A Jew whose face had been slapped (by someone), came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Muhammad! A man from your Ansari companions slapped me. " The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Call him". They called him and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "Why did you slap his face?" He said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! While I was passing by the Jews, I heard him saying, 'By Him Who chose Moses above all the human beings.' I said (protestingly), 'Even above Muhammad?' So I became furious and slapped him." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not give me preference to other prophets, for the people will become unconscious on the Day of Resurrection and I will be the first to gain conscious, and behold, I will Find Moses holding one of the pillars of the Throne (of Allah). Then I will not know whether he has become conscious before me or he has been exempted because of his unconsciousness at the mountain (during his worldly life) which he received."
Blood Money (Ad-Diyat) - Sahih al-Bukhari 6917
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari provides profound insights into prophetic character, interfaith relations, and theological principles.
Contextual Analysis
The incident occurred in Medina where a Jewish man approached the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seeking justice for being slapped by an Ansari companion. This demonstrates the Prophet's impartial justice system where all citizens, regardless of faith, could seek redress.
The Ansari's action stemmed from religious zeal, hearing the Jew praise Moses in a manner he perceived as diminishing the Prophet's status. This reflects the early Muslim community's deep love for the Prophet.
Legal and Ethical Ruling
The Prophet did not condone the physical assault despite the religious provocation. This establishes the principle that personal offense regarding religious matters does not justify physical violence against people of other faiths living under Muslim protection.
The response emphasizes that maintaining civil harmony and protecting the rights of dhimmis (protected non-Muslim citizens) takes precedence over emotional reactions to theological differences.
Theological Instruction
The Prophet's prohibition against preferring him over other prophets demonstrates Islamic respect for all messengers. The detailed description of the Day of Resurrection illustrates several key doctrines: the overwhelming nature of Judgment Day, the special status of prophets, and Moses' particular honor due to his direct communion with Allah at Mount Sinai.
The mention of Moses holding Allah's Throne indicates his exalted status while maintaining proper theological boundaries regarding Allah's transcendence.
Practical Applications
Muslims should respect all prophets without engaging in comparative rankings that may cause discord.
Interfaith relations should be conducted with wisdom and restraint, avoiding physical confrontation over theological discussions.
Justice must be administered impartially regardless of the religious background of the parties involved.