Khasais-e-Mustafa Vision

Extraordinary power of vision

The blessed eyesight of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had a miraculous glory. He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم could see simultaneously ahead and back, right and left, up and down. He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم could also see equally well during day and night, as well as in dark and in daylight. (Al-Khasaais-ul-Kubra lis-Suyuti, vol. 1, pp. 104; Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, Sharh-uz-Zurqaani, vol. 5, pp. 263, 264, Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 571)

O devotees of the Prophet! Refresh your Iman by reading about the extraordinary power of vision of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in some detail:

To see behind his back

Two sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.   اِنِّيْ وَاللَّهِ لَاُبْصِرُ مِنْ وَّرَائِيْ كَمَا اُبْصِرُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ By Allah Almighty! Undoubtedly, I can see behind my back just as I can see in front of me. (Muslim, pp. 180, Hadees 957)

2.   هَلْ تَرَوْنَ قِبْلَتِيْ هَاهُنَا فَوَاللَّهِ مَا يَخْفٰى عَلَيَّ خُشُوعُكُمْ وَلَا رُكُوعُكُمْ  اِنِّيْ لَاَرَاکُمْ مِنْ وَّرَاءِ ظَهْرِيi.e. Do you think that I can only see what is in front of me? By Allah Almighty! Neither is your humility concealed from me and nor is your Ruku hidden from me. Undoubtedly, I see you from behind my back as well. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 161, Hadees 418)

Commenting on the second blessed Hadees Sayyiduna Allamah Badr-ud-din Mahmood Bin Ahmad Ayni رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said: Majority of honourable Islamic scholars hold the opinion which is correct that seeing what is behind the back in a manner which is against the norm in the real sense is the peculiarity of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and therefore, Imam Bukhari رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has mentioned this blessed Hadees in the chapter, ‘Signs of Prophethood’.

Taabi’i saint Sayyiduna Mujahid has narrated that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ‘s act of seeing behind his back was (not restricted to Salah, but rather it was) related to all times. (Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 3, pp. 404)

Tremendous power of vision

Shaykh-e-Muhaqqiq, Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehilvi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has stated: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has been given the tremendous power of seeing in all six directions (left, right, front, back, above and below) at the same time. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 1, pp. 7)

A’la Hadrat, Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has humbly said in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

Shash jahat samt-e-muqabil shab-o-roz ayk hi haal

Dhoom وَالنَّجْم mayn hay Aap ki binaie ki

(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish, pp 154)

i.e. O beloved Rasool of Allah! Whether it is day or night, for you seeing the six directions of left and right, front and back, above and below are just like observing the area in front of him. Why would this not be the magnificence of your blessed eyes when Allah Almighty has stated in Surah An-Najm:

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَ مَا طَغٰى(۱۷)

i.e. (At the time of beholding Allah Almighty) The eyes (of the Holy Prophet) did not turn aside, nor exceed the limit. [Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Para 27, Surah An-Najm, Ayah 17, Sirat-ul-Jinaan, pp 557, summarised)

To see equally from far and near

Two sayings of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.   اِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَاَ نْظُرُ  اِلٰی حَوْضِيْ اَلْاٰنَ Undoubtedly, by Allah Almighty! I am looking at my pond of Kawsar at this very moment. (Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 499, Hadees 3596)

O devotees of the Prophet! The pond of Kawsar is in Paradise and Paradise is situated above the seven skies. Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was asked, ‘Where is Paradise?’ He replied, ‘فَوْقَ السَّمٰوَاتِ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ i.e. Paradise is above the skies, but beneath the Arsh’. (Tafseer Khaazin, vol. 1, pp. 301)

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: The Beloved of Allah Almighty is standing in Madinah whilst looking at the Pond of Kawsar which is in Paradise and Paradise is above the seven skies. The one whose eyesight can see even Paradise from Madinah can also see the entire earth and those living here. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 287)

2.   اِنَّ اللہَ زَوٰى لِیَ الْاَرْضَ فَرَاَيْتُ مَشَارِقَهَا وَمَغَارِبَهَا i.e. Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty folded the earth for me and I saw its easts and its wests. (Muslim, pp. 1182, Hadees 7258)

i.e. The entire earth was shown to me in miniature; it was placed before me. It has been learnt that the skies and the earth, the east and the west are in his vision as well as in his control. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 11)

Sadr-ul-‘Ulama, the commentator of Bukhari, Maulana Sayyid Ghulam Jeelani Mirathi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would see those things with his blessed eyes which are at a distance of hundreds of thousands of miles hidden in heavenly veils. (Nizam-e-Shari’at, pp. 38)

Two conditions for seeing something

Sadr-ul-Ulama has further written: There are two conditions for seeing something with eyes - one is that there should be light because nothing can be seen with eyes in darkness, the other one is that the thing that you want to observe should be present before your eyes. If it is not in front of you, but behind you, it can definitely be not seen, but there was no condition out of them for the blessed eyes of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The greatest level of peculiarity of those divinely-gifted eyes is something that has never been granted to any eye and neither will it be granted to anyone until the Day of Judgement. These eyes saw Allah Almighty on the Night of Mi’raj and this tremendous power of vision will not be given to any creation before the Hereafter. (Nizam-e-Shari’at, pp. 38)

To see equally in the light and darkness

Umm-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyidatuna Aishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا has stated:

كَانَ  رَسُولُ    الله     ِصَلَّى    اللهُ    عَلَيْهِ    وَسَلَّمَ    يَرىٰ   فِي   الظَّلْمَاءِ   كَمَا   يَرىٰ   فِي    الضَّوْ ءِ

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would see in darkness just as he would see in the light. (Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 6, pp. 74)

To see entire world like seeing palm

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: اِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ رَفَعَ لِيَ الدُّنْيَا فَاَنَا اَنْظُرُاِلَيْهَا وَاِلٰى مَا هُوَكَائِنٌ فِيْهَا اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ كَاَنَّمَا اَنْظُرُ اِلٰى كَفِّيْ هٰذِهٖ Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has presented the world in front of me, so I am observing it and whatever is going to happen in it until the Day of Judgement as I am observing this palm of mine. (Majma-uz-Zawaid, vol. 8, pp. 510, Hadees 14067)

Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is observing the entire world and whatever is going to happen in it until the Day of Judgement as he is observing this palm of his. No particle of the skies and the earths is hidden from his blessed eyes. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 15, pp. 74)

Rubaro Misl-e-Kaf-e-dast hayn donon ‘aalam

Kaysi pur noor hayn chashman-e-Rasool-e-‘Arabi

(Qabala-e-Bakhshish, pp. 284)

To see everything

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: اِنِّي اَرٰى مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ وَاَسْمَعُ مَا لَا تَسْمَعُونَ i.e. I see every such thing which you do not see and hear every such voice which you do not hear. (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 4, pp. 464, Hadees 4190)

Regarding this blessed Hadees Sayyiduna Allamah Ahmad Bin Muhammad Khafaji Misri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said: ‘مَا [Maa]’ refers to the unseen matters about which Allah Almighty has informed His Beloved صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and no other person sees them. For example, angels, Paradise, Hell and torment in the grave, gaining information about the matters of deceased persons and graves. Similarly, the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم act of hearing the torment being inflicted in the grave and the creak of the sky are also included in this. (Naseem-ur-Riyad, vol. 2, pp. 420)

Sab Misl Hathayli paysh-e-nazar har ghayb ‘ayan hay seenay par

Ye noor-e-nazar yeh chashm-e-basar yeh ‘ilm-o-hikmat kiya kehna

                                                                                                                                        (Qabala-e-Bakhshish, pp. 86)