Describing the Prophet as the greatest prophet

18-7-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible to describe the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, as the “Greatest Prophet" when we know that the “Greatest" is one of the names of Allaah The Exalted?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

You bear no sin in describing the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) as the “Greatest Prophet", because this means that he was the greatest of all the prophets, may Allaah exalt the mention of them all. Of course, this is true since Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was the best of all the prophets and is the master of humankind.

There is no doubt that Allaah The Almighty is the Greatest and that none of His creatures are like Him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is The Hearing, The Seeing.} [Quran, 42:11]

However, sometimes the same attributes that Allaah The Almighty possesses are used in their linguistic sense, to describe some of His creatures in a limited way. For example, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

  • {To the believers (he is) constantly compassionate, constantly merciful.} [Quran, 9:128]. This refers to His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).
  • {Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.} [Quran, 76:2]
  • {So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.} [Quran, 37:101]

It is known that the Hearing, the Seeing and the Forbearing are some of the names of Allaah The Almighty which describe certain attributes, but Allaah The Almighty also describes humans to be as such, but not in the same way as He is.

Allaah knows best.

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