Ibn Abbas (RA): Six Other Prophets Like Your Prophet (AS)

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

والصلاة والسلام على خاتم النبيين

The controversial athar or statement attributed to sayyidina Ibn Abbas [radi Allahu anhuma] commenting on the Ayah of the Quran:

اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ وَّمِنَ الۡاَرۡضِ مِثۡلَہُنَّ

Allah is He Who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof

(Surah 65:12)

he said:

سَبْعَ أَرَضِينَ ‌فِي ‌كُلِّ ‌أَرْضٍ ‌نَبِيٌّ ‌كَنَبِيِّكُمْ وَآدَمُ كآدمَ وَنُوحٌ كَنُوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ كَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعِيسَى كَعِيسَى

"Seven Earths; in every Earth a Prophet like your Prophet [Muhammad], an Adam like Adam, a Noah like Noah, an Abraham like Abraham and a Jesus like Jesus" (Mustadrak al-Hakim; v.2, p.535, #3822):

Although this statement attributed to Ibn Abbas [radi Allahu ahuma] appears to be authentic in its chain of transmission, it is problematic in putting forward the idea that there are six other Prophets on other Earths or planets like our planet Earth who resemble the Prophet Muhammad [sall Allahu alaihi wasallam]. This Athar of Ibn Abbas is likewise controversial with regard to the issue of the Prophet Muhammad [sall Allahu alaihi wasallam] being the last Prophet. The controversy has resulted in bitter sectarian divisions among the Muslims, particularly the Deobandi vs. Barelwi dispute.

This narration should be discarded as it is shâdhdh as al-Baihaqi has stated (al-Asma wal-Siffat; v.2, p.268, #832):

إِسْنَادُ هَذَا عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا صَحِيحٌ وَهُوَ ‌شَاذُّ ‌بِمُرَّةَ