MIRACLE GRANTED TO PROPHETS
About miracle granted to prophet Saleh (Peace be upon him)
Abu Nu‘aim said: If it is said that Allah brought out a she-camel from the mountain as a sign and proof for Prophet Saleh against his people and He gave her a time of drink and Saleh’s people a time of drink, each on a known day; our response to this is: Allah has given Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) an equivalent of or what was greater than that. Prophet Saleh’s camel did not talk to him neither did she spoke in support of his Prophethood or messengership. As for Muhammad, a camel clearly testified to his messengership by addressing him as “Messenger of Allah”. He also complained to him about what he suffered from his owners that they starved him and extremely burdened him.
About the miracle granted to Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him)
The erudite scholar, Abul-Ma‘ali Ibn Az-Zamlakani – may Allah have mercy upon him said: “As for dying out of fire that occurred for Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) the fire of the Persians has also died out in honor of our Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was born, and that fire had never died out for a thousand years. There period between the dying out of the fire and his call to Prophethood was forty years. As for Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) the fire only died out when he had direct contact with it. The Persian fire died out in honor of our Prophet while the distance between him and the fire was a journey of months.”
Our Shaikh then said, “This is in addition to the fact that some members of this Ummah were thrown into fire and it did not have any effect on them. One of these is Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani.”
Shurahbeel Ibn Muslim Al-Khawlani narrated that Al-Aswad Ibn Qais Ibn Dhil-Khimar Al-Ansi claimed to be a prophet in Yemen. He sent for Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani and when he was brought to him, he said to Abu Muslim, “Do you bear testimony that I am a Messenger of Allah?” Abu Muslim said, “I can’t hear you!” Al-Aswad then said, “Do you bear testimony that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger?” He replied, “Yes, I do.” He then asked him, “Do you bear testimony that I am a Messenger of Allah?” Abu Muslim said, “I can’t hear you!” He asked him once again, “Do you bear testimony that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger?” Abu Muslim answered again in the affirmative. Al-Aswad them commanded that a huge fire be set and he ordered that Abu Muslim be thrown into it. When he was thrown into it, he walked out of the fire without any harm. Then someone advised Al-Aswad to expel Abu Muslim from the region lest he turn his followers against him. So, he asked him to leave the region and he complied.
By the time he arrived at Al-Madinah, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had died and Abu Bakr had assumed the caliphate. Abu Muslim tied his camel at the door of the Mosque, entered the Mosque and started praying behind a pillar. When Umar Ibn Al-Khattab saw him, he went to him and asked him who he was. Abu Muslim replied that he was a man from Yemen. Umar then asked him, “What happened to the man who that liar had thrown into a fire?” He said, “His name is Abdullah Ibn Thuwab.” Umar then asked him, “Tell me, by Allah, are you the man?” He said, “Yes.” Umar then embraced him and cried. He took him to Abu Bakr and let him sit down between himself and Abu Bakr. He then said, “Praise be to Allah who allowed me to live long enough to see from among the Ummah of Muhammad someone who experienced what Prophet Ibraheem experienced.”
Abu Bishr Ja‘far Ibn Abi Wahshiyyah narrated that a man from the tribe of Khawlan embraced Islam but his people wanted him to remain upon disbelief and, as a result, threw him in a fire. And he came out of the fire unscathed. When the man came to Abu Bakr, the latter asked him to seek forgiveness for him. But he told him, “It is you who deserves to be asked for such.” Abu Bakr said, “But you were thrown into fire and you came out unscathed!” The man then asked forgiveness for Abu Bakr and later left for Sham. And the people would liken him to Ibraheem (Peace be upon him). The man was Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani.
Abul-Ma‘ali said: As for Ibraheem’s being thrown into fire with a ballista, the similar had happened in the Muslims’ war against Musailimah Al-Kadhdhab. Musailimah’s followers had sought protection behind a fence where they dug a deep trench in which they fortified themselves and they kept all the doors to the fence locked, according to the narration of Al-Bara’ Ibn Malik. Al-Bara’ said that he told his fellow Muslims, “Put me on a shield, and hold me on it with the tips of the spears. Then throw me up very high across the fence.” They did as he requested. He fell into the trench and engaged in fighting against the polytheists until he was able to kill ten or more. He then opened the door for the Muslims. It was this unique operation that caused the defeat of the polytheists. He also killed Musailimah Al-Kadhdhab.
If some people say that Prophet Ibraheem, in addition to being a Prophet, was exclusively honored as friend of Allah, the response is that Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was not only honored as a friend of Allah but also as Allah’s specially beloved one. And to be loved is more subtle in meaning than to be a friend.
Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood narrated that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If I were to choose a bosom friend I would have definitely chosen Abu Bakr as my bosom friend, but he is my brother and my Companion and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has taken your brother and Companion (meaning Prophet himself) as a friend.”
Ka‘b Ibn Malik is reported to have said, “The last thing I heard from our Prophet five days before he died was, ‘There was not a prophet who did not have a friend from among his people and my friend is Abu Bakr. But Allah has chosen your Companion (meaning himself) as a friend.”
Jundub Ibn Abdullah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), five days before his death, say: “I stand acquitted before Allah that I took any one of you as friend, for Allah has taken me as His friend, as he took Ibraheem as His friend. Had I taken any one of my Ummah as a friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend. Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.”
Urwah Ibn Ruwaim Al-Lakhmi narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Allah shortened the time for me. We I and my followers are the last (of all nations, in existence) and the first (to enter Paradise) on the Day of Resurrection. I am saying without being pompous: Ibraheem is a friend of Allah, Moosa is a chosen servant of Allah and I am a beloved servant of Allah. I will be leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection. I will hold the Banner of Praise under which every Prophet, sincere servant of Allah and martyr will stand on the Day of Resurrection. I will be the first one for whom gates of Paradise will be opened. Allah has assented to my request concerning you on three things: that He will not destroy you with an epidemic, that He will not allow your enemy to wreak (devastating) havoc on you and that you will not have consensus on error.”
As for the jurist Abu Muhammad Abdullah Ibn Hamid, he made a long statement concerning the Divine friendship. He said among other things:
“Khaleel is someone who worships his Lord in hope and fear. Allah says about Prophet Ibraheem, “Verily Ibraheem was Awwah (one who invokes Allah with humility, glorifies Him and remembers Him much) and was forbearing.” (Soorah At-Tawbah 9:114)
Habeeb is someone who worships his Lord in love as if he is seeing Him. Some scholars say that Khaleel is someone who worships his Lord while expecting a reward from Him while Habeeb is someone who worships his Lord with an expectation to meet Him. Some say Khaleel is someone who reached his Lord through an intermediary as seen in Allah’s statement, “Thus did we show Ibraheem the kingdom of the heavens and the Earth that he be one of those who have Faith with certainty.” (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:75) while Habeeb is the one who reaches his Lord without an intermediary as shown in Allah’s statement, “And was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer.” (Soorah An-Najm 53:9) Allah informs us about His Khaleel that he said: “And Who, I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense, (the Day of Resurrection).” (Soorah Ash-Shu’ara 26:82) And He says about His Habeeb: “That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future.” (Soorah Al-Fath 48:2)”
Ubayy Ibn Ka‘b narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I would be in a position on the Day of Resurrection that the entire creation will turn to me, including even Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) (for intercession).”
Abu Nu‘aim said: If it is said that Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) was screened away from Numrood with three screens, this can countered by the fact that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was screened away from those who wanted to kill him with five screens. Allah says about him, “And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see.” (Soorah Ya Seen 36:9) These are three screens. Allah then says, “And when you (Muhammad) recite the Qur’an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil (or screen their hearts, so they hear or understand it not).” (Soorah Al-Isra’ 17:45) So, these are five screens.
It is recorded in the book of Tafseer that when a Soorah was revealed in condemnation of Umm Jameel, Abu Lahab’s wife, and her husband and the Soorah clearly stated that both of them would enter the Hellfire and that they were losers, she took a big rock and wanted to stone the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) with it. On her way, she passed by Abu Bakr who was sitting beside the Prophet but she did not see the Prophet. She asked Abu Bakr, “Where is your Companion?” Abu Bakr answered, “What is the matter?” She said, “He has composed a poem to disparage me!” He said, “He did not disparage you.” Thereupon she said, “By Allah, if I see him I will hit me with this rock.” She then went back home saying in rhymed tone, “mudhammam, we reject; and his religion, we forsake!”
Equally, he was screened from Abu Jahl who wanted to step on the Prophet’s head while he was prostrating in prayer. In his attempt at trampling on the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), Abu Jahl saw a trench of fire and a great horror. And the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was screened by the Angels’ wings. Abu Jahl quickly backtracked in terror while trying to protect himself with his hands. When the Quraish men saw him they said, “What is wrong with you?” And he told them what he saw. It was in reference to this that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Had he proceeded and done what he wanted to do, the Angels would have seized him piece by piece.”
Also, when he set out in the eve of his migration, the polytheists laid in wait for him. They assigned some men to keep watch on him at the entrance of his house. They gave them an instruction that whenever he wanted to go out, they should kill him. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) asked Ali to sleep on his bed. He then went out to them while they were there sitting at his door. He sprinkled dust on their heads one by one while saying, “May these faces be deformed!” He then went out without anyone of them seeing him. He met Abu Bakr at his house and both of them took refuge at the cave of Thawr, as has already been explained in the Seerah. We also mentioned that a spider screened the entrance of the cave with its web to prevent his pursuers from knowing his place.
It is authentically recorded that Abu Bakr said while he and the Prophet were in the Cave, “If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.” But the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?”
Also, Suraqah Ibn Malik Ibn Ju‘shum was miraculously prevented from reaching the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was pursuing them. His horse was made to fall on the ground and he was unable to get it up until the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) extracted from him a promise that he would not do him any harm as earlier mentioned when discussing the Prophet’s emigration.
Ibn Hamid, in his work, discussed Prophet Ibraheem’s laying down his son for sacrifice to Allah in obedience to Him. He then mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had similar experience during the Battle of Badr when he laid down his life that the enemy was able to attack him, inflict injury on him in his head and break his teeth.
He then said, “They said that Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) was thrown in the fire by his people and Allah turned the fire to coldness and safety for him. We are also saying the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was given a similar miracle. When he arrived at Khaibar, a Khaibari woman poisoned him and the poison turned to coldness and safety in his bowel until the end of his life, despite the fact that poison normally burns the bowel like fire. This has also been mentioned earlier while discussing the conquest of Khaibar. This is supported by the fact that Bishr Ibn Al-Bara’ Ibn Ma‘roor with whom the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) shared the poisoned meat died soon after eating it. It was only after the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had taken a bite from the goat arm that it informed him that it was poisoned. Much of the poison was put on the goat arm because the enemies had learned that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) loved that part of the goat. However, by Allah’s permission, the poison did not do him any harm until he left this world. We have equally mentioned in the biography of Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed AlMakhzoomi, the conqueror of Sham, that he was brought a poisonous liquid and he sipped it in the presence of the enemy to frighten them and no harm happened to him.
Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) defeated Numrood with the proof of his Prophethood as indicated in Allah’s statement, “So the disbeliever was utterly defeated.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:258)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) has also recorded a similar feat. The denier of Resurrection, Ubayy Ibn Khalaf, brought him a disintegrated bone. He rubbed it and said to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), as narrated to us by Allah: “Who will give life to these bones after they are rotted and have became dust?” (Soorah Ya Seen 36:78) There and then, Allah revealed to His Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) to tell him:
“He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!” (Soorah Ya Seen 36:79) And Ubayy went away defeated and disgraced. And this is stronger proof.
It is also worth mentioning that Allah gave Muhammad victory over this obdurate when he challenged him to a duel during the Battle of Uhud. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was able to kill him with a spear which he shot at him that made him fall off his horse. When he was asked the reason for his fall, he said, “By Allah, I am afflicted with that which if the entire people of Dhul-Majaz were afflicted with it, they would all die. By Allah, if Muhammad had only spat on me, he would have killed me.” It is to be recalled that this Ubayy Ibn Khalaf had prepared a horse and a spear with which he wanted to fight the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). He had even boasted that he would be the one to kill him. But the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Rather, I will be the one to kill him!” And that was what happened in the Battle of Uhud.
If it is said that Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) broke the idols of his people for the sake of Allah, then Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) broke three hundred and sixty idols erected around the Ka‘bah. He merely pointed to them and they started falling and disintegrating.
Ibn Umar narrated: “On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) stood, while there were three hundred and sixty statues around the Ka‘bah. Shaitan had glued these statues to the Ka‘bah with lead and copper. As soon as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) moved close to any of these statues with a staff he was holding, the statue would fall without even touching it, and he would say, “And say: Truth has come and Batil (falsehood, i.e. Shaitan or polytheism) has vanished. Surely! Batil is ever bound to vanish.” (Soorah Al-Isra’ 17:81) With this statement, the statues would fall on their faces. This miracle is more impressive than the one mentioned earlier.
As for Allah’s statement, “Thus did we show Ibraheem the kingdom of the heavens and the Earth that he be one of those who have Faith with certainty.” (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:75) and the succeeding Verses, Allah also has the following to say about Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him): “Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) (above all that (evil) they associate with Him) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Soorah Al-Isra’ 17:1)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, in the Hadith of Ru’ya, “And everything became manifest to me and I became well-acquainted.”
Concerning the tribulation faced by Prophet Ya‘qoob (Peace be upon him) who lost his son Yousuf (Peace be upon him), and his patience and seeking his Lord’s help in bearing that loss, Ibn Hamid mentioned that that Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) faced similar, rather greater tribulation in the form of losing his son Ibraheem and he bore the loss with exceptional patience. It was on this occasion that he said, “The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibraheem! Indeed we are grieved by your separation.”
This is in addition to the death of three of his daughters: Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom and Zainab; and his uncle Hamzah, the lion of Allah and His Messenger, was also martyred in the Battle of Uhud. He bore all these losses with patience and sought reward of that patience from Allah.
As regards the handsomeness of Prophet Yoosuf (Peace be upon him), Ibn Hamid also mentioned the handsomeness of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), his sweetness and the awe he commanded in terms of his physical appearance, utterances, guidance, characteristic and manners. Rubayyi‘ Bbint Mu‘awwidh said, “Had you seen him, you would think that you are looking at an emerging sun (in beauty).”
As for the tribulation that Prophet Yoosuf (Peace be upon him) faced as a result of his handsomeness such as his separation from his loved ones and his exile, Ibn Hamid mentioned what Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) experienced what is equivalent to that: He emigrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah, and was thereby forced to leave his hometown, family and companions who were there.
By Ibn Katheer
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