Exclusive to The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The Shadowless Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
(Part 1)
Maulana Kashif Shahzad Attari Madani
From the exclusive virtues and merits with which Allah Almighty embellished His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is that he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not cast a shadow when standing in the light of the sun, moon and a lamp, (Khasaais Al-Kubra, vol. 1, p. 116; Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 1, p. 21).
Following in the footsteps of our scholars who discussed this unique quality of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in their respective works, we will also explore it in this article with the hope that Allah’s mercy will envelop us.
From the Quran and Hadith
The Quran and hadith corpora confirm that alongside having a matchless human form, Allah Almighty bestowed the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with a form of light - and light does not have a shadow. It then naturally follows that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم does not have a shadow.
A light has arrived
Allah Almighty states:
قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ نُوْرٌ وَّ كِتٰبٌ مُّبِیْنٌۙ(۱۵)
‘Indeed, towards you has come a light from Allah (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad), and a Clear Book (i.e. the Holy Qur'an).’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 06, Surah Al-Maa’idah, Verse 15)
In the words of Imam al-Suyuti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, ‘the light refers to the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم,’ (Tafseer Jalalayn, vol. 2, p. 33).
The nature of light
Universal experience, the laws of physics, and scripture confirm that light does not have a shadow. Our ulema accepted and supported this reality:
1. Imam Ahmad b. Muhammad Al-Khafaji رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه stated: ‘اَلْاَنْوَارُ شَفَّافَةٌ لَطِیْفَةٌ لَاتَحْجِبُ غَیْرَ ھَا مِنَ الْاَنْوَارِ فَلَاظِلَّ لَھَا’ ‘Lights are translucent and subtle, they do not act as obstacles in allowing light to reach other things, hence they do not have a shadow,’ (Naseem-ur-Riyad, vol. 4, p. 335)
2. Imam Muhammad b. Abd Al-Baqi Al-Zurqani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه wrote: ‘اِنَّ النُّوْرَ لَا ظِلَّ لَهٗ’ ‘Indeed, light does not have a shadow,’ (Zurqaani alal Mawahib, vol. 5, p. 525)
3. Shaykh Abd Al-Haqq Al-Dihlawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه remarked: ‘نُور رَا سَایہ نَمِی باشَد’ ‘Light does not have a shadow,’ (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 1, p. 21).
4. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said that: A light does not possess a shadow…a shadow will be cast by that body which has mass and acts as an obstacle in preventing light from reaching that which is in front of it; if light casts a shadow, then what will give illumination? Hence, we see that the sun has no shadow, (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 30, p. 706).
From the Ulema
The number of ulema who explicitly mentioned and evidenced that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not have a shadow are numerous; far more than can be listed in this concise article. However, we will examine some of their evidence:
1. Sayyiduna Uthman Al-Ghani رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘اِنَّ اللهَ مَا اَوْقَعَ ظِلَّكَ عَلَى الْاَرْضِ لِئَلَّا يَضَعَ اِنْسَانٌ قَدَمَهٗ عَلٰى ذٰلِكَ الظِّلِّ’ ‘Indeed, Allah Almighty did not allow your shadow to be cast on the ground lest a human tread upon that shadow,’ (Tafseer Nasafi, p. 772)’
According to another narration, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘Your shadow is not cast upon the ground, lest it falls upon impure ground,’ (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 161).
2. The teacher of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, Imam Abd al-Razzaq, Imam Ibn al-Jawzi and Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Mubarak رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه narrate that the companion of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما said:
لَمْ یَکُنْ لِرَسُوْلِ الله صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ظِلٌّ ... وَلَمْ يَقُمْ مَعْ شَمْسٍ قَطُّ اِلَّا غَلَبَ ضَوْؤُہٗ ضَوْ ءَ الشَّمْسِ وَلَمْ يَقُمْ مَعْ سِرَاجٍ قَطُّ اِلَّا غَلَبَ ضَوْؤُہٗ ضَوْ ءَ السراج
‘The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not have a shadow…The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never stood in the sun except that his light outshone the light of the sun, and he never stood before a lamp except that his light outshone the light of the lamp,’ (Al-Wafa’ bi Ahwal Al-Mustafa, vol. 2, p. 19; Zurqaani alal Mawahib, vol. 5, p. 525; Al-Juz-ul-Mafqood minal Musannaf li Abdul Razzaq, p. 56).
There can be two meanings of the Muhammadan Light overcoming the light of the sun and lamp:
1. The light of the sun and lamp would appear dim before the light of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, just as a household light appears dim before the sunlight.
2. The illumination of both would completely cease in the presence of his blessed light, like the light of the stars before the light of the sun, (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 30, p. 708).
The student of the companions, Sayyiduna Zakwaan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said: ‘اِنَّ رَسُوْلَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَكُنْ يُرىٰ لَهٗ ظِلٌّ فِیْ شَمْسٍ وَلَا قَمَرٍ’ ‘No shadow was seen for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; neither in the light of the sun, nor in the light of the moon,’ (Khasaais Al-Kubra, vol. 1, p. 116; Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 1, p. 71).
Ibn Hajr Al-Makki رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explained it thus: The reality of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم being light is further proven since he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would not cast a shadow when walking in the sunlight or moonlight. The reason for this is that a shadow is only cast by a solid body but Allah Almighty made His beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم free of all physical density and solidity by creating him from light, hence, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not have even the faintest shadow, (Al-Minahul-Makkiyyah fi Sharh Al-Hamziyyah, p. 86).
Stay mindful
You have just read that being free from a shadow is an exclusive merit of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم which was granted to him by Allah Almighty. The evidence cited above behoves unwavering belief and acceptance. Moreover, consider the golden advice of Sayyiduna Imam Abdul Wahhab Al-Sha’rani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه ‘It is unbefitting to dispute or ask for a specific proof regarding something which adds to the greatness and excellence of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, (Kashf-ul-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 53).
Reasoning has a time and place
The miracles and unique aspects of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and even the awliya by definition flout the norms of nature. Attempting to explain or understand them through reasoning is, therefore, an exercise in futility. After all, Allah Almighty made His Beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم matchless and utterly incomparable to any other human being. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه encapsulated this very idea when he remarked:
He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a human but a hundred-thousand times more noble and beautiful than the heavenly realm. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a human but a hundred-thousand times more delicate and luminous than souls and angels. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself has said:
1. لَسْتُ کَمِثْلِکُمْ ‘I am not like you,’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, p. 132, Hadith 23563).
2. لَسْتُ کَھَیْئَتِکُمْ ‘My form is not like yours,’ (Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 633, Hadith 1922)
3. اَیُّکُمْ مِثْلِیْ ‘Which of you is like me,’ (Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 352, Hadith 6851).
To claim he has a shadow because like us humans he must also have one is an idea far removed from faith and reason, (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 30, p. 725).
Those who refuse to accept
The celebrated hadith expert, Sayyid Ahmad Sa’eed Kazimi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states:
Numerous practical and doctrinal matters are not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. However, we accept them as virtues and merits. If a sincere seeker of truth denies one of those matters, due to a lack of convincing evidence, we do not deem him a heretic or curse him, as long as his rejection is not from hatred and bitterness towards the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The issue of the blessed body of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not having a shadow is such a matter; it does not relate to belief and disbelief, (Maqalaat-e-Kaazimi, vol. 4, p. 57).
We ask Allah Almighty to cover us with the shade of His Mercy in both worlds for the sake of His shadowless Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
(To be continued in the next issue)
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