Said for the noble Prophets-as: Say: ‘But rather, I am a Bashar like you. [18:110]… (and extract).[5]
NB: See the argument of Rasool Allah-saww against polytheist in Appendix I:
In another Verse, it is:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ {6}
Say: ‘But rather, I am a Bashar (person) like you. (But) He (Allah) Reveals unto me. But rather, your God is One God, therefore take a Straight Path to Him and seek His Forgiveness. And woe be unto those who associate!’ [41:6]
In Verse 41:6, Allah-azwj Commands His Prophet-saww to say to them (the polytheists) that he-saww is in the example to human beings (outfit/flesh), but receives Divine Inspirations.
Allah-azwj Calls His Prophet-saww ‘Noor’ (Light):
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ ۚ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ {15}
O People of the Book! There has come to you Our Rasool Clarifying to you a lot of what you were concealing from the Book, and excusing about a lot. There has come to you from Allah, Noor (a Light) and a Clarifying Book [5:15]
He-azwj Struck an example of Muhammad-saww as the Light of the sun
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ ۚ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ {5}
He is the (One) Who Made the sun a brightness and the moon a light, and Ordained stages in order for the number of the years to be known and the accounting. Allah did not Create that except with the Truth. He Details the Signs for a people who know [10:5]
فِي رَوْضَةِ الْكَافِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: فَضَرَبَ مَثَلَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ الشَّمْسَ وَ مَثَلَ الْوَصِيِّ الْقَمَرَ، وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِياءً وَ الْقَمَرَ نُورا
In Rowzat Al Kafi – Ali Bin Al Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al Abbas, from Ali Bin Hammad, from Umaro Bin shimr, from Jabir,
From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘He-azwj Struck an example of Muhammad-saww as the sun, and an example of the successor-asws as the moon, and these are the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: He is the (One) Who Made the sun a brightness and the moon a light [10:5]’.[6]
The Interpretation of Noor:
The Qur’an frequently uses the metaphor of Noor (light) to denote Divine Guidance, which was Sent to Muslims through the Prophet Muhammad-saww.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُبِينًا {174}
O you people! There has come to you a convincing Proof from your Lord and We Sent to you a clear Light [4:174]
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِهِ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِي رَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا {175}
Then, as for those who are believing in Allah and adhering with Him, He would be Entering them into a Mercy from Him and Grace, and they would be Guided to Him by a Straight Path [4:175]
العياشي: عن عبد الله بن سليمان، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قوله: يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جاءَكُمْ بُرْهانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ أَنْزَلْنا إِلَيْكُمْ نُوراً مُبِيناً؟ قال: «البرهان محمد (عليه و آله السلام)، و النور علي (عليه السلام)». قال: قلت له صِراطاً مُسْتَقِيماً؟ قال: الصراط المستقيم علي (عليه السلام)».
Al Ayyashi, from Abdullah Bin Suleyman who said,
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘(What about) O you people! There has come to you a convincing Proof from your Lord and We Sent to you a clear Light [4:174]?’ He-asws said: ‘The convincing Proof is Muhammad-saww, and the Light is Ali-asws’. I said, ‘(And) Straight Path [4:175]?’ He-asws said: ‘The Straight Path is Ali-asws’.[7]
فُرَاتٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ [أَحْمَدَ بْنِ] طَلْحَةَ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ مُعَنْعَناً عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص بِهَذِهِ الْآيَةِ يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جاءَكُمْ بُرْهانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ أَنْزَلْنا إِلَيْكُمْ نُوراً مُبِيناً فِي عَلِيِّ [بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع] وَ الْبُرْهَانُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص
Furat said, ‘It was narrated to me by Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Ahmad Bin Talha Al Khurasany,
From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Jibraeel-as descended unto Muhammad-saww with this Verse: O you people! There has come to you a convincing Proof from your Lord and We Sent to you a clear Light [4:174] regarding Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, and the convincing Proof is Rasool Allah-saww’.
قَوْلُهُ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ اعْتَصَمُوا بِهِ قَالَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع.
(Regarding) His-azwj Words: Then as for those who are believing in Allah and adhering with Him [4:175], he-asws said: ‘(Adhering) with the Wilayah of Ali-asws’’.[8]
فِي مَجْمَعِ الْبَيَانِ نُوراً مُبِيناً وَ قِيلَ: النُّورُ وَلَايَةُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
In Majma Al Bayan –
‘And it is said, ‘The Light [4:174] is the Wilayah of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’ – from Abu Abdullah-asws’.[9]
The Creation of First Noor:
أَقُولُ رَوَى الْبُرْسِيُّ فِي مَشَارِقِ الْأَنْوَارِ، مِنْ كِتَابِ الْوَاحِدَةِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ تَفَرَّدَ فِي وَحْدَانِيَّتِهِ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلِمَةٍ فَصَارَتْ نُوراً ثُمَّ خَلَقَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ النُّورِ مُحَمَّداً وَ عَلِيّاً وَ عِتْرَتَهُ ع
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘It is reported by Al Bursy in (the book) ‘Mashariq Al Anwaar’, from the book ‘Al Wahida’, by his chain from Al Sumali,
From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj was Individual in His-azwj Oneness, then He-azwj Spoke with a Word, and it became light (Noor). Then He-azwj Created from that Noor, Muhammad-saww and Ali-asws and his-saww family-asws.
ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلِمَةٍ فَصَارَتْ رُوحاً وَ أَسْكَنَهَا فِي ذَلِكَ النُّورِ وَ أَسْكَنَهُ فِي أَبْدَانِنَا فَنَحْنُ رُوحُ اللَّهِ وَ كَلِمَتُهُ احْتَجَبَ بِنَا عَنْ خَلْقِهِ فَمَا زِلْنَا فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ خَضْرَاءَ مُسَبِّحِينَ نُسَبِّحُهُ وَ نُقَدِّسُهُ حَيْثُ لَا شَمْسَ وَ لَا قَمَرَ وَ لَا عَيْنَ تَطْرِفُ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ شِيعَتَنَا وَ إِنَّمَا سُمُّوا شِيعَةً لِأَنَّهُمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ شُعَاعِ نُورِنَا.
Then He-azwj Spoke with a Word and it became a spirit, and Settled it in that Noor, and Settled it in our-asws bodies. So, we-asws are the spirits of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Word. He-azwj Veiled by us-asws from His-azwj creatures. We-asws did not cease to be in the green shade of His-azwj Throne glorifying with His-azwj Glorification, and extolling His-azwj Holiness when there was neither a sun, nor a moon, nor any blinking eye. Then He-azwj Created our-asws Shias. But rather, our-asws Shias are named as ‘Shia’ because they are Created from the rays (Shu’a) of our-asws Noor’’.[10]
Appendix I: Argument of Rasool Allah-saww against Polytheist
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي إِنْ شَاءَ جَعَلَ لَكَ خَيْرًا مِنْ ذَٰلِكَ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكَ قُصُورًا {10}
Blessed is He Who, if He Desires to, would Make for you better than that, Gardens beneath which the rivers flow, and Made castles to be for you [25:10]
قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع: فَهَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُنَاظِرُهُمْ إِذَا عَانَتُوهُ وَ يُحَاجُّهُمْ قَالَ: بَلَى مِرَاراً كَثِيرَةً مِنْهَا: مَا حَكَى اللَّهُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِمْ: وَ قالُوا ما لِهذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعامَ- وَ يَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْواقِ لَوْ لا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ رَجُلًا مَسْحُوراً.
Imam Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws (Al-Askari-asws) said: ‘I-asws said to my-asws father-asws, Ali-asws Bin Muhammad-asws: ‘Did Rasool-Allah-saww debate with them, when they were insolent, and argue against them?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, many a time. From these is what Allah-azwj has Related about their hearts: And they are saying, ‘What is the matter with this Rasool? He is eating the food, and walks in the markets. If only a great Angel had been Sent down instead of him [25:7] – up to His-azwj Words: a man bewitched!’ [25:8].
وَ قالُوا لَوْ لا نُزِّلَ هذَا الْقُرْآنُ عَلى رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ.
‘And they are saying: ‘Why was this Quran not Revealed upon a great man from the two towns? [43:31]’
وَ قالُوا لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّى تَفْجُرَ لَنا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ يَنْبُوعاً إِلَى قَوْلِهِ كِتاباً نَقْرَؤُهُ
‘And they are saying, ‘We will never believe you until you cause a spring to gush out for us from the ground [17:90] – up to His-azwj Words a Book which we may read [17:90].’
ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهُ فِي آخِرِ ذَلِكَ: لَوْ كُنْتَ نَبِيّاً كَمُوسَى لَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْنَا الصَّاعِقَةُ- فِي مَسْأَلَتِنَا إِلَيْكَ، لِأَنَّ مَسْأَلَتَنَا أَشَدُّ مِنْ مَسْأَلَةِ قَوْمِ مُوسَى لِمُوسَى.
‘Then, it was said to him-saww at the end of that, ‘If you-saww were a Prophet-as like Musa-as, the thunderbolt would have descended upon us during our questioning you-saww, because our questioning is more severe than the questioning of the people of Musa-as (was) to Musa-as’.
قَالَ: وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ قَاعِداً ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ بِمَكَّةَ بِفِنَاءِ الْكَعْبَةِ إِذِ اجْتَمَعَ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْهُمْ: الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، وَ أَبُو الْبَخْتَرِيِّ بْنُ هِشَامٍ وَ أَبُو جَهْلِ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، وَ الْعَاصُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ السَّهْمِيُّ، وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، وَ كَانَ مَعَهُمْ جَمْعٌ مِمَّنْ يَلِيهِمْ كَثِيرٌ، وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ- يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ يُؤَدِّي إِلَيْهِمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ أَمْرَهُ وَ نَهْيَهُ.
‘He-asws said: ‘And that is, that Rasool-Allah-saww was seated one day in Makkah, by the courtyard of the Kabah, when a group of the chiefs of the Quraysh gathered – from them were Al-Waleed Bin Al-Mugheira Al-Makhzoumy, and Abu Al-Bakhtary Bin Hisham, and Abu Jahl Bin Hisham, and Al-Aas Bin Wa’il Al-Sahmy, and Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya Al-Makhzoumy – and with them was a large group of the ones who followed them. And Rasool-Allah-saww was among a number of his-saww companions – reciting to them the Book of Allah-azwj, and entrusting to them, on behalf of Allah-azwj, His-azwj Commands and His-azwj Prohibitions.
فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: لَقَدِ اسْتُفْحِلَ أَمْرُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ عَظُمَ خَطْبُهُ فَتَعَالَوْا نَبْدَأْ بِتَقْرِيعِهِ وَ تَبْكِيتِهِ وَ تَوْبِيخِهِ، وَ الْإِحْتِجَاجِ عَلَيْهِ، وَ إِبْطَالِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ- لِيَهُونَ خَطْبُهُ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ، وَ يَصْغُرَ قَدْرُهُ عِنْدَهُمْ، فَلَعَلَّهُ يَنْزِعُ عَمَّا هُوَ فِيهِ مِنْ غَيِّهِ وَ بَاطِلِهِ وَ تَمَرُّدِهِ وَ طُغْيَانِهِ، فَإِنِ انْتَهَى وَ إِلَّا عَامَلْنَاهُ بِالسَّيْفِ الْبَاتِرِ.
‘The Polytheists said to each other, ‘The matter of Muhammad-saww has grown strong, and his sermons (have become) great. Come, let us censure him-saww, and reproach him-saww, and rebuke him-saww, and argue against him-saww, and invalidate whatever he-saww has come with – in order to humiliate his-saww sermons upon his-saww companions, and belittle his-saww worth in their presence. Perhaps, he-saww would be removed from what he-saww is (indulging) in, from his-saww error and his-saww falsehood, and his-saww rebellion and his-saww tyranny. So, either it ends, or else we shall work with the sharp sword’.
قَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ: فَمَنْ [ذَا] الَّذِي يَلِي كَلَامَهُ وَ مُجَادَلَتَهُ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ: أَنَا إِلَى ذَلِكَ، أَ فَمَا تَرْضَانِي لَهُ قِرْناً حَسِيباً، وَ مُجَادِلًا كَفِيّاً قَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ: بَلَى
‘Abu Jahl-la said: ‘So who is that who would follow his-saww speech and contest it?’ Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya Al-Makhzoumy said, ‘I am for that. Are you not pleased with me for as a counterpart to reckon with, a sufficing debater?’ Abu Jahl-la said, ‘Yes’.
فَأَتَوْهُ بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ، فَابْتَدَأَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، لَقَدِ ادَّعَيْتَ دَعْوَى عَظِيمَةً، وَ قُلْتَ مَقَالًا هَائِلًا، زَعَمْتَ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَ مَا يَنْبَغِي لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ خَالِقِ الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ- أَنْ يَكُونَ مِثْلُكَ رَسُولًا لَهُ!
‘They came altogether, and Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya initiated, and he said, ‘O Muhammad-saww! You-saww have claimed a great claim, and you-saww said a speech which boggles (the mind). You-saww claimed that you-saww are a Rasool-saww of the Lord-azwj of the worlds, and it is not befitting for the Lord-azwj of the worlds and Creator of the entire creatures that the likes of you-saww should become a Rasool-as for Him-azwj.
بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا، تَأْكُلُ كَمَا نَأْكُلُ، وَ تَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ كَمَا نَمْشِي، فَهَذَا مَلِكُ الرُّومِ، وَ هَذَا مَلِكُ الْفُرْسِ لَا يَبْعَثَانِ رَسُولًا إِلَّا كَثِيرَ الْمَالِ، عَظِيمَ الْحَالِ، لَهُ قُصُورٌ وَ دُورٌ [وَ بَسَاتِينُ] وَ فَسَاطِيطُ وَ خِيَامٌ وَ عَبِيدٌ وَ خُدَّامٌ، وَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَوْقَ هَؤُلَاءِ كُلِّهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ، فَهُمْ عَبِيدُهُ، وَ لَوْ كُنْتَ نَبِيّاً لَكَانَ مَعَكَ مَلَكٌ يُصَدِّقُكَ وَ نُشَاهِدُهُ،
‘(You-saww are) a person, like us, eating just as we eat, and walking through the markets just as we walk. So, this is the king of Rome, and this is the king of Persia, they do not send messengers (ambassadors) unless he is of a lot of wealth, great status, having castles and houses for him, and orchards, and pavilions, and tents, and slaves and servants. And the Lord-azwj of the worlds is above all of them together, and they are His-azwj slaves. And had you-saww been a Prophet-saww, there would have been an Angel with you-saww, ratifying you-saww and we would witness him.
بَلْ لَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ إِلَيْنَا نَبِيّاً- لَكَانَ إِنَّمَا يَبْعَثُ إِلَيْنَا مَلَكاً، لَا بَشَراً مِثْلَنَا، مَا أَنْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِلَّا مَسْحُوراً، وَ لَسْتَ بِنَبِيٍّ.
‘‘But, had Allah-azwj Wanted to Send a Prophet-as to us – rather He-azwj would have Sent a king to us, not a person like us. You-saww, O Muhammad-saww, are not except bewitched, and you-saww are not a Prophet-as’.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: هَلْ بَقِيَ مِنْ كَلَامِكَ شَيْءٌ قَالَ: بَلَى، لَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا لَبَعَثَ أَجَلَّ مَنْ فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا مَالًا، وَ أَحْسَنَهُ حَالًا، فَهَلَّا نَزَّلَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ الَّذِي تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَهُ عَلَيْكَ، وَ ابْتَعَثَكَ بِهِ رَسُولًا عَلى رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ: إِمَّا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ بِمَكَّةَ، وَ إِمَّا عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ بِالطَّائِفِ.
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Does there remain anything (else) from your speech?’ He said, ‘Yes. Had Allah-azwj Wanted to Send a Rasool-as, He-azwj would have Sent someone more majestic, in what is between us, in wealth, and of better state. So why wasn’t this Quran Revealed – which you-saww are claiming that Allah-azwj Revealed it upon you-saww and Sent you-saww as a Rasool-saww with it: upon a great man from the two towns? [43:31] – either Al-Waleed Bin Al-Mugheira in Makkah, or Urwat Bin Mas’oud Al-Saqafy at Al-Ta’if?’
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: هَلْ بَقِيَ مِنْ كَلَامِكَ شَيْءٌ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: بَلَى، لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ- حَتَّى تَفْجُرَ لَنا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ يَنْبُوعاً بِمَكَّةَ هَذِهِ، فَإِنَّهَا ذَاتُ حِجَارَةٍ وَعِرَةٍ وَ جِبَالٌ، تَكْسَحُ أَرْضَهَا وَ تَحْفِرُهَا، وَ تُجْرِي فِيهَا الْعُيُونَ، فَإِنَّنَا إِلَى ذَلِكَ مُحْتَاجُونَ، أَوْ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِنْ نَخِيلٍ وَ عِنَبٍ، فَتَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَ تُطْعِمَنَا،
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Does there (still) remain anything from your speech, O Abdullah?’ He said, ‘Yes. We will never believe you until you cause a spring to gush out for us from the ground [17:90], in this Makkah, for it is with rocks and desert plains and mountains. Its land is bare and with holes, and you-saww should make the springs to flow therein, for we are needy to that, or there should happen to be for you, gardens of palms and grapes [17:91], so we can eat from these and feed others (as well).
فَتُفَجِّرَ الْأَنْهارَ خِلالَها خِلَالَ تِلْكَ النَّخِيلِ وَ الْأَعْنَابِ تَفْجِيراً- أَوْ تُسْقِطَ، السَّماءَ كَما زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنا كِسَفاً، فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ لَنَا: وَ إِنْ يَرَوْا كِسْفاً مِنَ السَّماءِ ساقِطاً- يَقُولُوا سَحابٌ مَرْكُومٌ وَ لَعَلَّنَا نَقُولُ ذَلِكَ.
‘And you should cause the rivers to gush forth in the middle of these– in the midst of these gardens and the grapes, gushing forth [17:91] Or you should cause the sky to fall down upon us, just as you are claiming, in pieces [17:92]; for you-saww said to us And if they should see pieces of the sky falling down, they would be saying, ‘Piled up clouds’ [52:44], and perhaps we would be saying that’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَ لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ أَوْ تَأْتِيَ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ قَبِيلًا، تَأْتِيَ بِهِ وَ بِهِمْ وَ هُمْ لَنَا مُقَابِلُونَ أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِنْ زُخْرُفٍ تُعْطِينَا مِنْهُ، وَ تُغْنِينَا بِهِ فَلَعَلَّنَا نَطْغَى، فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ لَنَا: كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَيَطْغى أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنى.
‘Then he said, ‘And we will never believe you-saww, or you should bring Allah and the Angels face to face (with us) [17:92], coming with Him-azwj and with them, and they would be face to face with us, or there should happen to be for you, a house of treasures [17:93], giving us (something) from it, and enriching us with it, and we would be overwhelmed, for you-saww said to us: Never! The human being becomes overwhelmed [96:6] if he sees himself as needless [96:7]’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَوْ تَرْقى فِي السَّماءِ أَيْ تَصْعَدُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَ لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ لِصُعُودِكَ حَتَّى تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنا كِتاباً نَقْرَؤُهُ: مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ- إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيِّ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ- بِأَنْ آمِنُوا بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، فَإِنَّهُ رَسُولِي وَ صَدِّقُوهُ فِي مَقَالِهِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ عِنْدِي.
