Can we compare Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to other people?
As-salamu alaykum. A few days ago I replied to a comment claiming “Sheikh Dr. Zakir Naik was forced to migrate like Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).” I got downvoted for saying: what’s wrong with comparing two humans? One may be more pious and received revelation, the other did not. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is undoubtedly the best of creation, but he was also human. Saying he can be compared to anyone else in a way that equals him would be wrong. Only Allah is absolutely incomparable - His attributes are unique to Him (Ash-Shuraa 42:1: “There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” and Al-Ikhlas 112:1–4: “He is Allah, One… He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent”). The Prophet (pbuh) could make human errors in judgment, and Allah corrected or guided him through revelation. Examples from his life show this human aspect alongside prophetic guidance: - Early on, when he was focused on winning over influential leaders of Quraysh, he frowned and turned away from a blind man, Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, who came seeking guidance. Surah Abasa (80) was revealed to teach that sincerity matters more than social rank. - After Badr, the Prophet discussed what to do with prisoners. He accepted Abu Bakr’s suggestion to take ransom rather than follow Umar’s harsher view. Later revelation indicated that taking ransom wasn’t the ideal choice at that moment. - Once, to please some of his wives, the Prophet swore off honey for himself. Surah At-Tahrim (66) admonished him for forbidding something Allah had made lawful. These incidents show he was human and could act in ways that Allah then corrected through revelation - not that he was imperfect as a prophet, but that his prophethood included receiving guidance from Allah. So if by “compare” one means noting differences in rank, piety, or receiving revelation, that is understandable. If one means equating him with ordinary people in status or divine role, then no - that would be inappropriate. What evidence do you have to say he cannot be compared at all?