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f:614 -    Addressing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as father
 Country : Pargi, India,
Name : Badiuddin
Question:     A certain speaker addressed the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as "My father" in his speech, although he is not a Syed.  Is it correct to use such words for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?
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Answer:     Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) made the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) the leader of all Prophets and made Him the Seal of all Prophets (Khatim Un Nabiyyeen) and Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) forbade addressing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as father.  As given in Surah Ahzaab.

Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things. Surah Ahzaab (33:40)

A Muslim loves the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) much more than son loves his father; however, addressing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as father is against the Holy Quran (Nas Qata'i)

Yes, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is as affectionate as a father and brought up the Ummah the way father raises his children.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not leave any aspect of life ungoverned or unguided.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said about this:

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Verily! I am like a father for his children.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, Pg No. 3)

In the explanation of this Hadith, Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in Mirqatul Mafateeh, Sharh Mishkatul Masabeeh, Vol. 1, Pg No. 289:

Translation: I am like a father to you in affection and benevolence.  I teach you the affairs of your Deen.  Allama Khitabi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes: In this Hadith, for the addressee, there is a clarification and an expression of love, so that the person is not awed and does not feel shy about asking those things about the Deen, which are needed; the way a child is with a father.

It is not at all allowed for anybody in the Ummah to address the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as "Father."  The person who said these words should perform Tauba, as what he said is against the stated verse of the Holy Quran.

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,
Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]
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