Refuting the doubt of those who say: The Messenger is a physical and spiritual light
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One of our respected listeners from Sudan sent a message containing a photocopied sheet with no fewer than twenty-three proofs that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is a physical and spiritual light. He cited some verses and many hadiths. Should I read the verse and the hadiths, Your Eminence, or do you think we should answer them as they are?
The Shaykh: First, read the first one, the first thing he said.
The presenter: Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 15] Allah has named His Prophet a light in this verse, so what prevents us from saying: He is a light? Al-Qurtubi said in his tafsir: "There has come to you from Allah a light," meaning: illumination. It was said: Islam, and it was said: Muhammad (peace be upon him). So, whoever says the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a light has predecessors in that, especially the Noble Qur'an. 'Abd al-Razzaq and al-Bayhaqi narrated from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah that he said: The hadith. And Ibn Marzuq mentioned it from 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) .
Answer: This report is fabricated. This report of 'Abd al-Razzaq from Jabir is fabricated, and it is the claim that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first of the created things and that he is a light from the light of Allah. This is false; this is fabricated. As for calling him a light, he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him), not because of his essence. He is a light by what Allah sent him with of the Shari'ah and guidance: [Al-Ma'idah: 15] The light is Islam, and Muhammad is a light, as He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Ahzab: 45-46] He is a shining lamp by what Allah sent of guidance. Before he was sent with the guidance, he was not a light; he was among the people, not a light. Even if he had distinguishing traits in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, such as truthfulness and trustworthiness, he was not a light until Allah sent him with the guidance and the religion of truth. Then he became a light by what Allah sent him with, not by his physical essence, but by what Allah sent him with of guidance, beneficial knowledge, and righteous action. He used to pray in the house, and there was no light in the house; the house would be dark and have no light, as 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Meaning: there was no lamp. He would touch her with his hand because of the darkness.
So, the conclusion is: He was not a light in its physical sense, and he is like a lamp that illuminates the dark place and suffices for a lamp in his house. Rather, he is the light by what Allah sent him with of guidance, beneficial knowledge, righteous action, and the great Shari'ah.
As for the hadith that he is a light from the light of Allah and that he preceded the created things, this is a false, fabricated report. Some of our Moroccan brothers have written a treatise clarifying that it is fabricated, and we have verified it and supported it, confirming that it is fabricated. By this, the questioner and other listeners will know that he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him) by what Allah sent him with of guidance, and he is a shining lamp for the Ummah by what Allah sent of guidance. He is not a physical light by his flesh and blood. No, he is of the kind of the children of Adam, a human being of the kind of the children of Adam. He is not a light by his body and flesh, but he is a light by what Allah sent him with of guidance. By this, if he is in the room where 'A'ishah is, and it is dark, it does not become illuminated merely by his presence (peace and blessings be upon him). And the people did not see him in the dark markets, and he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him). So, the conclusion is: The light is only in the sense of what Allah sent him with of guidance, not by his essence (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, we will skip the rest of the reports...
The Shaykh: There is no need for that, because this is the meaning.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: First, read the first one, the first thing he said.
The presenter: Allah the Exalted said:
There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.
قد جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌI said: O Messenger of Allah! May my father and mother be your ransom, tell me about the first thing Allah created before all things? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O Jabir! Indeed, Allah the Exalted created before all things the light of your Prophet from His light
قلت: يا رسول الله! بأبي أنت وأمي أخبرني عن أول شيء خلقه الله قبل الأشياء؟ قال ﷺ: يا جابر! إن الله تعالى قد خلق قبل الأشياء نور نبيك من نورهAnswer: This report is fabricated. This report of 'Abd al-Razzaq from Jabir is fabricated, and it is the claim that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first of the created things and that he is a light from the light of Allah. This is false; this is fabricated. As for calling him a light, he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him), not because of his essence. He is a light by what Allah sent him with of the Shari'ah and guidance:
There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.
قد جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌindeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. (46) And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُنِيرًاHe used to pray while I would extend my legs between his hands, and when he prostrated, he would nudge me, and when he stood up, I would extend them. She said: And the houses did not have lamps at that time
كان يصلي وأنا أبسط رجلي بين يديه فإذا سجد غمزني وإذا قام بسطتهما، قالت: والبيوت ليس فيها يومئذ مصابيحSo, the conclusion is: He was not a light in its physical sense, and he is like a lamp that illuminates the dark place and suffices for a lamp in his house. Rather, he is the light by what Allah sent him with of guidance, beneficial knowledge, righteous action, and the great Shari'ah.
As for the hadith that he is a light from the light of Allah and that he preceded the created things, this is a false, fabricated report. Some of our Moroccan brothers have written a treatise clarifying that it is fabricated, and we have verified it and supported it, confirming that it is fabricated. By this, the questioner and other listeners will know that he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him) by what Allah sent him with of guidance, and he is a shining lamp for the Ummah by what Allah sent of guidance. He is not a physical light by his flesh and blood. No, he is of the kind of the children of Adam, a human being of the kind of the children of Adam. He is not a light by his body and flesh, but he is a light by what Allah sent him with of guidance. By this, if he is in the room where 'A'ishah is, and it is dark, it does not become illuminated merely by his presence (peace and blessings be upon him). And the people did not see him in the dark markets, and he is a light (peace and blessings be upon him). So, the conclusion is: The light is only in the sense of what Allah sent him with of guidance, not by his essence (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, we will skip the rest of the reports...
The Shaykh: There is no need for that, because this is the meaning.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.