He replied:

Praise be to Allah. The statement mentioned, “Increase me in bewilderment concerning You,” is among the reports falsely attributed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. No scholar of hadith has transmitted it; only an ignorant person or a heretic would relate it. This statement implies that he was bewildered and that he asked for greater bewilderment. Both notions are false.

Allah guided him through what He revealed to him, taught him what he did not know, and commanded him to ask for increased knowledge, saying:

“My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”

This implies that he possessed knowledge and was commanded to seek more of it. Likewise, he and the believers were commanded to seek guidance by saying:

“Guide us to the straight path.”

Allah Most High also said:

“Indeed, you guide to a straight path.”

How could someone who guides others be bewildered?

Allah condemned bewilderment in the Quran, saying:

“Say, ‘Shall we invoke besides Allah what can neither benefit nor harm us, and be turned back on our heels after Allah has guided us, like someone whom the devils have lured away in the land, bewildered, while he has companions calling him to guidance, “Come to us”?’ Say, ‘Indeed, Allah’s guidance is the true guidance.’”

In short, bewilderment belongs to the same category as ignorance and misguidance. Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the most perfect of all creation in knowledge of Allah and His commands, the most fully guided himself and the most accomplished in guiding others, and the furthest of all creation from ignorance and misguidance. Allah Most High said:

“By the star when it sets! Your companion has neither strayed nor erred, nor does he speak from his own desire.”

And Allah Most High said: