How do we reconcile the statement of Allah the Exalted, “Those are the messengers to whom We gave preference, some over others,” and similar verses and hadiths, with the statement of Allah the Exalted, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers”?
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The questioner : The question, my Shaykh, is how to reconcile the statement of Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Al-Isra 17:55], and the other verse: [Al-Baqarah 2:253], and the hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 4308Sahih (Darussalam). This is one side. The other side is the statement of Allah, (the Exalted): [Al-Baqarah 2:285], and the hadith: . So how do I want to reconcile the first side, the evidence for the first side, and the evidence for the second side?
The Shaykh : The apparent contradiction is in the last hadith:. As for [Al-Baqarah 2:253], this text regarding the prophets... is that correct?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Accordingly, the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 4308Sahih (Darussalam) does not contradict the verse; rather, it confirms and clarifies it. What appears to be problematic, as I mentioned earlier, is the last hadith: .
The questioner : ... .
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The answer is easy if we look at the occasion and cause of this hadith. A man from the Jews met a man from the Companions, and a conversation took place between them. The Jew said, “By the One who preferred Moses over all other people.” The Companion was seized by Islamic zeal and slapped him. The Jew came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to complain about the Companion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said this hadith, meaning: Do not prefer one prophet over another, because that leads to some disagreement, conflict, or fitnah, or to mocking and belittling the prophet who is preferred. Do you understand?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : What remains is[Al-Baqarah 2:285]. No, this does not mean: “We make no distinction between any of His messengers” in terms of rank and virtue. Rather, it means in the obligation of believing in and affirming them all. I think this resolves the last difficulty in the question posed. Is that so?
The questioner: Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah.
The student : Do you have any more questions, young men?
The Shaykh : Oh Allah, before the opportunity and time are lost.
The questioner : A quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour.
The Shaykh : Five minutes remain.
And We have made some of the prophets exceed others
وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى بَعْضٍThose messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others.
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍI am the leader of the sons of Adam, and it is no boast
أنا سيِّد ولد آدم ولا فخرWe make no distinction between any of His messengers
لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِDo not prefer one prophet over another.
لا تفضلوا بين الأنبياءThe Shaykh : The apparent contradiction is in the last hadith:
Do not prefer one prophet over another.
لا تفضلوا بين الأنبياءThose messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others.
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Accordingly, the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
I am the leader of the sons of Adam, and it is no boast
أنا سيِّد ولد آدم ولا فخرDo not prefer one prophet over another.
لا تفضلواThe questioner : ... .
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The answer is easy if we look at the occasion and cause of this hadith. A man from the Jews met a man from the Companions, and a conversation took place between them. The Jew said, “By the One who preferred Moses over all other people.” The Companion was seized by Islamic zeal and slapped him. The Jew came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to complain about the Companion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said this hadith, meaning: Do not prefer one prophet over another, because that leads to some disagreement, conflict, or fitnah, or to mocking and belittling the prophet who is preferred. Do you understand?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : What remains is
We make no distinction between any of His messengers
لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِThe questioner: Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah.
The student : Do you have any more questions, young men?
The Shaykh : Oh Allah, before the opportunity and time are lost.
The questioner : A quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour.
The Shaykh : Five minutes remain.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.