6.2) The Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) as being a Witness (Shaahid)
Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'aan :
"And thus We made you exalted among all nations that you may be witnesses to the people and this Messenger your guard and witness.” (Surah al-Baqara, Verse 143)
“Undoubtedly, We sent towards you a Messenger who is a witness over you, … “ (Surah Muzammil, Verse 15)
“ And the day when We shall raise a witness in every community from amongst themselves that they may give evidence against them and (O beloved !)We shall bring you as a witness against all those.”(Surah Nahl, Verse 89)
"Then how shall it be, when We bring up a witness from every nation, and (O beloved Muhammad !) We will bring you as a witness and a guardian against all those. " (Surah al-Nisa, Verse 41)
The Almighty Allah ascribes to His beloved Nabi Muhammad Mustapha (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) the attribute of "Shaahid" (Witness). The qualifications of a witness in Shari'ah demands that the witness be present (Haazir), sees (Naazir) and hears before he is able to testify. Allah Ta'aala having created Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) with numerous attributes and repeatedly addresses His beloved by this term (Shaahid) in the Holy Qur'aan. Every attribute ascribed to a Nabi of Allah in the Holy Qur'aan is an active attribute, i.e. that the Nabi has (presently) that power bestowed upon him by Allah Ta'aala. From the above verses it is clear that on the Day of Judgement the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) shall be a witness not only over his own Ummah, but shall testify before Almighty on behalf of the peoples of other Prophets. Now this testimony or evidence can only be given by the person who is an eye-witness to all events and incidents under scrutiny on the Day of Judgement.
Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is the Shaahid of the Ambiya ('alaihmus salaam). This entails the period from Hadhrat Adam ('alaihis salaam) to Hadhrat Isa ('alaihis salaam) and this attribute is unceasingly active till the Day of Qiyaamah and beyond. This is the 'Ijma (Concensus) of the Ahl us-Sunnah pertaining to the term Shaahid. The doyen of the 'Ulama of Deoband, Shah Abdul Azeez Sahib (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in Tafseer-e-Azeezi, Page 636 says that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) by the light of his Prophethood knows the entire conditions of man - what religion he belongs to, to what degree he has reached in religion, what is the reality of his Imaan, what are his hindrances and progress. In short, the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) knows your deeds and actions - the good and the bad. Thus, within the law, the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) has been granted the right to be a witness of the world and it is of utmost importance.
Sayyidina 'Umar (radi allahu 'anhu), states, "In one Friday sermon, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) informed us about everything which has happened or will happen from the very beginning of time until the Hereafter when some will inhabit Paradise while the others Hell." (Bukhaari Shareef)
Mu'adh (radi allahu 'anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "I saw Allah the Almighty. Allah put His Hand (of power) at my back and I felt it's coolness in my chest. The very moment, everything became known to me and I recognized everything." (Tirmidhi Shareef, Mishkaat)
The Hadith Shareef mentioned in Tirmidhi Shareef says,"I know everything which is in the Heavens and the Earth, from the East to the West."
The Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said, "Allah has shrunk the earth for me so I could see its Easts and Wests." (Mishkaat)
Muslim reports that the Apostle of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "Allah has spread the entire universe in front of me and I have seen its Easts and Wests and my Ummah is expected to measure the length and breadth of the universe in the near future. I have been granted two measures, black and white."
The Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) says, "My entire Ummah was presented before me with each individual's scroll of deeds, good as well as bad."(Muslim Shareef, Volume 1, Page 207, Musnad-i-Ahmad, Ibn Majah)
Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) says, "One night my Ummah was presented before me at my hujrah and I know each of them as clearly as any one knows his colleague."(Ref : Anba al-Mustafa, Page 19, ref : Tibrani)
