Special Honor and Rank of Prophet Muhammad, alaihi-salaat Wassalam.

[Abu Habiba]

As-Salaam alaikum,

Sheikh 'Ayn al-Qudat, may Allah be Merciful to him, sees the Noble Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, as a means by which Allha's creatures may reach Him:-

"O Muhammad, We taught you what you did not know: He taught thee what you knew not; Allah's bounty

toward you is indeed tremendous" (4:13)

"Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah" (4:80)

"He teaches you what you knew not" (2:51)

With these verses (ayats), it is as if Allah Ta'ala is saying O Muhammad! take on Our character traits, and from the bounties and character traits We have given you, pour a handful upon the helpless one so that whoever sees you, sees Us... and whoever obeys you, obeys Us.

At the same time, the Prophet also 'travelled' to Allah. Yet this wayfaring was done for him which again distinguishes him from the rest of creation, including such Prophets as Musa alaihis-salaam:-

Came (7:143)- "he came"- was said about Musa: He carried (17:1)- "We brought him"- was said about Mustapha. Having come is not like having been brought. The Prophets swore by the names and attributes of Allah. But Allah has sworn by the soul, head, hair and face of Mustapha: By the morning brightness and by the night when still (93:1-2) To Musa it was said: "Look upon the mountain" (7:143)  To Mustafa it saw said: "We are looking at you- you too look at Us entirely". Hast thou not considered thy Lord, how He spread out the shade?" (25:45)

And you may also wish to consider some ayats of the Holy Qur'an as follows:-

"And We sent you not, except as a Mercy to the worlds" (21:107)

"Truly it is the same for the unbelievers whether you warn them or warn them not- they do not believe."(2:6)

Why did some people accept the Prophet while others did not? As a Mercy to all creation, the Prophet merely brings out what is already within people. Those whose soul are pure and ready [ to receive Imaan ] are able to receive him, and from such beautiful souls beauty shall emerge. But those whose soul are impure and unprepared will reject him, thereby bringing about their own inner ugliness. Have you not seen that the sun shine is a comfort for the entire world, and that it is a Mercy to all beings? But, if the sun shines on a pit of garbage, repulsive scents will emerge from it. These defects do not come from the sun. Rather, these defects and disparities come from the roots and contours of those things.

Thus, the one whose soul has become a ''bed of roses'' puts himself within the ambit of the Prophet's guidance and mercy. When such an individual attains his own perfection by following the Prophet and travelling the spiritual path, at the end of the road he will find the Prophet waiting for him, taking him by the hand and leading him to the Threshold of the Divine Court.

 

For further reading on this, see

Mohammed Rustom: 'Inrushes of the Spirit; the Mystical Theology of 'Ayn al-Qudat and Tamhidat of 'Ann al-Qudat'.

Edited 13 دسمبر 2018 by Abu Habiba