Hadith on Humility: The Prophet chooses servitude, not kingship

Abu Huraira reported: The Angel Gabriel was with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he looked towards the sky as an angel descended. Gabriel said, “Verily, this angel has not come down since the day he was created.” The angel said, “O Muhammad, your Lord has sent me to you with the offer that I make you a prophet-king or a servant-messenger.” Gabriel said, “Be humble before your Lord, O Muhammad!” The Prophet said, “Rather, I will be a servant-messenger.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7120

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ جَلَسَ جِبْرِيلُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا مَلَكٌ يَنْزِلُ فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ إِنَّ هَذَا الْمَلَكَ مَا نَزَلَ مُنْذُ يَوْمِ خُلِقَ قَبْلَ السَّاعَةِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَرْسَلَنِي إِلَيْكَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ أَفَمَلِكًا نَبِيًّا يَجْعَلُكَ أَوْ عَبْدًا رَسُولًا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ تَوَاضَعْ لِرَبِّكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ قَالَ بَلْ عَبْدًا رَسُولًا

7160 مسند أحمد بن حنبل

12/143 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين في تخريج المسند

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Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
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