PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAV) IS NOOR: By Ismail Patel.

PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAV) IS NOOR:

Before we discuss about Noor of our Prophet Mohammed (sav), I would like to recall
verse number 45 of Surah Al Ahzaab of quran which has a translation “we have sent you
(Prophet Mohammed-sav) as witness, giving happy news (of jannah), giving fear (of hell
fire) and calling towards Allah by his command and as a shining sun (lamp)” Now our
Prophet has been sent as a witness according to this verse. What should be the qualities or
attributes or properties of a good witness? The witness must be present at a place for
which he/she is witnessing. The winess must recognize the person or thing for
whom/which he/she is witnessing. The witness must have seen the event for which he/she
is witnessing. The witness must be full of sense while witnessing. Now our Prophet is a
witness for all the creations of Allah at the time of judgement day or qayamat day or
yaum al deen. This clearly indicates that nothing in the creation of Allah is made prior to
the noor of our Prophet Mohammed (sav). So, this verse of quran support the hadis
narrated by companion of beloved Prophet (sav) Jabir bin Abdullah that the first creation
of Allah is Noor of Prophet Mohammed (sav). In this way, the bad akidah peoples’
arguments and their presentations giving one or the other references are baseless. Prophet
Mohammed (sav) advised that in the final time of this material world, the people would
bring such hadis/talks which you and your forefathers might have not heard. At that time,
he advised that his talks/hadis must be matched with quranic verses and he further
advised that his hadis/talks would never contradict quranic verses. So, our beloved
Prophet’s talks/hadis will be, always, in accordance with quran. In this way, Hadis
narrated by hazarat Jabis (RA) is most authentic. After Allah, Prophet Mohammed (sav)
is the only supreme authority in the creations of Allah. Prophet Mohammed (sav) is
witness for Pen and Loh, Witness for water, earth, skies and everything. If something is
made prior to Mohammed (sav), how can he become witness for that thing for the time
when he might be absent? May Allah protect us from such a bad imagination.

Hazarat Behlol Dana (RA)’s Guidance for quranic verse “Every living thing is created
from the Water”

In quranic verse 21-30 it states that : “Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the
earth were joined together (as one Unit of Creation), before We clove them asunder? We
made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” From this verse, the
bad akidah/misguided people used to misguide the true believers saying that “Our
Prophet was a Bashar and had contained body like humans created from water” They
want to establish their misguidance that the first thing in the creation was water and not
the noor of our beloved Prophet” Allah may protect us from such misguidance. Ameen.

First of all we must carefully examine the verse. In the above verse of quran, it is stated
that every living thing is created from water. So, the skies, the heavens, the arsh, the
mountains etc are not considered as living things like humans, animals or vegetation. Can
we so believe that these non-living things were created first before the Noor of our
Prophet (sav)? If it was so, then What about Adam(AS) who had seen “La ilah illa Allah,
Mohammed Rasul Allah” in the skies which was already there on skies before his
creation? In fact it is in the hadis of Prophet (sav) which was narrated by Hazarat Jabir
bin Abdullah (RA). In that hadis our Prophet(sav) asked Jabir (RA) “Do you know which
thing Allah created first in his creations?” Jabir (RA) replied “Allah and his Prophet (sav)
knows the best” The Prophet(sav) replied “The Noor of your Prophet has been created
first in his creation from Noor of Allah” and further explained in details with a long hadis
how other things were created.

Consider following example to illustrate “every living thing is made from water” and
how our Prophet (sav)’s body is Noor.

I got guidance by Allah in this matter through his saint Behlol Dana’s history. The saint
Behlol Dana (RA) was used to sit with a king Harun Rashid(RA) who used to drink wine
in his initial rule and tried to make it halal by saying to Hazarat Behlol (RA) who was
known for his intelligence “Wine is made from grapes and grapes is halal and why not
wine?” On hearing, Behlol Dana (RA) got a brick stone from nearby and struck it on the
forehead of the king very strongly. The blood came out from the forehead. As the Behlol
Dana (RA) was in majjub state, he could not be punished. Behlol Dana replied the king “I
have thrown clay (dust) upon you, how did you get such a blow? The brick stone is made
of clay (dust)” On hearing this; the king remained dumb. Behlol Dana (RA) further
explained “Dust was mixed with water and kept on the heat for some time so that brick
was formed and no water left in the brick. The dust became brick-stone. The dust was not
able to strike your forehead whereas the brick was able to strike you. Water was used but
no water left in brick stone. Similar is the case of grape juice and wine. Grape juice kept
for some time makes it wine. The properties of that grape juice changed in to the wine”

What a marvelous guidance given by friend of Allah to reply to the bad akidah people.
They used to say “Everything is made of water and so, our beloved Prophet is not noor
but Bashar like other human body made of water” But the above guidance is enough.
Suppose that even though the body of our Prophet was made from Water, the water did
not survive due to noor of Prophet’s soul and the body became pure noor and obtained
the property of shadowless light-body. So, entire body of our Prophet was noor. So, he
was noori basher. Of course, it must be noted that this explanation is given how our
prophet’s body is noor. But the important aspect is that the noor of our Prophet is created
first in the creation of Allah. Allah’s noor could not be divided. This is like this. We can
lit from one candle flame (light) so many candles and the noor is increased and the
important thing is that the first candle light was not made dim or reduced its light. So, this
is the example of “noor alaa noor” mentioned about our Prophet in quran. So, Allah
created noor of our Prophet from his own noor without division. So, division is not there.
But unification of noor of Prophet and noor of Allah is there.

Further, when we have proof in hadis about noor of Prophet and there is no contradiction
in hadis about that, other book’s report cannot be accepted. Other scholars are below
ranked to companions of Prophet. So, even zaeef hadis has more value than the views of
the scholars of books written after Prophet’s companions’ time. Our Prophet was used to
tell talks as per learning capacity of that companion. It depends on mood of talking too.
Some talks were said in an assembly whereas some talks were said to single companion
alone.

It must also be noted that the Noor of Allah cannot be compared with anything in the
creations. Allah has given example of literal light to understand his Noor. This is not a
comparison. This is for the guidance only. But yes, he can manifest his noor in a literal
light, because, his original noor can not be seen by anybody. In surah Al Noor in verse 35
in quran it is mentioned “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The
example of His Light is like a niche within which there is a lamp; the lamp is
within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly star lit from the blessed olive
tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if
it were untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides whom He wills. And
Allah presents examples for all people, and Allah is Knowing of all things” The
reality of his noor was seen and experienced by our Prophet (sav) during me’raj. So,
Allah made from his light, the light of Prophet Mohammed (sav) so that the people can
take the guidance. It must at the same time be noted that the reality of noor of Prophet
Mohammed is only recognized by Allah only.

The quranic verse 5-15 “Came to you from Allah the noor (light) and Clear Book
(Quran)” clearly described our Prophet as Noor (Light). Imam Busairi (RA) wrote in his
qasida burda shareef that the status of Prophet Mohammed (sav) among humans is that of
Ruby in stones. Though Ruby is among the stones, there is a big difference between
stones and a ruby. Similarly, Prophet Mohammed (sav) is among the humans but he is
noori basher (human dressed in light). This is great difference. To understand him simply
a human is insult to him which may wipe of all sawaab/merits/virtues earned by good
deeds as per verses in quran in surah Al Hujarat.

Following are the important sayings of Imams (leaders) of Ahle Sunnat wa jamaat about
light of our beloved Prophet (sav):

Here is proof from Ahadith-e-Nabawi and from the writings of great and
authentic scholars of Islam which show beyond a shadow of a doubt that
the Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim did not
possess a shadow.

Hadith 1 : Hazrat Hakeem Tirmizi in his book NAWAA DARUL USOOL

narrates from Hazrat Zakwaan Radiyallahu Anhu , a close Companion of
the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, the following
Hadith: "The shadow of the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi
wa Sallim could not be seen in the brightness of the sun, nor in
moonlight".

Hadith 2 : Allama Jauzi in his KITABUL WAFA narrates a hadith from

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu
alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim: "Allah's Rasul had no shadow, not while
standing in the sun, but the brilliance of his Noor surpassed the rays
of the sun; nor while sitting before a burning light, but his luminous
Noor excelled the lustre of the light".

Hadith 3 : Imam Nasafi in his TAFSEER MADAARIK narrates from Hazrat

Uthman ibn Affan Radiyallahu Anhu, the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet
Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. Hazrat Uthman said to the
HolyProphet SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam: "Allah Almighty does not let
your shadow fall on the ground, so that no foot of man can fall on
it".

Hadith 4 : Imam Jalaludeen Suyuti in his KHASAAISUL KUBRA narrates

from Ibn Saba Radiyallahu Anhu: "This is also a unique feature of the
Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim that his shadow
did not touch the ground, because he was Noor, and when he used to
walk in the sunshine his shadow could not be seen".

What the great scholars have to say about this subject

Having read the words of those who had lived with the Holy Prophet
Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim and had closely watched his
every action, we shall now turn to some great scholars of Islam, whose
writings are considered most authentic in Islamic affairs. Pay heed to
these to dispel any doubts that you may have regarding the subject.
All these great scholars firmly believed that the Holy Prophet Sall
Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim did not possess a shadow.

Imam Qazi Ayaaz

1. Imam Qazi Ayaaz in his ASH-SHIFA states:"The Holy Prophet Sall
Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim did not possess a shadow in the
brightness of the sun or in the moonlight, because he was Noor
(light)".

Imam Ahmad Qastalani

2. Imam Ahmed Qastalani states in AL-MAWAHIBUL LADUNYA: "The Holy
Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim did not possess a
shadow in the brightness of the sun or moonlight is proven from the
Ahadith of Tirmizi Sharief of Ibn Zakwaan and Ibn Saba".

Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi

3. Shaikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi states in MADARIJIN NUBUWAH: "The
Holy Prophet's Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim shadow did not
appear in sunshine nor in moonlight".

Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi

4. Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi in his MATHNAWI SHARIEF states: "Let alone
the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, even if an
ordinary servant of the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa
Sallim reaches the stage of inner mortality (BAQA), then like the
Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, his shadow too
disappears".

May Allah Almighty give us the guidance and strength of Imaan to

remain steadfast on the Straight Path. Aameen.