The Muhammadan Reality.

The reality of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, as eternally known by Allah, Tabaraka Wa Ta'ala, plays a crucial role both cosmologically and as an archetype for the reality of all Prophets. In the Holy Qur'an, it is mentioned that Allah sent him as a Mercy and a Blessing for the whole creation.

 In the Hadith, it is mentioned that the first thing created by Allah was Muhammad's Light; while yet another tradition affirms that it was Muhammad's spirit. Sayyadi Ibn Arabi, may Allah be Merciful to him, discusses an Ayat in the Qur'an concerning the reality of the ithmus, to the effect that when 2 seas mingle together there should be an ithmus between the 2, so that they would not encroach on one another. He metaphysically and symbolically interprets this that there should be an intermediary between 2 independent ontological realms, such as this world and the next, sense perception and intellect, and Allah and the universe. Such an intermediary between Allah and the universe is the Muhammad Reality, which is the 1st determination or the 1st manifestation of Allah to Himself and comprises the reality of all things.


Being a determination or manifestation means that it is created but at the same time, it embraces within itself the archetypal reality of everything other than Allah. It is as if the openings (mafatih) or the master keys of all things have been entrusted to Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam.


Moreover, all Prophets, even if historically preceding him, obtain their Prophet-hood from the lamp of his Prophecy. We learnt part of this in the Hadith where the Prophet himself said:--

  "I was a Prophet while Adam was still a mixture of water and clay." Other Prophets were not so except when they were chosen by Allahu, Azzah Wa Jallah.