[Hanbali]

Question:

I have got a question regarding a hadiith. How sound is the hadiith, that states, that it were not for Muhammad (saw) Allaah (swt) would not have created this world???
To be honest I am a bit suspicious about this hadiith, could you shatter some light in the matter?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Many false and fabricated ahaadeeth have been narrated that say similar things. For example:

“Were it not for you, I would not have created the universe.”

This was quoted by al-Shawkaani in al-Fawaa’id al-Majmoo’ah fi’l-Ahaadeeth al-Mawdoo’ah (p. 326). He said:

Al-San’aani said: (it is) mawdoo’ (fabricated).

Al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah (282): (it is) mawdoo’.

Another example is the hadeeth narrated by al-Haakim according to which Ibn ‘Abbaas said:

“Allaah revealed to ‘Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him): ‘O ‘Eesa, believe in Muhammad, and tell whoever you meet of your ummah to believe in him. For were it not for Muhammad, I would not have created Adam, and were it not for Muhammad, I would not have created Paradise and Hell. I created the Throne over the water and it would not settle until I wrote on it, Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Muhammad Rasool Allaah (There is no god but Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah).”

Al-Haakim said: its isnaad is saheeh! But al-Dhahabi commented on that and said: I believe it is fabricated and falsely attributed to Sa’eed.

Meaning, Sa’eed ibn Abu ‘Aroobah (one of the narrators of this hadeeth). This hadeeth was narrated from him by ‘Amr ibn Aws al-Ansaari, who is the one who is accused of fabricating it. Al-Dhahabi mentioned him in al-Meezaan where he said: “He produced a munkar report,” then he quoted this hadeeth, and said, “I believe that it is mawdoo’ (fabricated).” Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar agreed with him, as it says in al-Lisaan.

Al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah (280): There is no basis for it.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

Is the hadeeth which some people quote – “Were it not for you, Allaah would not have created the Throne or the Kursiy or the earth or the heavens or the sun or the moon or anything else” saheeh or nor?

He replied:

Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the leader of the sons of Adam, and the best and noblest of creation, hence some people say that Allaah created the universe because of him, or that were it not for him, Allaah would not have created the Throne or the Kursiy or the earth or the heavens or the sun or the moon.

But this hadeeth that is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is neither saheeh (sound) nor da’eef (weak), and it was not narrated by any scholar in a hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Neither was it known from the Sahaabah. Rather it is the words of one who is unknown.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 11/86-96.

The Standing Committee was asked:

Can it be said that Allaah created the heavens and the earth for the purpose of creating the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? What is the meaning of the hadeeth, “Were it not for you the universe would not have been created,” and does this hadeeth have any basis?

They replied:

The heavens and the earth were not created for the sake of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), rather they were created for the purpose which Allaah mentions (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is Allaah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allaah has power over all things, and that Allaah surrounds all things in (His) Knowledge”

[al-Talaaq 65:12]

As for the hadeeth mentioned, it is falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and has no sound basis.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/312

Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked about this hadeeth and said:

The answer is that this was transmitted from the words of some of the common people who have no understanding. Some people say that the world was created for the sake of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and were it not for Muhammad the world would not have been created and mankind would not have been created. This is false and has no basis, and these are corrupt words. Allaah created the world so that He would be known and worshipped. He created the world and He created mankind so that His names and attributes, His power and knowledge, would be known and so that He alone would be worshipped with no partner or associate, and so that He would be obeyed – not for the sake of Muhammad or for the sake of Nooh or Moosa or ‘Eesa or any other Prophet. Rather Allaah created the universe so that He alone would be worshipped, with no partner or associate.

Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb, 46.

And Allaah knows best.

[Jamroll]

What would be the purpose of creating everything for the sake of Muhammad (saw) anyway?

The hadiths, mentioned in the OP, talk about creating Paradise and Hell only for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (saw). We all know the stories and the life of the Prophet (saw). What would be the purpose of creating Hell for his sake? The Prophet (saw) will be with Allah, there would be no need for Hell.

What would be the purpose of creating humankind for the sake of Muhammad (saw)? He was here on this Earth for only 60 odd years, but mankind has been in existent for tens, maybe even hundreds, of thousands of years?

And why would the Throne not settle until Muhammad's (saw) name was written on it? Is Allah dependent on some superstitious writing of words on objects before he can enact His Will?

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

[Zam]

We all know that the one among all of the creation of Allah who worshiped Him the best was Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wa salam). What is so wrong then if one says that the creation of the universe is justified because of the worship of Muhammad, who's worship outweighs the that of the entire Ummah?

The greatness of Rasulullah is immense, even one subhanAllah of his is worth more than all our worship put together; but most of the time this just sounds like hyperbole because we don't understand how someone can be that great and we don't understand how someone can be that close to Allah.

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by Zam

We all know that the one among all of the creation of Allah who worshiped Him the best was Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wa salam). What is so wrong then if one says that the creation of the universe is justified because of the worship of Muhammad, who's worship outweighs the that of the entire Ummah?

The greatness of Rasulullah is immense, even one subhanAllah of his is worth more than all our worship put together; but most of the time this just sounds like hyperbole because we don't understand how someone can be that great and we don't understand how someone can be that close to Allah.

But isn't there a difference between saying the creation of this world is justified for the worship of Muhammad (saw), and saying the world was created for the sake of Muhammad (saw)?

[Zam]

Originally Posted by Jamroll

But isn't there a difference between saying the creation of this world is justified for the worship of Muhammad (saw), and saying the world was created for the sake of Muhammad (saw)?

It depends how you understand the statement. If we accept the hadith, then these are the words of Allah, and we have to accept and understand them in a way that makes sense given the principles we already know.

I think it is simple enough to say that the hadith conveys the greatness of Muhammad and his superiority (in his worship of Allah, which is the standard of any superiority) over all the rest of the creation, without asking questions because then we get into the realm of kalam.

It is a great hadith because it is great news for this Ummah, we who have been given the example of the best of the creation to follow, and in following the example of Muhammad we also can attain Allah's endearment because we would attain characteristics of the person He says is His favorite.

[Rida]

I remember a phrase from someone (maybe it was in a poem?) that really blew me away.. "The world was created to have Him (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam) be imitated."

Wassalaam

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by Zam

It depends how you understand the statement. If we accept the hadith, then these are the words of Allah, and we have to accept and understand them in a way that makes sense given the principles we already know.

I think it is simple enough to say that the hadith conveys the greatness of Muhammad and his superiority (in his worship of Allah, which is the standard of any superiority) over all the rest of the creation, without asking questions because then we get into the realm of kalam.

It is a great hadith because it is great news for this Ummah, we who have been given the example of the best of the creation to follow, and in following the example of Muhammad we also can attain Allah's endearment because we would attain characteristics of the person He says is His favorite.

See the way you've described it there, gives a very different meaning from the words in the hadiths quoted in the OP. What you've described sounds uplifting and elevates Rasulullah (saw) as an example to be followed, and a blessing to us that we are the ummah of Muhammad (saw).

But the hadiths posted above make it sound as if Allah was unable to do such-and-such (e.g. stop the Throne from trembling) until Muhammad's (saw) involvement. This gives the impression of Allah somehow being reliant upon Muhammad (saw), or Muhammad (saw) having a status almost on the level of Allah (naoudobillah).

Originally Posted by Rida

I remember a phrase from someone (maybe it was in a poem?) that really blew me away.. "The world was created to have Him (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam) be imitated."

Wassalaam

See, that makes perfect sense, because he (saw) is the example for us all to follow. Also, a poem or other prose, is able to have more leeway in artistic license as compared to hadith.

[nooni]

its right in the quran...

"I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 51, Verse 56

[Hanbali]

Originally Posted by nooni

its right in the quran...

"I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 51, Verse 56

Bingo......................

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by Hanbali

Bingo......................

I prefer Bongo more

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by Hanbali

Bingo......................

# B-I-N-G-O,
B-I-N-G-O,
B-I-N-G-O,
Bingo was his name-o.

[ShahRukh]

Not just this whole world but also heaven is created for the sake of the Prophet SAW, the most beloved of Allah, that by virtue of being a believer (regardless of your sins) alone is a free ticket to Jannah. Believers would eventually enter jannah. That's why many ulema refer to the Prophet SAW as 'sarkar-e-do alim' which roughly translates to 'lord/ruler of the two worlds'...


If Allah allowed the mughal emperor Shah Jehan to create Taj mahal for his most beloved then why cant Allah SWT create two worlds, both the heaven and this temporary world, for his most beloved?

[ShahRukh]

Originally Posted by nooni

its right in the quran...

"I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 51, Verse 56

It says jinn and humankind whereas the thread is talking about creation of the world. theres a difference

[sixpakistan]

.. All Salafi scholars.

I find it funny & sad how Salafis get upset when the Prophet (SAW) is praised, to the point where they feel the need to refute and suppress it.

[wheelworks]

I went to a Mawlid yesterday. Sh. Hamza and Imam Zaid was there. There was also a lovely dinner. The hall was jam packed. I also took lotsa pictures