Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

1. Introduction

In cognitive psychology, humans have a tendency toward the halo effect—that is, the inclination to revere someone excessively until we consider them flawless like God—or conversely, to engage in dehumanization, degrading a person’s dignity because we see them as “just an ordinary human” with no special value. Moderation in viewing the Prophets is a form of spiritual mental health. By placing them as humans safeguarded by Allah (Ma’shum), our souls gain a real role model while remaining within the bounds of servitude. We love them without worshiping them, and we honor their humanity without belittling their prophethood.

Evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith

Allah SWT and His Messenger command us to bear witness to two things: their humanity and their messengership.

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ

"Say (O Muhammad): I am only a human like you, to whom it has been revealed that your God is One God." (QS. Al-Kahfi : 110)

وَرَسُولُهُ تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ

"Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary (Jesus). I am only His servant, so say: The Servant of Allah and His Messenger." (HR. Bukhari)

2. Lessons and Messages

Moderation toward the Prophets teaches us humility. If the noblest Prophet still called himself a “Servant,” then who are we to be arrogant? Do not deify any human, no matter how powerful, for that is misguidance. Yet do not regard a Prophet as equal to an ordinary person either, for within their hearts is revelation that guides the world. Respect them as bridges of knowledge, but continue to prostrate only to the Owner of Knowledge.Recall the event after the death of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Umar bin Khattab, who loved him deeply, briefly “lost control” in grief and threatened anyone who said the Prophet had died. It was then that Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq appeared with remarkable moderation. He said: “Whoever used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has died. But whoever worships Allah, then Allah is Ever-Living and will never die.” This statement restored the community’s awareness that love for the Prophet must not cross the boundary of divinity.Viewing the Prophets with moderation is like looking at the moon. If you consider the moon to be the Sun (a source of light itself), you are wrong, because it only reflects God’s light. But if you think the moon is merely a useless lump of dark rock, you are also mistaken, because without it the night would be pitch black. The Prophet is the moon; he is not God, but without him we would lose direction in the darkness of the world.There was a person so eager to “honor” the Prophet that he refused to step on the ground, fearing it had once been stepped on by the Prophet. In the end, he didn’t go to the mosque to pray because he was confused about how to walk without touching the ground. A wise teacher reprimanded him, “Son, the Prophet was sent for you to follow his footsteps, not to make you unable to walk! If you don’t step on the ground, you won’t be able to prostrate on the earth he loved.” That’s the humor of practicing religion with extreme emotion but little knowledge; the intention is to honor, yet it turns into self-torturing acrobatics

3. Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, being in the middle in viewing the Prophets is the key to upright faith. We love them more than ourselves, we make them our number one role models, yet at the peak of that love, we still bear witness: Asyhadu alla ilaha illallah, wa asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah. One to be worshiped, one to be followed."O Allah, plant in our hearts sincere love for Your Prophets, and protect us from going beyond limits that could corrupt our Tawhid to You. Amin.

والله أعلم بالصواب

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.

ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie