What is the authenticity of the hadith: “I am the first of the prophets in creation and the last of them in resurrection”
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The Shaykh: ... he says: or as he said?
The first part of the hadith: is a well-known hadith, and it is among the hadiths of "Al-Jami' al-Saghir." It is well known that it is a hadith with a weak chain of narration, such that it does not serve as proof, and it is not permissible to attribute it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) because it is not established. This is with regard to its chain of narration. As for its text, it is inconceivable that the Messenger (peace be upon him) would say that he is the first of the prophets in creation, for the first of the prophets, as we know, is Adam (peace be upon him), who is the absolute father of mankind. So how can it be conceived that his grandson, after hundreds of ancestors, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, was created before his first ancestor, Adam (peace be upon him)?
Some people may interpret such a hadith; because the intended meaning of "creation" is spiritual creation, we say that with this meaning, the hadith is free from apparent absurdity. However, this also requires proof that the Messenger (peace be upon him) was created in the spiritual sense before all the prophets. This is a matter of the unseen that requires proof, and there is nothing indicating this except his (peace be upon him) established saying:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37:19, and in another narration: . This is a correct meaning; that is, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) wrote the prophethood of the Messenger (peace be upon him) before the completion of the creation of Adam (peace be upon him): Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37:19. This is the wording of the authentic hadith narrated in "Musnad Imam Ahmad" and other well-known books of the Sunnah. The hadith became famous among the Sufis with the wording: . The hadith with this wording is among the fabricated hadiths, and its fabrication is well known to the scholars. So, , and in the other wording: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37:19. This is correct. As for the claim that he was the first of the prophets in creation and the last of them in resurrection, this is a weak hadith.
As for the rest of the hadith, which is:; I do not know this as a hadith, and I think it is an explanation by some of the readers or commentators on the weak hadith.
I am the first of the prophets in creation and the last of them in resurrection, and I was sent in the last of times so that the nations would not look upon the faults of my Ummah
أنا أوَّل الأنبياء في الخلق ، وآخرهم في البعث ، وقد بُعِثتُ آخر الزمان لِئلَّا تطَّلع الأمم على فضائح أمَّتيThe first part of the hadith:
I am the first of the prophets in creation and the last of them in resurrection
أنا أوَّل الأنبياء في الخلق ، وآخرهم في البعثSome people may interpret such a hadith; because the intended meaning of "creation" is spiritual creation, we say that with this meaning, the hadith is free from apparent absurdity. However, this also requires proof that the Messenger (peace be upon him) was created in the spiritual sense before all the prophets. This is a matter of the unseen that requires proof, and there is nothing indicating this except his (peace be upon him) established saying:
I was a prophet and Adam was between the spirit and the body
كنت نبيًّا وآدم بين الروح والجسدI was written as a prophet
كُتِبت نبيًّاI was a prophet and Adam was between the spirit and the body
كنت نبيًّا وآدم بين الروح والجسدI was a prophet, and there was no Adam, no water, and no clay
كنت نبيًّا ولا آدم ولا ماء ولا طينI was a prophet
كنت نبيًّاI was written as a prophet, and Adam was between the spirit and the body
كُتِبت نبيًّا وآدم بين الروح والجسدAs for the rest of the hadith, which is:
And I was sent in the last of times so that the nations would not look upon the faults of my Ummah
وقد بُعِثتُ آخر الزمان لِئلَّا لا تطَّلع الأمم على فضائح أمَّتي
Source
www.al-albany.com
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