The Guardian of the Universe

Our Prophet, closest and most majestic

The guardian of the universe

 (Part 18)

Abu al-Nur Rashid ‘Ali ‘Attari Madani

(continued from previous issue)

(29) اَنَا اَوْلیٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ اَنْفُسِهِمْ

“I am closer (awlā) to the believers than their own lives.”^[1]

This hadith of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has been narrated in many compendiums of hadith. One version reads:

اَنَا اَوْلىٰ بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهٖ

“I am closer to every believer than his own soul.”^[2]

This blessed hadith elaborates on the Quranic verse: 

اَلنَّبِیُّ  اَوۡلٰی بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ مِنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ^[3]

This verse and hadith carry great connotations of love, devotion, mercy, and generosity, the reality of which can only be understood by those truly devoted to the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Only those hearts moved by Muhammadan love can bask in the security and pleasure of these words.

The pivotal word in the statements of both Allah Almighty and His Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is awlā, which has the senses of “most rightful,” “guardian,” “owner,” “close,” “one who is greatly gentle,” and “one who gives the most benefit.” The Ulema drew many lessons and teachings from these concise yet deep words:

1.   It is necessary (wajib) for the believers to consider the being, honour and greatness of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to be dearer than their own lives.^[4]  Clear proof of this is found in this narration, in which Sayyidunā ʿUmar al-Fārūq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ submitted in the Prophetic court: “Dear Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ! You are more beloved to me than everything, except my own life.” The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: “By the One in whose control is my life! Faith and love will not be complete until I am more beloved to you than your own life.” Sayyidunā ʿUmar al-Fārūq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ announced: “Dear Messenger of Allah! You are now more beloved to me than my own life.” The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: “Now dear Umar, the matter is complete.”^[5]

2.   The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the guardian of the believers and more rightful in every worldly and religious affair of theirs.^[6]  In terms of fulfilling the rights of Muslims, the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is more deserving to have his right fulfilled in comparison to every other Muslim. The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself said, “I am closest to every believer in this world and the Hereafter. If you wish, you may recite this verse: اَلنَّبِیُّ  اَوۡلٰی بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ مِنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ (I am closer (awlā) to the believers than their own lives).” He then explained, “When a believer passes away, the wealth he leaves behind belongs to inheritors, and whoever leaves behind debt and children should come to me, for I am their helper.”^[7]

3.   The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is more compassionate, gentle, and benefitting for the believers than themselves.^[8]  This blessed verse very beautifully explains this meaning:

لَقَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ عَزِیۡزٌ عَلَیۡہِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِیۡصٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ (۱۲۸).^[9]

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’imi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه beautifully comments on this as follows:

I.e., any pain you encounter causes him pain. The meaning of this is clear: he has come to you like a soul in a body, and pain in any part of the body causes pain to the soul. Similarly, he feels the pain of every Muslim. From this we come to know that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is aware of every state of the Muslims at every time. Otherwise, how could he feel restless at our pain?

He continues by saying:

This verse refers to how some people desire children, leisure, honour, money, or other things of this nature, but the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم neither has a desire for children nor for leisure. Instead, he is only desirous of your well-being.

This is why he remembered us at the time of his birth, remained concerned for us during the Me’raj, and did not forget us even when leaving this world. When he was placed in his luminous grave, Sayyidunā ʿAbd Allah b. ʿAbbās رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا saw his blessed lips moving. When he listened closely, he heard intercession taking place. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would remain awake at night, supplicating tearfully for his Ummah: “Dear Allah, if You punish them, then they are your servants; but if You forgive them, then You are mighty and wise.” On the Day of Judgement, everyone will only be concerned about themselves, but the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be concerned about everyone. Every Prophet will say, “Myself, myself,” but the Beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will say, “My nation, my nation.” صلَّی الله علیه وعلیٰ آله واصحابه وبارک وسلم  .^[10]

4.   When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم calls us to something while the carnal self (nafs) invites us towards something else, it is better for the believers to obey the noble Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . In fact, it is necessary. This is because the carnal self invites towards destruction, but Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم invites towards salvation.^[11]  Just as the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

My example is like a person who lit a fire, and when the fire illuminated its surroundings, moths and insects began to fall into it. So, the person stops them from falling into the fire, but they overwhelm him and fall into the fire in droves. Such is my example and yours; I am holding your backs and preventing you from falling into Hell and telling you to move away from it. But you people do not accept what I am saying and are falling into Hell ˹like moths falling into a fire˺.^[12]

5.   After the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has ordained a matter, there is no need to seek counsel or permission from someone else. Hence, the exegetes state:

اَنَّه عليه الصلاة والسلام اَرَادَ غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكٍ فَامَرَ النَّاسَ بِالْخُرُوْجِ فَقَالَ نَاسٌ: نَسْتَأذِنُ آبَاءَنا وَاُمَّهَاتَنَا فَنَزَلَتْ

“When the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم set out for Battle of Tabuk and ordered people to prepare for it, some of them replied, ‘We will seek permission from our parents before embarking.’ It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed.”^[13]

This highlights how a mother, father or brother have no authority in light of the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم command, for he has the greatest right over our lives, wealth and children.^[14]
Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه comments:
It has been declared here that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is even closer and has more ownership over you than yourself, so seeking another person’s opinion after his command is impermissible. Once the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has given a command, then whether your mother agrees or not, or if your heart accepts it or not, it is binding on you to obey him. Awlā has several meanings, one of which is “greater owner.” So, the meaning would be that the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has so much authority and ownership over you, that your own soul does not have such authority over your own body and limbs.
The soul has so much authority over the body that a limb cannot move in the slightest without the agency of the soul. The bodily appendages, such as the eyes, ears, and mouth, are helpless and under the control of the soul. However, the ownership and authority of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be even greater than that, such that all your movements should be in accordance to the commands of the noble Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Sayyidunā Sahl رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states, “The one who does not consider his life, wealth, children, and everything else to be in the possession of the beloved Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , can never taste the sweetness of faith.”^[15]