The Lord is the Bestower; the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the Distributor
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “اِنَّمَا اَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَاللَّهُ يُعْطِي” “I am only the distributor, and it is Allah who bestows.” [1]
In this blessed Hadith, what the leader of both worlds صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes is not specified. In this case, while applying the relevant principles, the meaning is that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the distributor of every blessing, and that without his mediation no one can receive anything.
The great jurist of India, ꜤAllāmah Mufti Muḥammad Sharīf al-Ḥaqq Amjadī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states:
No one among creation can receive anything without the mediation of the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . There is an authentic Hadith in Bukhārī and other collections in which he said: “اِنَّمَا اَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَاللَّهُ يُعْطِي”. The objects of both “Qāsim” (distributor) and “YuꜤṭī” (bestows) are omitted, and this omission conveys generality. The meaning, therefore, is that whatever Allah Almighty gives to any of His creation — whether it be a physical blessing or a spiritual one, outward or inward — He causes all of it to be given through the hands of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .
For this reason, the commentator of Bukhārī, ꜤAllāmah Aḥmad Khaṭīb Qasṭalānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, stated in Al-Mawāhib al-Ladunniyyah, which ꜤAllāmah Muḥammad b. ꜤAbd al-Bāqī Zurqānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه upheld:
ھُوَ صَلَّی اللہ ُتَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ خِزَانَۃُ السِّرِّ وَمَوْضِعُ نُفُوْذِالْاَمْرِ فَلَا یَنْقُلُ خَیْرٌ اِلَّا عَنْہُ وَلَا یَنْفُذُ اَمْرٌ اِلَّا مِنْہُ صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the treasury of the secret (i.e. the hidden mystery) and the locus through which Allah’s command is executed. Therefore, everything is conveyed only through the Prophet, and every command is carried into effect through him. [2]
The Sage of the Ummah, Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states:
From this, it is known that all the blessings of religion and the world — such as knowledge, faith, wealth, and offspring— are granted by Allah, but the Prophet is the one who distributes them. Whoever receives anything does so through the hands of the Prophet, for there is no restriction upon Allah’s giving nor upon the Prophet’s distribution. Therefore, the notion that he distributes only knowledge is incorrect; otherwise, it would imply that Allah only gives knowledge. [3]
Some scholars, in explaining this Hadith, have mentioned only knowledge in relation to distribution. However, this distribution is not restricted to knowledge alone. Many leading Imams have kept its meaning general; whether it be knowledge or wealth, every blessing is distributed by the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .
The saint of the fifth century AH, the commentator of Bukhārī, Imam Ibn Baṭṭāl al-Mālikī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states:
The saying of the Prophet عَلَیْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام , “Indeed I am only the distributor,” indicates that the Beloved Prophet عَلَیْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام did not keep any wealth for himself, but would distribute it among the noble Companions عَلَیْہِمُ الرِّضْوَان . This statement was also intended to reassure the people — that if some receive less or more than others, this is the bestowal of Allah Almighty. The one to whom I am giving more, it is by Allah’s decree; and the one to whom I am giving less in comparison, it is also by Allah’s decree. [4]
The great Hadith scholar who passed away in the tenth century AH, Hāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī al-Makkī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states:
The Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the foremost vicegerent of Allah. Allah Almighty has placed the treasuries of His grace and the spread of His blessings in the hands of the Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ; he gives to whomever he wills.[5]
For further detail, it is most beneficial to study the works of the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه: Al-Amn wa al-ꜤUlā and [6]Tajallī-ul-Yaqīn .[7]
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