‘Then, he said, ‘Or you should ascend into the sky [17:93] – i.e., go up into the sky, and we will never be believing in your ascending – of your going up, until you bring down a letter to us, we can read from it [17:93] – from Allah-azwj, the Mighty, the Wise to Abdullah Bin Abu Amayya Al-Makhzoumy and the ones with him, that they should be believing in Muhammad-saww Bin Abdullah-asws Bin Abdul Muttalib-asws, as he-saww is My-azwj Rasool-saww, and they should ratify him-saww in his-saww speech, for he-saww is from My-azwj Presence.
ثُمَّ لَا أَدْرِي يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ هَذَا كُلَّهُ- أُومِنُ بِكَ أَوْ لَا أُومِنُ بِكَ، بَلْ لَوْ رَفَعْتَنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، وَ فَتَحْتَ أَبْوَابَهَا وَ أَدْخَلْتَنَاهَا لَقُلْنَا: إِنَّما سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصارُنا وَ سَحَرْتَنَا.
‘’Then, I (still) don’t know, O Muhammad-saww, when you have done all of this, whether I would believe in you-saww or not believe in you-saww. But, if you-saww were to lift us up to the sky, and open its doors and enter us, for us to say But rather, our eyes have been intoxicated [15:15]’.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَ بَقِيَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ كَلَامِكَ قَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَ وَ لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَوْرَدْتُهُ عَلَيْكَ كِفَايَةٌ وَ بَلَاغٌ مَا بَقِيَ شَيْءٌ فَقُلْ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَ أَفْصِحْ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ- إِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَ حُجَّةٌ، وَ آتِنَا بِمَا سَأَلْنَاكَ.
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O Abdullah! Does there remain anything (else) from your speech?’ He said, ‘O Muhammad-saww! Or isn’t it enough in what I have referred it upon you-saww, and far-reaching. There is nothing remaining, therefore say whatever comes to you-saww and explain from yourself-saww – if there was an argument for you, and come to us (answers) to what we have asked you-saww’.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّامِعُ لِكُلِّ صَوْتٍ، وَ الْعَالِمُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ تَعْلَمُ مَا قَالَهُ عِبَادُكَ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَ قالُوا ما لِهذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعامَ- وَ يَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْواقِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ رَجُلًا مَسْحُوراً.
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj are the Listener of every sound, and the Knower of everything. You-azwj Know what Your-azwj servants said’. So Allah-azwj Revealed unto him-saww: And they are saying, ‘What is the matter with this Rasool? He is eating the food, and walks in the markets. If only a great Angel had been Sent down instead of him [25:7] – up to His-azwj Words: a man bewitched!’ [25:8].
ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: انْظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا لَكَ الْأَمْثالَ- فَضَلُّوا فَلا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا.
‘Then, Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: Look how they are striking the examples for you. They have strayed, therefore they are unable to find a way [25:9].
فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَنِّي آكُلُ الطَّعَامَ- كَمَا تَأْكُلُونَ، وَ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ لِأَجْلِ هَذِهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ لِلَّهِ رَسُولًا، فَإِنَّمَا الْأَمْرُ لِلَّهِ يَفْعَلُ ما يَشاءُ وَ يَحْكُمُ ما يُرِيدُ، وَ هُوَ مَحْمُودٌ، وَ لَيْسَ لَكَ وَ لَا لِأَحَدٍ الِاعْتِرَاضُ عَلَيْهِ بِلِمَ وَ كَيْفَ.
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said to him: ‘O Abdullah Bin Ameyt! As for what you mentioned than I-saww eat the food just as you are eating, and you claimed that it is not allowed due to this reason that I-saww happen to be a Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, so rather the Command is Allah-azwj’s. He-azwj Does whatever He-azwj so Desires to and Decides whatever He so Wants to, and He-azwj is the Most Praised One, and it isn’t for you, nor for anyone to object to Him-azwj with ‘why’, and ‘how’.
أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى كَيْفَ أَفْقَرَ بَعْضاً وَ أَغْنَى بَعْضاً، وَ أَعَزَّ بَعْضاً، وَ أَذَلَّ بَعْضاً وَ أَصَحَّ بَعْضاً وَ أَسْقَمَ بَعْضاً، وَ شَرَّفَ بَعْضاً وَ وَضَعَ بَعْضاً، وَ كُلُّهُمْ مِمَّنْ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ.
‘‘Do you not see Allah-azwj the Exalted how He-azwj Impoverishes some, and Enriches some, and Honours some, and Disgraces some, and Grants health to some, and Causes others to be sick, and Ennobles some, and Ignoble some, and all of them are from the ones who eat the food?
ثُمَّ لَيْسَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: لِمَ أَفْقَرْتَنَا وَ أَغْنَيْتَهُمْ وَ لَا لِلْوُضَعَاءِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: لِمَ وَضَعْتَنَا وَ شَرَّفْتَهُمْ وَ لَا لِلزَّمْنَى وَ الضُّعَفَاءِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: لِمَ أَزْمَنْتَنَا وَ أَضْعَفْتَنَا وَ صَحَّحْتَهُمْ وَ لَا لِلْأَذِلَّاءِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: لِمَ أَذْلَلْتَنَا وَ أَعْزَزْتَهُمْ وَ لَا لِقَبَائِحِ الصُّوَرِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: لِمَ قَبَّحْتَنَا وَ جَمَّلْتَهُمْ
‘‘Then, it isn’t for the poor that they should be saying, ‘Why did You-azwj Impoverish us and Enrich them?’ Nor is it for the ignoble (of lesser status) ones that they should be saying, ‘Why did You-azwj Drop us and Ennobled them?’ Nor for the sick and the weak ones that they should be saying, ‘Why did You-azwj Make us sick and weak, and Granted them good health?’ Nor for the disgraced ones that they should be saying, ‘Why did You-azwj Humiliate us and Honoured them?’ Nor for the ugliness of face that they should be saying, ‘Why did You-azwj Make us to be ugly and them as beautiful?’
بَلْ إِنْ قَالُوا ذَلِكَ كَانُوا عَلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَادِّينَ، وَ لَهُ فِي أَحْكَامِهِ مُنَازِعِينَ، وَ بِهِ كَافِرِينَ، وَ لَكَانَ جَوَابُهُ لَهُمْ: [إِنِّي] أَنَا الْمَلِكُ، الْخَافِضُ الرَّافِعُ، الْمُغْنِي الْمُفْقِرُ، الْمُعِزُّ الْمُذِلُّ، الْمُصَحِّحُ الْمُسْقِمُ- وَ أَنْتُمُ الْعَبِيدُ لَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلَّا التَّسْلِيمُ لِي، وَ الِانْقِيَادُ لِحُكْمِي، فَإِنْ سَلَّمْتُمْ كُنْتُمْ عِبَاداً مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ كُنْتُمْ بِي كَافِرِينَ، وَ بِعُقُوبَاتِي مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ.
But, if they were to say that, they would be repelling against their Lord-azwj, and be disputants to Him-azwj with regards to His-azwj Decisions, and they would be Kafirs due to it. But, His-azwj Answer to them (would be): “I-azwj am the King, the Abaser, the Raiser, the Enricher, the Impoverisher, the Honourer, the Humiliater, the Restorer of the health of the sick ones – and you are the slaves. It isn’t for you except for the submission to Me-azwj and the following of My-azwj Decisions. So, if you were to submit, you would be Momineen servants, and if you refuse, you would be Kafirs regarding Me-azwj, and by My-azwj Punishment (you would be) from the destroyed ones!’
ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ قُلْ إِنَّما أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يَعْنِي آكُلُ الطَّعَامَ يُوحى إِلَيَّ أَنَّما إِلهُكُمْ إِلهٌ واحِدٌ يَعْنِي قُلْ لَهُمْ: أَنَا فِي الْبَشَرِيَّةِ مِثْلُكُمْ، وَ لَكِنْ رَبِّي خَصَّنِي بِالنُّبُوَّةِ دُونَكُمْ، كَمَا يَخُصُّ بَعْضَ الْبَشَرِ بِالْغَنَاءِ- وَ الصِّحَّةِ وَ الْجَمَالِ دُونَ بَعْضٍ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ، فَلَا تُنْكِرُوا أَنْ يَخُصَّنِي أَيْضاً بِالنُّبُوَّةِ.
‘Then Allah-azwj the Exalted Revealed unto him-saww: O Muhammad-saww! Say: But rather, I am a person like you [18:110] – meaning, ‘I-saww eat the food’, it is Revealed to me that your God is one God – meaning, say them, ‘I-saww am, with regards to being a human being, am like you all, but my-saww Lord-azwj Specialised me-saww with the Prophet-hood besides you all, just as He-azwj Specialised some of the human beings with the riches, and the good health, and the beauty besides the other from the humans. Therefore, you should not be denying that He-azwj can Specialise me-saww with the Prophet-hood as well’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ: « [إِنَ] هَذَا مَلِكُ الرُّومِ، وَ مَلِكُ الْفُرْسِ لَا يَبْعَثَانِ رَسُولًا إِلَّا كَثِيرَ الْمَالِ، عَظِيمَ الْحَالِ، لَهُ قُصُورٌ وَ دُورٌ- وَ فَسَاطِيطُ وَ خِيَامٌ وَ عَبِيدٌ وَ خُدَّامٌ، وَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَوْقَ هَؤُلَاءِ كُلِّهِمْ فَهُمْ عَبِيدُهُ» فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ التَّدْبِيرُ وَ الْحُكْمُ لَا يَفْعَلُ عَلَى ظَنِّكَ وَ حُسْبَانِكَ، وَ لَا بِاقْتِرَاحِكَ، بَلْ يَفْعَلُ ما يَشاءُ، وَ يَحْكُمُ ما يُرِيدُ وَ هُوَ مَحْمُودٌ
‘Then Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘And as for your words, ‘So this is the king of Rome, and this is the king of Persia, they do not send messengers (ambassadors) unless he is of a lot of wealth, great status, having castles and houses for him, and orchards, and pavilions, and tents, and slaves and servants. And the Lord-azwj of the worlds is above all of them together, for they are His-azwj slaves’ – so Allah-azwj, there is a Strategy for Him-azwj and the Decision. He-azwj does not Do upon your thinking and your reckoning, nor by your suggestions, but He-azwj Does whatever He-azwj so Desires to, and Decides whatever He-azwj so Wants to, and He-azwj is the Most Praised One.
يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ لِيُعَلِّمَ النَّاسَ دِينَهُمْ، وَ يَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ، وَ يَكِدَّ نَفْسَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَ أَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ، فَلَوْ كَانَ صَاحِبَ قُصُورٍ يَحْتَجِبُ فِيهَا- وَ عَبِيدٍ وَ خَدَمٍ يَسْتُرُونَهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ – أَ لَيْسَ كَانَتِ الرِّسَالَةُ تَضِيعُ وَ الْأُمُورُ تَتَبَاطَأُ أَ وَ مَا تَرَى لِمُلُوكٍ إِذَا احْتَجَبُوا- كَيْفَ يَجْرِي الْفَسَادُ وَ الْقَبَائِحُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ بِهِ- وَ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
O Abdullah! But rather, Allah-azwj Sent His-azwj Prophet-saww for the people to know their Religion, and he-saww called them to their Lord-azwj, and he-saww exhausts himself-saww in the middle of the night and the two ends of the day. So, had he-saww been owner of the castles, he-saww would have concealed himself-saww inside these – and the slaves, and the servants, veiling him from the people. Wouldn’t the Message be wasted and the matters delayed? Or, do you not see the kings when they are veiled – how the corruption and the ugliness flows from where they are not even knowing of it nor aware of it?
يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا مَالَ لِي- لِيُعَرِّفَكُمْ قُدْرَتَهُ وَ قُوَّتَهُ، وَ أَنَّهُ هُوَ النَّاصِرُ لِرَسُولِهِ، لَا تَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ وَ لَا مَنْعِهِ مِنْ رِسَالَتِهِ،
O Abdullah! But rather, Allah-azwj Sent me-saww, and there is no wealth for me-saww – in order to Make you recognise His-azwj Power and His-azwj Strength, and it is Him-azwj Who is the Helper of His-azwj Rasool-saww. They are neither able upon killing him-saww nor preventing him-saww from (the delivery of) his-saww Message.
فَهَذَا أَبْيَنُ فِي قُدْرَتِهِ وَ فِي عَجْزِكُم وَ سَوْفَ يُظْفِرُنِي اللَّهُ بِكُمْ فَأُوَسِّعُكُمْ قَتْلًا وَ أَسْراً، ثُمَّ يُظْفِرُنِي اللَّهُ بِبِلَادِكُمْ، وَ يَسْتَوْلِي عَلَيْهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنْ دُونِكُمْ، وَ دُونَ مَنْ يُوَافِقُكُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ.
Thus, this is clearer with regards to His-azwj Power and regarding your frustrations, and soon Allah-azwj would Make me-saww to be victorious against you all and Extend the killing and the captivity. Then Allah-azwj would Make me-saww to be victorious in your city, and the Momineen would rule upon it besides you all, and besides the one who are in harmony with you upon your religion.
ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ لِي: «وَ لَوْ كُنْتَ نَبِيّاً لَكَانَ مَعَكَ مَلَكٌ يُصَدِّقُكَ وَ نُشَاهِدُهُ، بَلْ لَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ إِلَيْنَا نَبِيّاً- لَكَانَ إِنَّمَا يَبْعَثُ مَلَكاً لَا بَشَراً مِثْلَنَا» فَالْمَلَكُ لَا تُشَاهِدُهُ حَوَاسُّكُمْ، لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ جِنْسِ هَذَا الْهَوَاءِ، لَا عِيَانَ مِنْهُ،
Then Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘And as for your words to me, ‘And had you-saww been a Prophet-saww, there would have been an Angel with you-saww, ratifying you-saww and we would witness him. But, had Allah-azwj Wanted to Send a Prophet-as to us – rather He-azwj would have Sent a king to us, not a person like us’ – So the Angel is such that your faculties cannot witness him, because he is of a genus of this air, not visible from it.
وَ لَوْ شَاهَدْتُمُوهُ- بِأَنْ يُزَادَ فِي قُوَى أَبْصَارِكُمْ- لَقُلْتُمْ: لَيْسَ هَذَا مَلَكاً، بَلْ هَذَا بَشَرٌ، لِأَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَظْهَرُ لَكُمْ بِصُورَةِ الْبَشَرِ- الَّذِي قَدْ أَلَّفْتُمُوهُ لِتَفْهَمُوا عَنْهُ مَقَالَهُ، وَ تَعْرِفُوا بِهِ خِطَابَهُ وَ مُرَادَهُ، فَكَيْفَ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ صِدْقَ الْمَلَكِ- وَ أَنَّ مَا يَقُولُهُ حَقٌّ
بَلْ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَراً، وَ أَظْهَرَ عَلَى يَدِهِ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ- الَّتِي لَيْسَتْ فِي طَبَائِعِ الْبَشَرِ- الَّذِينَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ ضَمَائِرَ قُلُوبِهِمْ، فَتَعْلَمُونَ بِعَجْزِكُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ أَنَّهُ مُعْجِزَةٌ وَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ شَهَادَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالصِّدْقِ لَهُ، وَ لَوْ ظَهَرَ لَكُمْ مَلَكٌ وَ ظَهَرَ عَلَى يَدِهِ مَا يَعْجِزُ عَنْهُ الْبَشَرُ، لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ مَا يَدُلُّكُمْ- أَنَّ ذَلِكَ لَيْسَ فِي طَبَائِعِ سَائِرِ أَجْنَاسِهِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ- حَتَّى يَصِيرَ ذَلِكَ مُعْجِزاً.
