Allah Bestows and Mustafa Distributes

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘اِنَّمَا اَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَاللَّهُ يُعْطِي’ i.e. I am the only one who distributes and only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 42, Hadees 71)

What the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes has not been specified in this blessed Hadees. According to the rule, its meaning in this condition will be: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the only one who distributes every blessing and no one can get anything directly without his favour. ‘Allamah Mufti Muhammad Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: No one in the creation can get anything directly without the favour of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. There is Sahih [authentic] Hadees in Bukhari and other books that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘إِنَّمَا أَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَاللَّهُ يُعْطِي’. The grammatical relation of the words “قَاسِمٌ” and “يُعْطِي” shows that these words cover everything. It means that whatever Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives to anyone in the creation, whether that blessing is physical or spiritual, apparent or concealed, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives everything through the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

Commentator of Bukhari, ‘Allamah Ahmad Khateeb Qastalani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated [the following point] in Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah and ‘Allamah Muhammad Bin ‘Abdul Baaqi Zurqaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه also holds the same opinion:

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

i.e. the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is ‘خزانۃ السر’ (i.e. hidden secret) and the central authority for the “enforcement of Divine orders”. So, everything is given through the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and every order is enforced through the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Fatawa Sharh Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 351)

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: We came to know from it that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives all the religious and worldly blessings such as knowledge, Iman [faith], wealth, children, etc.; and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes them. Whatever anyone got, he got it through Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم because in the Hadees, neither it has been specified what Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives nor has it been specified what the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes. Therefore, this opinion is wrong that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes only knowledge, or else it will imply that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ also gives only knowledge. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 1, pp. 177)

While explaining the aspect of distribution as mentioned in this blessed Hadees, some ‘Ulama [Islamic scholars] have mentioned only knowledge. However, this distribution is not specific to knowledge only. Many ‘Ulama hold the opinion that this distribution is general; whether it is knowledge or wealth, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم distributes every blessing.

A 5^th Hijri Islamic scholar, commentator of Bukhari, Imam Ibn Battaal Maliki رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: This saying of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, “اِنَّمَا اَنَا قَاسِمٌ” implies that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would not keep any amount of wealth with him; instead, he would distribute it amongst the blessed Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم. This saying of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was for heartening people, that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestows some people more and some people less. The person whom I am giving more, it is because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has specified it; and I am giving comparatively less to someone, it is also because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has specified it. (Sharh Ibn Battaal, vol. 1, pp. 141)

A great Muhaddis who passed away in 10^th Hijri, Hafiz Ibn Hajar Haytami Makki رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the greatest Khalifah of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed His treasure and blessings upon the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم may give anything he wishes to anyone. (Al-Jauhar-ul-Munazzam, pp. 80)

For more detailed information, it is extremely beneficial to study the books Al-Amnu wal-‘Ula [اَلْاَمْنُ وَالْعُلٰی] and Tajalli-ul-Yaqeen [تَجَلِّیُ الْیَقِیْنُ], authored by Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه.