How Allah Honored Him in This World
1. The last of the prophets: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “An analogy of me and the prophets before me is that of a man who built a building, and did a very good job, and he decorated it, except for the location of one brick in one of the corners. People started to cycle around it, impressed by it, and say: ‘Would you not put in that brick?’” The Messenger (ﷺ) added, “I am the brick, and I am the last of the prophets.”
2. He has a better claim to all nations than their own Prophets:
“Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet [i.e., Muhammad (ﷺ)].”[3:68]
3. His wives are the mothers of believers: Allah says:
“The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers.” [33:6]
4. He is the best of all creatures: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Allah selected Kinaanah out of the offspring of Ishmael, selected Quraysh out of Kinaanah, and from Quraysh he selected the Haashim clan, and selected me from that clan.” He added: “I am, without any boasting, the noblest of Adam’s offspring.”
5. He is a mercy for all creatures: Allah’s says: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [21:107]
6. The universal nature of his message: Allah says:
“And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.” [34:28]
7. Allah’s promise to protect him: Allah says:
“And Allah will protect you from the people” [5:67], and “Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers.” [15:95]
8. Allah’s promise to protect his religion: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’an], and indeed, We will be its guardian.” [15:9]
9. Prohibition of calling him by his first name and of raising one’s Voice above his: Allah says:
“Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another,” [24:63] and, “do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet.” [49:2]
10. Constant Dua’a for blessing to be upon him: Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessings upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.” [33:56]
11. The Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and the Ascension to the Heavens:
This was an occasion on which he received the honor of being addressed directly by Allah, seeing Paradise and Hellfire, hearing the squeak of pens (recording Allah’s decrees), and leading the prophets in Salaah in Jerusalem. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “I saw myself in a group of prophets…It was Salaah time, and I led them . . .”
12. He was forgiven his sins: Allah says:
“Indeed, We have given you [O Muhammad], a clear conquest that Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin [i.e., errors] and what will follow.” [48:1-2]
13. Postponing his accepted Dua’a: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “I have kept my Dua’a to use them as an intercession for my nation on the Day of Resurrection.”
14. His mate of Jinn embracing Islam: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Every single one of you has a partner from the Jinn associated with them.” He was asked, “Even you, O Allah’s Messenger?” He replied: “Even me, but Allah has helped me against him and he has embraced Islam. Therefore, he bids me to do only good things.”
15. His century was the best of all centuries: Allah’s Messenger said “I was sent to the best of human centuries, taken one age after another . . .”
16. A portion of Paradise lies between his house and his pulpit: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is on my flowerbed.”
17. To see him in a dream is to truly see him: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Whenever someone sees me in a dream, he has actually seen me.”
18. The seal of prophethood between his shoulders: Jaabir is quoted as saying: “I saw a seal on the back of Allah’s Messenger which looked like the egg of a pigeon.”
19. A myriad of special gifts from Allah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “I am given the gift of perfect oration. I win victory by fright. Spoils of ware are allowed to me [when it has not been for earlier Prophets]. The earth is made for me a place to prostrate and to be purified [meaning to perform Salah anywhere]. I am given the keys of the earth’s treasures. While I was asleep, the keys of the earth’s treasures were brought and placed in my hand.” Abu Hurairah commented: “Allah’s Messenger is gone now, so you are going to pick them up.”
20. Knowledge of the metaphysical: Umar ibn Al-Khattab said: “The Prophet stood up before us and told us about the beginning of creation and on until the people of Paradise get into their dwellings and the people of Hellfire get into their dwellings. Some people remember his words, and others have forgotten.”
