Two persons, a Muslim and a Jew, quarreled. The Muslim said, "By Him Who gave Muhammad superiority over all the people! The Jew said, "By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the people!" At that the Muslim raised his hand and slapped the Jew on the face. The Jew went to the Prophet and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for the Muslim and asked him about it. The Muslim informed him of the event. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not give me superiority over Moses, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will. be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Moses) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke."
Tafsir of Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 2411
This narration from the esteemed compilation "Khusoomaat" within Sahih al-Bukhari presents a profound lesson in Islamic etiquette and theology. The incident begins with a dispute between a Muslim and a Jew, where both invoked their respective prophets in an oath to claim superiority.
The Prohibition of Claiming Prophetic Superiority
The Muslim's statement, "By Him Who gave Muhammad superiority over all the people," though stemming from love for the Prophet (ﷺ), was inappropriate. The Prophet's immediate correction demonstrates that while Muslims believe in the finality of his prophethood, making comparative claims of superiority between prophets in such a manner is forbidden.
The Jew's response similarly claimed superiority for Prophet Moses (AS), showing how such statements can escalate conflicts and lead to physical altercations, as occurred when the Muslim slapped the Jew.
The Prophet's Humility and Inter-Prophetic Respect
The Prophet's (ﷺ) instruction "Do not give me superiority over Moses" exemplifies the proper Islamic attitude toward all prophets. All messengers of Allah are respected without making disparaging comparisons. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrated exceptional humility by refusing to be elevated above other prophets.
Theological Significance of the Day of Resurrection
The description of the Day of Resurrection, where all creation will fall unconscious and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) will be the first to regain consciousness, highlights his special status as the leader of humanity. Yet significantly, he acknowledges not knowing whether Moses experienced the same unconsciousness or was exempted by Allah, showing reverence for Moses' potential unique status.
This teaches Muslims that while we love our Prophet (ﷺ) deeply, we must maintain proper respect for all prophets and avoid statements that could cause discord or imply disrespect toward other divine messengers.