Mutazila: Angels are Better than Prophets!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

اللهم صلى على سيدنا محمد

Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari (may Allah have mercy on him) says about the misguided sect known as the Mu’tazilah:

وأجمعت المعتزلة على أنه جائز أن يبعث نبياً إلى قوم دون قوم وأجمعت أن ‌الملائكة أفضل من الأنبياء

The Mu’tazilah are in agreement [with each other] that it is possible for Him [Allah] to send a Prophet to a nation other than [his] nation, and they are in agreement that the Angels are superior to the Prophets

(Maqalat al-Islamiyyin; v.1, p.296)

The first point is correct, for the Prophet Jonas son of Amittai [Yunus bin Matta] was an Israelite but was sent by God to deliver His oracle to the people of Nineveh, who were Assyrians. The fact that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called him ‘Jonas son of Amittai’ makes it plain that this great Prophet was an Israelite. Amittai is a Hebrew name meaning truth (Strong’s Concordance, H573).

The second point mentioned in this quotation is among the points of divergence between the astray Mu’tazilah and the rightly-guided people of the Sunnah and the Jama’ah (Sunni Muslims). The correct view, held to strongly by the Sunnis, is that the Prophets are the best of Allah’s creation, and that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) specifically is the best creation of Allah. The Sunnis are singled out, among the plethora of sects in this Ummah, with love and attachment to the most holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). As for the misguided sects, we see how the common denominator that unites them is negligence toward the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

The Twelver Shi’ah say that the status of Imamate is higher than Prophesy, and that the Twelve Imams are superior to the Prophets, with the exception of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). And some among them even have the audacity to say that the first Imam according to them, Amir ul-Mu’minin Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) is equal in every sense to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Some of the extremist and misguided Sufis say that the rank of Wilayah (sainthood) is higher than Prophesy, and that the Awliya (Saints) of this Ummah are greater than the ancient Prophets!

As for the orthodox Muslims, the Sunnis, we say that even the least in rank among the Prophets is greater than the greatest Imam or Saint who is not a Prophet. In fact, the great Imam, Abu Ja'far at-Tahawi al-Hanafi, says about our belief:

ونقولُ نبيٌّ وَاحد أفضل من جميع الأولياءِ

We say: 'A single Prophet is better than all of the Saints' (Aqidat at-Tahawiyyah)

Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that this is a mas’alah (issue) that is not from the fundamentals of the Religion, rejection of which is not unbelief. Therefore, the Mu’tazilah, though mistaken, in saying that the Angels are superior to the Prophets, are not guilty of major unbelief. There is no explicit text from the Quran or Sunnah, that is, a Nass Qati, which establishes that the Prophets are the best of Allah’s creation or that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in particular, is the greatest creation of Allah. Certainly, there are strong indications of this fact, for example, when Allah says:

مَا کَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ اَبَاۤ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡ رِّجَالِکُمۡ وَلٰکِنۡ رَّسُوۡلَ اللّٰہِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِیّٖنَ

Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets

(Surah 33, Ayah 40)

This Ayah is the indication that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the greatest of the Prophets, through whom all other Prophets are sealed or certified, and through whom the edifice of Prophesy reaches its perfection in terms of beauty and ornamentation. And Allah says:

وَمَنۡ یُّطِعِ اللّٰہَ وَالرَّسُوۡلَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ مَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ وَالصِّدِّیۡقِیۡنَ وَالشُّہَدَآءِ وَالصّٰلِحِیۡنَ

And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger [Muhammad] shall be among those on whom Allah Has bestowed His favor, among the Prophets, the Siddiqs, the Martyrs, and the Pious

(Surah 4, Ayah 69)

And this Ayah is an indication that the category of Allah’s creation that has received His greatest favor are the Prophets. And the commandment of Allah Most High to the Angels to prostrate to Adam, with a prostration of veneration and not worship, is a strong indication that Adam, the first Prophet, is superior to the Angels.