Commentary on the Hadith Concerning Unique Characteristics of the Prophet(PBUH)

Praise be to Allah,

 

Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (R.A): The Prophet (PBUH) said,

 

“I have been given five (things) which were not given to anyone else before me:

 

1. Allaah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of

one month‟s journey.

      2.The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for offering Salaat and a thing to purify (perform Tayammum), therefore anyone of my followers can offer Salaat wherever he is, at the time of Salaat.

      3. The booty has been made Halaal (lawful) to me, yet it was not lawful to anyone else before me.

      4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).

      5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.”[i]

 

Important Points Derived from the Hadeeth:

 

This is a very great hadeeth containing many benefits, of which we will only mention the most outstanding:

 

1. The preference of our Prophet (PBUH) over all other Prophets, and the preference of his Ummah (Followers) over all other nations.

 

2. The innumerable blessings and favours of Allaah upon His creatures. If one were to recount them intending it to be an expression of one’s gratitude to Allaah, it would be considered as an act of worship.

 

3. Of the special characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is that he has been made victorious by awe (by Allaah’s frightening his enemies); that the earth has been made for him and his followers a place for praying and a means to perform Tayammum; that booty has been made Halaal (lawful) for him; that he has been given the right of Intercession (on the Day of Resurrection) and sent or missioned to all of mankind. His special characteristics when counted were numbered (by some) as seventeen. As-San’aanee countered them to be twenty-one. And whoever followed this matter collecting the minor as well as major (special characteristics) will find an increase on this number.

 

4. The correctness of the Salaat is not limited to particular places to the exclusion of others [i.e. our prayers are not limited to the Maasjid, but may be performed wherever one may be in the earth and still be accepted by Allaah.]

 

5. The original ruling concerning the use of soil or sand for purification, or as a place of prayer, is that it is clean (and may be used). [This means that one should not doubt the Tahaarah (cleanliness) of the soil, unless there is a clear indication that it has been defiled by some impurities (najaasah)].

 

6. That every type of earth (soil, sand, etc.) is acceptable to be used for performing at-Tayammum.

 

7. The comprehensiveness and supremacy of this Sharee’ah (Islaamic law), which has been set to organize the whole world – with its many difference countries and great distances between them -in matters of worship as well as the transactions and dealings (between the people).

 

8. His words: “…anyone of my followers can offer Salaat wherever he is…” are not meant to be limited to males to the exclusion of females. In fact, it is meant to include women also, since women are the twin-halves of men.[ii]

 

9. As-San’aanee said: “The distance of one month‟s journey was specified here, instead of a longer distance, simply because that was the furthest distance between him and those who openly displayed animosity or enmity for him.”

 

10. Allah gave him the greatest intercession when the people on the day of resuurection seek aid from the prophets, Adam, then Nooh, then Ibrahim, then Moosa, then Easa (A.S), requesting from them intercession with Allah that He relieve them from the anxiety of the place of standing and none of them will intercede. Then they will go the prophet (PBUH) and he will stand and intercede with Allah on their behalf by His permission. Then He will Judge between them. This intercession is particular to the prophet (PBUh). No Prophet or anyone else has a share with him in that.

 

11. The legitimacy of mentioning the favours of Allah not in the manner of bragging, rather to reveal the favour of Allah and thank Him for it.

 

12. The permissibility of praying in every place of the earth except for what the legislation has made an exception for like the graveyard, the place that is impure, the bathrrom and the places where the camels rest.

 

13. The permissibility of making Tayammum on all pure ground, whther it is made of dirt, sand, or rocks.

 

Allah Knows Best.

 

Copied from Sources:

Arousing the Intellects with the Explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam. The Book Of At-Taharaah by Allama Sheikh Salih Ibn Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him). page  102

Tayseer al-Allaam Sharh Umdatul-Ahkaam by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur – Rahmaan Aal Bassaam. Page 78

[i] Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 7, Hadeeth Number 335, p. 226. I could not locate the exact wording of the above Arabic text. The ending of the translation is slightly different: إلى†ال†ناس†عامة†– Ed.

[ii] ‘Aa’ishah said that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about a person who finds some wetness (on his clothes) but does not remember having a wet-dream (what should he do)? (The Prophet (PBUH) said,) “He should perform Ghusl.” And (he was also asked about) a person who remembered having a wet-dream but did not find any wetness. He said, “Ghusl is not obligatory for him.” Umm Sulaim said, “If a woman sees that (sort of dreams), must she perform Ghusl?” He said, “Yes. Women are indeed twin-halves of men.” [Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 236, p. 152-153, Classed as Da‟eef by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr ‘Alee Za’i. However, it has witnesses and is classed as authentic by Sheikh Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee, Hadeeth Number 98, as quoted in http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/1105/] – Ed.