Sunnis Claim Muhammad More than a Human
Last updated
Last updated
TLDR: Sunnis elevate the prophet's status to claim that he is not just a man like the Quran claims. They venerate him to a godly status.
The Quran informs us the following fact.
[12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ
On May 12th, 2023, Shaykh Hasan Ali made the following tweet where he posted a single verse from the Holy Quran:
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was instructed to say: ❝Say, “I am but a human being like you; it is revealed to me that your god is only One God. So, turn straight towards Him, and seek forgiveness from Him, and woe to the Mushriks (those who ascribe partners to Allah)❞ (Quran 41:6)
One would think the Muslim umma would be happy to have the Shaykh remind them of the beautiful verse from the Quran; instead, this tweet caused an uproar among many Muslims who viciously attacked him and the verse.
Many respondents denied that the prophet was a human being like us, insinuating that the prophet was not like us and thus that the verse of the Quran was wrong.
One account called upon 3:7 to claim that verse 41:6 was meant to be allegorical and not to be taken literally.
Peopel questioned the Shaykh’s intentions for bringing to their attention such a verse.
One account called the Shaykh a moron after telling him to “Die and rot in jealousy,” while another called him ignorant for simply reminding people of a verse.
Many people cited Hadith to claim that the verse of the Quran was false and that Muhammad was not like the people. A couple favorite they seemed to gravitate towards was the following:
Narrated `Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) fasted for days continuously; the people also did the same but it was difficult for them. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade them (to fast continuously for more than one day). They slid, “But you fast without break (no food was taken in the evening or in the morning).” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “I am not like you, for I am provided with food and drink (by Allah).
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاصَلَ فَوَاصَلَ النَّاسُ فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَنَهَاهُمْ. قَالُوا إِنَّكَ تُوَاصِلُ. قَالَ “ لَسْتُ كَهَيْئَتِكُمْ، إِنِّي أَظَلُّ أُطْعَمُ وَأُسْقَى ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1922 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1922
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do you find me seeing towards the Qibla only? By Allah, your bowing and your prostrating are not hidden from my view. Verily I see you behind my back.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ هَلْ تَرَوْنَ قِبْلَتِي هَا هُنَا فَوَاللَّهِ مَا يَخْفَى عَلَىَّ رُكُوعُكُمْ وَلاَ سُجُودُكُمْ إِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي ” .
Sahih Muslim 424 https://sunnah.com/muslim:424
Another series of responses drew upon Hadith references to the superpowers of the spittle of the prophet or that his sweat smelled of musk.
Then, there were a number of people calling Muhammad God’s best creation. This implies that he is better than all the other prophets and messengers, all the angels, and all the things we do not even know of. Nowhere in the Quran is such a statement made, and it even goes against the Hadith literature as well.
The Quran confirms that Muhammad was a human being just like the rest of us. Contrary to wha thte Hadith tell us, the Quran confirms that he ate, drank, slept, and even made mistakes. He was apprehensive to marry the divorced wife of his adopted son (33:37). He gave his attention to the rich person instead of the blind man (80:1-10). He prohibited something God did not prohibit (66:1). He excused the people from battle before confirming their truthfulness (9:43).
[41:6] Say, “I am no more than a human being like you, who has been inspired that your god is one god. You shall be devoted to Him, and ask His forgiveness. Woe to the idol worshipers.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ
[7:188] Say, “I have no power to benefit myself, or harm myself. Only what GOD wills happens to me. If I knew the future, I would have increased my wealth, and no harm would have afflicted me. I am no more than a warner, and a bearer of good news for those who believe.”
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[18:110] Say, “I am no more than a human like you, being inspired that your god is one god. Those who hope to meet their Lord shall work righteousness, and never worship any other god beside his Lord.”
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
Every prophet preached the absolute devotion to God alone. To think that a messenger came to make themselves the focus of the religion would go counter to their core function.
[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, “Idolize me beside GOD.” Instead, (he would say), “Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone,” according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
Elevating the Prophet Leads to Idol Worship
When believers attempt to elevate the status of the prophet beyond what God has designated they think they are giving honor to the prophet, but what they are actually doing is defying God’s words and setting up a partner with God. This is what happend with the followers of Jesus. First they said that he was divine, then they said he was the son of God, then they said he and God were one.
[19:90] The heavens are about to shatter, the earth is about to tear asunder, and the mountains are about to crumble.
[19:91] Because they claim that the Most Gracious has begotten a son.
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلْجِبَالُ هَدًّا
أَن دَعَوْا۟ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَلَدًا
[5:17] Pagans indeed are those who say that GOD is the Messiah, the son of Mary. Say, “Who could oppose GOD if He willed to annihilate the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on earth?” To GOD belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. He creates whatever He wills. GOD is Omnipotent.
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[39:3] Absolutely, the religion shall be devoted to GOD alone. Those who set up idols beside Him say, “We idolize them only to bring us closer to GOD; for they are in a better position!” GOD will judge them regarding their disputes. GOD does not guide such liars, disbelievers.
أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِى مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ
