Many Muslims today believe that Holy Prophets (A.S) were more than human beings. And if somebody calls or even considers them as human beings, then that person is seen as being on the wrong path and in deep ignorance.

 

The meaning of contexts of some of the hadiths and Qur’anic verses can be misunderstood when they are not considered carefully. But careful consideration should spare the reader any confusion. As Allah (SWT) said in Qur’an: 

Verily! The worst of beasts in the Sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb -- those who understand not. (8.22)

The people referred to here were some persons from the tribe of Bani 'Abd-Addar. This verse is also mentioned in Sahih Al-Bukhari (No. 6.169). Whey applied to human beings, this verse means that the ignorant persons are those who read and hear the Qur’an but do not understand it. And Allah (SWT) doesn’t like the people who don’t understand His sayings and the words of the Holy Prophets (A.S).

 

Commonly Quoted Hadiths and Verses

 

The believers who believe that Prophets were not Human beings often misunderstand the following Qur’anic verses and hadiths: 

Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another. Allah does know those of you who slip away under shelter of some excuse. Then let those beware who withstand the Messenger's order, lest some trial befalls them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them. (24.63)

 

[Satan] said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man, whom You created from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape." (15.33)

 

But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "We see in you nothing but a man like ourselves; nor do we see that any follow you but the meanest among us, in judgment immature; nor do we see in you [all] any merit above us; in fact we thing you are liars!" (11.27)

 

And the chiefs of his people, who disbelieved and denied the Meeting in the Hereafter, and on whom We had bestowed the good things of this life, said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves: he eats of that of which you eat, and drinks of what ye drink.” (23.33)

 

Abdullah ibn Umar said: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) had said: “The prayer observed by a person sitting is half of the prayer.” I came to him (peace be upon him) and found him praying in a sitting position. I placed my hand on his head. He said: “O Abdullah ibn Amr, what is the matter with you?” I said: “Messenger of Allah, it has been narrated to me that you said: ‘The prayer of a man in a sitting position is half of the prayer, whereas you are observing prayer sitting.” He (the Prophet) said: “Yes, it is so, but I am not like anyone amongst you.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 4 (Prayer), No. 1600)

There are many other verses and hadiths which are similarly misunderstood.

 

Counter Arguemnts

 

In order to counter this misunderstanding there are many Qur’anic verses and hadiths that can be quoted to show that the conclusion drawn from the verses and hadiths mentioned above is a misunderstanding. The Qur'an clearly states that no human being lives forever and everyone has to taste death:

We granted not to any man before you permanent life [here]; if then you should die would they live forever? Every soul shall have a taste of death; and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must you return.” (21.34-35) But the Devil whispered to him, saying: “O Adam! Shall I show you the tree of immortality and power that wastes not away?” (20.120)

These verses show that no one in this world will live forever and there is no immortality in this world, because immortality is in the life of hereafter. Also, in the Qur'an, Allah said to the prophet: “if Allah (SWT) willed, He could seal up your heart” (42.24), which means that He (SWT) could even seal the heart of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW). So how could He (SAW) be more than a human being when he is warned by Allah (SWT) of the punishment that is applied to normal human beings? In hadiths, the suggestion of some Muslim brothers and sisters that the Prophets (A.S) were more than humans is directly rejected by Holy Prophet (SAW) Himself: 

It was narrated by Umm Salama (R.A) (Wife of Prophet SAW) that Allah's Apostle heard some people quarreling at the door of his dwelling. He came out and said, "I am only a human being, and opponents come to me [to settle their problems]. Maybe someone amongst you can present his case more eloquently than the other, whereby I may consider him true and give a verdict in his favor. So, if I give the right of a Muslim to another by mistake, then it is really a portion of the Fire [of Hell], and he has the option to take it or give it up [before the Day of Resurrection]". (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, No. 638)

See also hadiths 9.97, 1.799, 9.292 of Sahih Al–Bukhari.

 

Two things to observed from this hadith:

 

1) The Holy Prophet (SAW) was a human being.
2) He (SAW) only knew what Allah (SWT) had told him, (i.e.) He (SAW) had no knowledge about the future or what is hidden.

 

This is another hadith that stresses that Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was a human being: 

It was narrated by 'Abdullah that the Prophet prayed (and the sub narrator Ibrahim said, "I do not know whether he prayed more or less than usual"), and when he had finished the prayers he was asked: "O Allah's Apostle! Has there been any change in the prayers?" He said, "what is it?' The people said, "You have prayed so much and so much." So the Prophet bent his legs, faced the Qibla and performed two prostrations (of Sahu [forgetfulness]) and finished his prayers with Taslim (by turning his face to right and left saying: 'As-Salamu'Alaikum-Warahmat-ullah'). When he turned his face to us he said, "If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I would have informed you, but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly and finish it and do two prostrations (of Sahu)." (Sahih Al–Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, No. 394)

This is another piece of evidence that Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was a normal human being. He was the last messenger of Allah (SWT) and will remain till the Day of Judgment.

 

As for whether Prophets (A.S) were more than human beings or not, I would like to say that surely they are the most pious and the most favorite people of Allah (SWT), but that does not mean that they were more than Human beings. Many people argue that the Prophets were not like us and that they were greater than us, and they prove that by quoting Sahih Muslim’s hadith No 1600 above. I agree with those people that the Prophets (A.S) were greater than us, but I disagree with them on what they were greater than us in. The Holy Prophet (SAW) himself has given the answer to this confusion in the following hadith: 

It is narrated by Ayesha (R.A) that a person came to the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) asking for a fatwa (religious verdict). She (Ayesha) had been overhearing it from behind the curtain. Ayesha added that he (the person) had said: “Messenger of Allah, (the time) of prayer overtakes me as I am in a state of Junub; should I observe fast [in this state]?” Upon this the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “At times the time of prayer overtakes me while I am in a state of Junub, and I observe fast [in that very state],” whereupon he (the man) said: “Messenger of Allah, you are not like us, as Allah has pardoned all your sins, the previous ones and the later ones.” (The Prophet) said: “By Allah, I hope I am the most God-fearing of you, and possess the best knowledge among you of those (things) against which I should guard.” (Sahih Muslim, No. 2455)

This clarifies why the Holy Prophets (A.S) were not like any of us, but it doesn’t mean that they were more than human beings. I agree that they were greater of us all, but on the basis of what our Holy Prophet (SAW) has said.

 

A Muslim brother argued that “Satan was the first one to call the Prophet (Adam A.S) a human being.” And he quoted this verse: "(Iblees) said: 'I am not one to prostrate myself to man, whom You created from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape'" (15.33). And he also said that “all the people who call Prophets human beings are following the footsteps of Satan.” This might sound like a convincing argument for some, but I have a different point of view. Satan refused to bow in front of Prophet Adam (A.S) and gave the reason that the latter was made of clay and a mere human being. It means that degrading and rejecting someone because he is a human being is the position of Satan, and thus cannot be the faith of believers. That’s why Muslims believe that all the Holy Prophets (A.S) were human beings. The Noble Qur’an itself discusses this in detail. Being mere human beings does not make any change or difference to their dignity.

 

So the first being to reject and degrade the human being was Satan. Because he was proud of himself, having been made of fire, he refused to bow and rejected the existence of Human beings. So it is Satan’s stand and belief to degrade Human Beings, whereas Allah SWT described the human beings as Ashraf-ul-Makhlooqaat (Superior of All the Creations).

 

Human beings are also the deputies of Allah SWT on this earth. Thus the Qur’an clearly states that only Allah SWT is above Human beings and no one else is between them. So if a person says that the Prophets were not human beings then I don’t know what he is trying to say or prove! The Prophets were human beings, but they were favoured by Allah SWT with the gift of Prophecy.

 

I have also come across this argument: “It was the way and style of the non–believers (Mushrikeen) to consider the Prophets mere human beings. The Qur'an mentions in several places those who called their Prophets human beings. Because of their calling the Prophets human beings Allah SWT destroyed them.” The verses that are cited in support of this view are these: 

But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "We see (in) you nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow you but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we thing ye are liars!" (11.27) And the chiefs of his people, who disbelieved and denied the meeting in the Hereafter, and on whom We had bestowed the good things of this life, said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves: he eats of that of which you eat, and drinks of what you drink.” (23.33)

It is another misconception that people take by reading the outer meaning of Qur’anic verses. As explained earlier, the first one to reject, refuse, and degrade human beings was Satan. So the people who refused that the holy Prophets were sent by Allah SWT were the followers of Satan, as they gave the reason that Satan gave to Allah SWT. Verse 11.27 talks about how tribe leaders diverged from the truth and argued with Noah (A.S). It shows the thinking of the people of the past and confirms their ignorance. They wanted something extraordinary to happen so that they could accept the Prophecy. The tribe leaders could not accept the superiority of any other person who looks like them and acts like them. So it was very hard for those Leaders to accept that someone was superior to them, because they were proud of themselves being leaders, as Satan was proud for being created from fire and for being the dearest Angel to Allah.

 

The same thinking of the disbelievers can be seen in verse 23.33. It was very hard for them to accept the superiority of a person who was just like them. They didn’t realize that it was a test of their truthfulness and sincerity to Allah (SWT). Allah wanted to see that who will agree with His Prophet and who will accept the man who looked like them as being superior to them, for the sake of Allah.

 

This is similar to what happened between Moses (A.S) and Pharaoh. When Moses (A.S) told him that there is only One God, who had no peer and no substitute, Pharaoh became angry and did not accept Allah (SWT) as the only lord because he considered himself as God. It was difficult for him to accept that there was someone more powerful than him. Similarly, people leaders were jealous of the Holy Prophets, because they were not ready to accept men like them as the Holy Prophets of Allah. These leaders said: "If you obey a man like you behold it is certain ye will be lost” (23.34). It is a test from Allah to see who will accept to be led to the right way by those whom He chose.

 

Let’s look at this incident in the story of Moses: 

It is narrated by Said bin Jubair that …………….Ubai bin Ka'b told us that the Prophet said, “Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked, who was the most learned man amongst the people. He said, 'I.' Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him, 'Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of Mine who is more learned than you.' Moses said, 'O my Lord! How can I meet him? …” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, No. 4.613)

Clearly, Prophets are only human beings. Prophet Moses (A.S) claimed to be the most learned among the people, but Allah (SWT) rejected his claim and revealed to him that there is a friend of Allah (SWT) who is more learned and intelligent. This proves that in the sight of Allah (SWT) superiority among the creation is measured by faith and piety (i.e. Taqwa), and that applies to the Prophets also.

 

In further proof that all Prophets being were human beings, I would like to cite this verse: 

I tell neither you that with me are the Treasures of Allah nor do I know what is hidden nor I claim to be an angel. Nor do I say of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that is good. Allah knows best what is in their souls. Otherwise, I would be one of the wrongdoers." (11.31)

This verse tells us what Prophet Noah (A.S) said to the chiefs of the disbelievers.

 

The Prophets are normal human beings, and human beings are the dearest creation to Allah SWT. That’s why he called us Ashraf-ul-Makhluqaat (Superior of All the Creations). There is no other creation that superior than the human being. As for the Prophets, Allah (SWT) honors anyone whom he likes and takes it away from anyone he likes and there is no one to ask him. Verily Allah always does what is right.