But rather, Allah-azwj Sent a human being, and Manifested upon his hands, the miracles which aren’t the norm for the human being – the one who knows the consciences of your hearts. So you would be knowing, by your frustrations from whatever he-saww came with, that it is indeed a miracle, and that it is a testimony from Allah-azwj the Exalted with the ratification for him-saww. And had He-azwj Manifested an Angel to you all, and Manifested upon his hands what the human being would be frustrated from, there would not happen to be a justice for you all in that – for that would not be from the norms of the rest of the species from the Angels – until that would become (to be counted as) a miracle.
أَ لَا تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ الطُّيُورَ الَّتِي تَطِيرُ- لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهَا بِمُعْجِزٍ، لِأَنَّ لَهَا أَجْنَاساً يَقَعُ مِنْهَا مِثْلُ طَيَرَانِهَا، وَ لَوْ أَنَّ آدَمِيّاً طَارَ كَطَيَرَانِهَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ مُعْجِزاً، فَاللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَهَّلَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَمْرَ، وَ جَعَلَهُ بِحَيْثُ تَقُومُ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّتُهُ، وَ أَنْتُمْ تَقْتَرِحُونَ عَمَلَ الصَّعْبِ الَّذِي لَا حُجَّةَ فِيهِ.
Are you not seeing the birds which are flying – that is not a miracle from them, because for it is a species, from which occurs the likes of flight. And if a human were to fly like its flying, that would be (counted as) a miracle. So, Allah-azwj mighty and Majestic has Made the matter easy upon you, and Made it when a proof would be established upon you, and you are suggesting a difficult matter in which there is no proof’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ: «مَا أَنْتَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَسْحُوراً» فَكَيْفَ أَكُونُ كَذَلِكَ، وَ قَدْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي فِي صِحَّةِ التَّمْيِيزِ وَ الْعَقْلِ فَوْقَكُمْ فَهَلْ جَرَّبْتُمْ عَلَيَّ مُنْذُ نَشَأْتُ- إِلَى أَنِ اسْتَكْمَلْتُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً جَرِيرَةً أَوْ زَلَّةً أَوْ كَذِبَةً أَوْ خِيَانَةً أَوْ خَطَأً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ، أَوْ سَفَهاً مِنَ الرَّأْيِ
Then Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘And as for your words, ‘You-saww are not except a man bewitched’, so how can I-saww be like that, and you are knowing that I-saww am of healthy discernment and intellect, above you all. Have you experienced upon me-saww, since I-saww grew up – up to the completion of forty years, any offence, or an error, or a lie, or a crime, or a mistake from the speech, or foolishness from the view?
أَ تَظُنُّونَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا يَعْتَصِمُ طُولَ هَذِهِ الْمُدَّةِ- بِحَوْلِ نَفْسِهِ وَ قُوَّتِهَا أَوْ بِحَوْلِ اللَّهِ وَ قُوَّتِهِ وَ ذَلِكَ مَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: انْظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا لَكَ الْأَمْثالَ- فَضَلُّوا فَلا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا إِلَى أَنْ يَثْبُتُوا عَلَيْكَ عَمًي- بِحُجَّةٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ دَعَاوِيهِمُ الْبَاطِلَةِ- الَّتِي تَبَيَّنَ عَلَيْكَ تَحْصِيلُ بُطْلَانِهَا.
Are you thinking that a man who is protected for the length of this period is by the might of his own self or by the Mighty of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Strength? And that is what Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: Look how they are striking the examples for you. They have strayed, therefore they are unable to find a way [25:9] – until they are affirming against you-saww blindly – by arguing more than their false claims – which is clear upon you-saww, and collection of its falsehood’.[11]
[1] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ وَإِنْ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْهَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ الْقُرْآنُ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ {101}
O you who believe! Do not ask about things, if it is declared to you, it would offend you; and if you ask about it while the Quran is being Revealed, it would be manifested to you. Allah Pardons from it, and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing [5:101]
[2] Basaair Al Darajaat CH 4 H15
[3] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al-Askariasws – S 314
[4] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askariasws – S 314
[5] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 51 The book of History – Imam Al-Mahdi-ajfj, Ch 6 H 38
[6] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج2، ص: 293
[7] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 285/ 308.
[8] Tafseer Furat – V 1 P 116 H 120
[9] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – V 1 P 579 H 698
[10] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 23, The book of Imamate, P 2 Ch 1 H 39
[11] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al-Askariasws – S 314 (Extract)