Muhammad is dead. But Jesus is alive. Doesn't that mean that Jesus Is
superior to Muhammad?
Muslims believe that Jesus and Muhammad
were both prophets and messengers of Allah. Peace be upon both of them.
Muslims will not belittle any of God's prophets or reject their message.
The Qur'an tells us to declare our faith in all of the prophets including
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and that we should make no distinction among
them (see Qur'an 2:136; 3:84; 2:285). This means that since each of them
preached the true message of God, it would be wrong to say we believe in
some but not in others.
The prophets themselves were humble servants of God. They did not try to
prove themselves superior to others. It would be wrong for their followers
to argue over who is superior. Once a Muslim and a Jew were arguing. The
Muslim said that Muhammad is superior over all the people. The Jew said
that Moses is superior over all the people. When this was related to the
prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, he said:
Do not give me superiority over Moses (This is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari,
vol.4, p.410, Arabic- English edition).
He also said "None should say that I am better than Jonah, son of
Matta" (ibid, p.413).
He also instructed,"Do not give superiority to any prophet among
Allah's prophets" (ibid, p.414).
Once the prophet was asked, "Who is the most honorable among the
people?" He replied, "The most God-fearing". When he was
asked to name a specific individual, he replied:
The most honorable person is Joseph (i.e. the son of Jacob) (ibid, p.390).
This humility was shared by other prophets too. The prophet Jesus, on whom
be peace, is reported to have said:
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone
greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11).
But John the Baptist was also humble. He did not claim that greatness for
himself. He spoke of a greater one who was to come after him. He is quoted
as saying:
After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I
am not worthy to stoop down and untie (Mark 1:7).
When God sent the angel Gabriel to take the prophet Muhammad to the Aqsa
Mosque one night, the prophet, on whom be peace, led the prayers there,
and the other prophets followed his lead. He also related the truth that
on the Day of Judgement he will lead the banner of Praise under which will
be all the other prophets. But the prophet Muhammad did not boast about
this. He instructed Muslims that they should not praise him as the people
praised Jesus, son of Mary. He said:
Call me a slave of Allah and His Messenger (Bukhari, vol.4, p.435).
What is important is not to try and prove one prophet superior over
another, but to believe in both of them. The prophet Muhammad, on whom be
peace, said:
If a man believes in Jesus and then believes in me, he will get a double
reward (ibid. p.435). |