While Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting, a Jew came and said, "O Abul Qasim! One of your companions has slapped me on my face." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked who that was. He replied that he was one of the Ansar. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for him, and on his arrival, he asked him whether he had beaten the Jew. He (replied in the affirmative and) said, "I heard him taking an oath in the market saying, 'By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the human beings.' I said, 'O wicked man! (Has Allah given Moses superiority) even over Muhammad I became furious and slapped him over his face." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not give a prophet superiority over another, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be the first to emerge from the earth, and will see Moses standing and holding one of the legs of the Throne. I will not know whether Moses has fallen unconscious or the first unconsciousness was sufficient for him."
Commentary on Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 2412
This narration from Khusoomaat in Sahih al-Bukhari contains profound wisdom regarding the status of prophets and proper conduct among believers. The Ansari companion's righteous anger stemmed from defending the honor of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), yet the Prophet himself corrected this approach, teaching us that all prophets are honored servants of Allah and should not be ranked against one another.
Scholarly Explanation of Prophetic Equality
The Prophet's statement "Do not give a prophet superiority over another" establishes the Islamic principle that all messengers were sent by Allah with specific missions suited to their communities and times. While they differ in certain circumstances of their missions, they are united in their fundamental message of tawhid (monotheism).
The description of the Day of Resurrection emphasizes the humility of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the awe-inspiring nature of that day. His uncertainty about whether Moses experienced unconsciousness demonstrates the profound mysteries of the hereafter that even prophets do not claim full knowledge of.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This hadith teaches that defending the Prophet's honor must be done within proper boundaries and with correct understanding. The Ansari's intention was noble, but his method required correction.
The incident also illustrates the Prophet's justice in dealing with People of the Book, hearing both sides of the dispute and correcting his companion despite the Jew's provocative statement.