Explanation of the author's statement: "And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger"
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The Shaykh : His statement: "And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him, and upon his family and his Companions, with abundant peace)".
"I bear witness that Muhammad" We say regarding "I bear witness" what we said about the first "I bear witness."
And Muhammad: he is the son of 'Abd Allah, the son of 'Abd al-Muttalib, the Qurayshi, the Hashimite, who is from the lineage of Isma'il, the son of Ibrahim, the most noble of people in lineage, (peace and blessings be upon him).
This noble Prophet is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, and he is the most devoted of people to Allah in worship, and the most rigorous in establishing His worship. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand in prayer at night until his feet would swell, and it was said to him: "How do you do this, when Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?" He would say:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 412Sahih (Darussalam) — Let it be, let it be — because Allah the Exalted praised the grateful slave when He said of Noah: [Al-Isra 17:3] So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to reach this height and to worship Allah the Exalted with true worship. For this reason, he is the most God-conscious of people, the most fearful of Allah, and the most eager for what is with Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He). He is a slave, and the implication of his servitude is that he does not possess for himself or for anyone else any benefit or harm, and he has no right whatsoever in lordship. Rather, he is a slave in need of Allah, dependent upon Him, asking Him, supplicating to Him, hoping in Him, and fearing Him. Indeed, Allah commanded him to declare and to convey a specific message that he does not possess any of these things. So he said: [Al-A'raf 7:188] And He commanded him to declare and say: [Al-An'am 6:50] Look at the realization of servitude: [Al-An'am 6:50] And He commanded him to declare and say: [Al-Jinn 72:21] Just as he does not possess that for himself [Al-Jinn 72:21-23] except this is a disconnected exception, meaning: but I convey the message from Allah and His revelations.
The result is that Muhammad (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) is a slave, and the implication of this servitude is that he has no right in any of the matters of lordship whatsoever.
And if Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him), is in this position, what can be said of those below him among the slaves of Allah?! Do they possess for themselves any benefit or harm, or for others? Never. And by this, the foolishness of those people becomes clear, who call upon those they call upon as awliya (close friends of Allah) besides Allah, (Mighty and Majestic).
And his statement: "and His Messenger": "that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger" This is also a description that does not apply to anyone after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the Seal of the Prophets. He is the Messenger of Allah who reached a station that no human being has reached, nor even the angels, as far as we know, except the bearers of the Throne. He reached what is above the seventh heaven and reached a place where he heard the scraping of the pens of the decree by which Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), decrees in His creation. No one has reached this level, and Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), spoke to him without an intermediary and sent him to the creation and supported him with the great signs that no human being or messenger before him had. And this is this great Qur'an, for this Qur'an has no parallel in the signs of the previous prophets, ever. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:[Al-'Ankabut 29:50-51] Complete [Al-'Ankabut 29:51] This is sufficient for everything, but for the one who has a heart or who lends an ear while being a witness. As for the one who turns away, he will say, as those before him said: "These are the legends of the former peoples."
The result is that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. Allah sealed prophethood and messengership with him, because if prophethood, which is broader than messengership, is negated, then messengership, which is more specific, is negated, because the negation of the broader implies the negation of the more specific. So, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets.
"I bear witness that Muhammad" We say regarding "I bear witness" what we said about the first "I bear witness."
And Muhammad: he is the son of 'Abd Allah, the son of 'Abd al-Muttalib, the Qurayshi, the Hashimite, who is from the lineage of Isma'il, the son of Ibrahim, the most noble of people in lineage, (peace and blessings be upon him).
This noble Prophet is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, and he is the most devoted of people to Allah in worship, and the most rigorous in establishing His worship. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand in prayer at night until his feet would swell, and it was said to him: "How do you do this, when Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?" He would say:
Shouldn't I be a grateful worshipper?
أفلا أكون عبدا شكوراIndeed, he was a grateful servant.
إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْداً شَكُوراًSay, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me.
قُلْ لا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعاً وَلا ضَرّاً إِلاَّ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لاَسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُI do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel
قُلْ لا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌI only follow what is revealed to me.
إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّSay, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرّاً وَلا رَشَداً(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge. (23) But [I have for you] only notification
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرّاً وَلا رَشَداً قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَداً إِلاّ بَلاغاًThe result is that Muhammad (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) is a slave, and the implication of this servitude is that he has no right in any of the matters of lordship whatsoever.
And if Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him), is in this position, what can be said of those below him among the slaves of Allah?! Do they possess for themselves any benefit or harm, or for others? Never. And by this, the foolishness of those people becomes clear, who call upon those they call upon as awliya (close friends of Allah) besides Allah, (Mighty and Majestic).
And his statement: "and His Messenger": "that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger" This is also a description that does not apply to anyone after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the Seal of the Prophets. He is the Messenger of Allah who reached a station that no human being has reached, nor even the angels, as far as we know, except the bearers of the Throne. He reached what is above the seventh heaven and reached a place where he heard the scraping of the pens of the decree by which Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), decrees in His creation. No one has reached this level, and Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), spoke to him without an intermediary and sent him to the creation and supported him with the great signs that no human being or messenger before him had. And this is this great Qur'an, for this Qur'an has no parallel in the signs of the previous prophets, ever. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:
(50) But they say, "Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner." (51) And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe.
وَقَالُوا لَوْلا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الآياتُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْAnd is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them
أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْThe result is that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. Allah sealed prophethood and messengership with him, because if prophethood, which is broader than messengership, is negated, then messengership, which is more specific, is negated, because the negation of the broader implies the negation of the more specific. So, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets.