than these angels. As for the karūbiyyūn (cherubim), who stand above such tasks, no one is superior to them.” Some of them may make an exception for our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. His exclusion from the general judgment concerning humanity means deeming him superior either to every individual angel or to those angels who govern the affairs of the world.

This is what has reached me of others’ statements on this question. I had thought that discussion of it was a later development, until I discovered that it was grounded in transmitted reports, going back to the early generations and the Companions. This prompted me to investigate the matter thoroughly, whereupon we adopted the position of the early generations.

Abū Ya‘lā al-Mawsilī related in his well-known Kitāb al-Tafsīr (Book of Quranic Commentary) a report from ‘Abd Allāh ibn Salām. He was knowledgeable about both the earlier and the later Scripture, having been one of the People of the Book. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had testified that his life would end well; Mu‘ādh’s counsel at his death also identified him as one of the four scholars from whom knowledge should be sought. He said:

“Allah has created no creature more honored by Him than Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” This is the report related from him.

I asked, “Not even Gabriel or Michael?”

He replied, “My nephew, do you know what Gabriel and Michael are? Gabriel and Michael are merely creatures subjected to Allah’s command, like the sun and the moon. Allah Most High has created no creature more honored by Him than Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”

‘Abd Allāh also related in al-Tafsīr (Quranic Commentary) (*) and elsewhere, from Ma‘mar, from Zayd ibn Aslam, that he said:

“The angels said, ‘Our Lord, You have given the children of Adam this world, where they eat and drink; so grant us the Hereafter.’

“He replied, ‘By My might, I will not make the righteous among the descendants of the one whom I created with My two hands like those to whom I said, “Be,” and they came into being.’”