he is subject to forgetfulness, and he forgets just as other people forget. If the Prophet ﷺ sometimes forgot matters that had once been known to him, then, all the more so, he does not know what has never been revealed to him. Allah says: “Say, ‘I do not claim to possess the treasuries of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel’” (Sūrah al-Anʿām 6:50). Thus Allah commanded him to announce publicly that he does not hold Allah’s treasures, that he does not know the unseen, and that he is not an angel—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.

This categorically closes the door on those who, in their times of distress, turn to the Messenger ﷺ and call upon him for relief. Such people are his adversaries, not his allies; for had he been alive, he would have ordered them to repent, and if they refused, he would have executed them because they are idolaters. No one may invoke anyone besides Allah—neither a near-angel nor a commissioned prophet. The Prophet ﷺ was sent to safeguard pure monotheism and to establish the worship of Allah alone. He does not know the unseen, he may forget what he previously knew, and he needs food, drink, clothing, and protection from enemies. Indeed, at the Battle of Uḥud he donned two coats of mail—one over the other—out of fear of enemy weapons.

He is therefore a human being like any other; every legal ruling that applies to human beings applies to him ﷺ. For this reason Allah said: “Say, ‘I am only a man like you to whom revelation comes: your God is but One God’” (Sūrah al-Kahf 18:110). Ponder how He described him as “a man like you.” Had He merely said, “I am only a man,” we could have inferred through simple reasoning that he is human like the rest of humankind; yet He added “like you” to emphasize that he is distinguished from you only by revelation: “to whom revelation comes: your God is but One God….”