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English_Biography_Shefa_of_Prophet_Muhammad, page : 149
The proof that Prophet Muhammad is the noblest of all mankind and the best of all the prophets has been established and proven in both the Koran and prophetic quotations. (Shaykh Darwish added: And the Prophet's evident high etiquette and elegance when he mentions his noble fellow prophets).
The question arises as to the meaning of the prophetic quotations that speak of the prohibition against stating there is any preference amongst them. You will recall earlier we mentioned the prophetic saying, "No worshipper should say that I am better than Jonah Matta's son." A similar statement is reported by Masood's son.
Abu Hurayrah also reported an incident when a Jew said, "By the One whose chose Moses over mankind." Whereupon an Ansar hit him saying, "How dare you say this when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is among us!" The Prophet happened to overhear what was said and said, "Do not make differences between the prophets."
In another rendering of the preceding hadith it reads, "Do not make me better than Moses ……. Do not let any of you say I am better than Jonah, Matta's son."
Again, Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet said, "Whosoever says I am better than Jonah Matta's son has lied." (Shaykh Darwish commented: This is because no ordinary person, regardless of his rank or depth of knowledge is fit to judge the prophets who are far higher than ordinary humans in all aspects especially their unseen qualities.)
One day a man came to the Prophet and addressed him saying, "O best of mankind!" He replied, "That is Abraham."
Scholars explain the meanings of these quotations in several ways. It has been explained that the prohibition occurred before he was informed that he was the Master of the children of Adam, so consequently he forbade anyone to differentiate between them in the rank of prophethood and its common core.
Another explanation is that the Prophet said it out of humility and to forbid pride and arrogance.
Others explained the saying with the meaning that if there was differentiation between them it could either lead to the lessening or detracting from the status of any one of them, a case in particular is what Allah said about Prophet Jonah. Scholars explain that this is in order to prevent the unknowledgeable person belittling or lessening his high rank on account misunderstanding the verse, "He went away in anger thinking We had no power over him" (21:87). When reading this verse, such a person might incline to think that he was lesser in rank.
The question arises as to the meaning of the prophetic quotations that speak of the prohibition against stating there is any preference amongst them. You will recall earlier we mentioned the prophetic saying, "No worshipper should say that I am better than Jonah Matta's son." A similar statement is reported by Masood's son.
Abu Hurayrah also reported an incident when a Jew said, "By the One whose chose Moses over mankind." Whereupon an Ansar hit him saying, "How dare you say this when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is among us!" The Prophet happened to overhear what was said and said, "Do not make differences between the prophets."
In another rendering of the preceding hadith it reads, "Do not make me better than Moses ……. Do not let any of you say I am better than Jonah, Matta's son."
Again, Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet said, "Whosoever says I am better than Jonah Matta's son has lied." (Shaykh Darwish commented: This is because no ordinary person, regardless of his rank or depth of knowledge is fit to judge the prophets who are far higher than ordinary humans in all aspects especially their unseen qualities.)
One day a man came to the Prophet and addressed him saying, "O best of mankind!" He replied, "That is Abraham."
Scholars explain the meanings of these quotations in several ways. It has been explained that the prohibition occurred before he was informed that he was the Master of the children of Adam, so consequently he forbade anyone to differentiate between them in the rank of prophethood and its common core.
Another explanation is that the Prophet said it out of humility and to forbid pride and arrogance.
Others explained the saying with the meaning that if there was differentiation between them it could either lead to the lessening or detracting from the status of any one of them, a case in particular is what Allah said about Prophet Jonah. Scholars explain that this is in order to prevent the unknowledgeable person belittling or lessening his high rank on account misunderstanding the verse, "He went away in anger thinking We had no power over him" (21:87). When reading this verse, such a person might incline to think that he was lesser in rank.