Q. Some persons believe that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is only a human being and not Nur (light). They say so based on the reason that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had wives, had children, and he used to eat and drink. Is this correct or are they astray?

A. They are astray.  The Aqeeda of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jama'at is that he is both Nur and a human being.

The being and existence of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is even before that of human beings, but when he came into this world he came in the garb of a human being.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated, "The very first thing which Almighty Allah created was my Nur." (Tafseer Roohul Bayaan; Madarijun Nabuiwat)

Once Hazrat Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) asked the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) whom Allah Ta'ala created before anything else. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) stated: "O Jaabir! Verily, before the creation of anything else, Almighty Allah created the Nur of your Nabi from His Nur." (Muwahibul Laduniya; Zirkani Shareef)
The Sahaba of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) lived with him and observed him with his wives and children. They saw him eating, drinking, talking, etc. but still accepted him to be Nur.

We know that Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) is made of Nur but when he used to appear before Hazrat Maryam (radi Allahu anha) he used to appear in the form of a human being. Allah Ta'ala states in the Holy Quran: "Thus he used to appear before her in the form of a healthy (well-built) man." (Part 16, Ruku 5)

Hazrat Umar Farouk (radi Allahu anhu) narrates that once a person came before them. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked him if he knew who that person was, he replied: "Allah Ta'ala and His beloved Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) know better." The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said that it was Jibraeel (alaihis salaam). (Mishkaat; Bukhari Shareef)

This Hadith proves that although the Sahaba referred to Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) as a man since they saw him in the form of a human being, yet they accepted that he was in actual fact an Angel made from Nur.

On many instances, he came in the form of Sahabi-e-Rasool named Hazrat Wahia Kalbi (radi Allahu anhu).  Sayyida Halima Sa'adiya (radi Allahu anha), the wet-nurse of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), believed the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to be Nur. She said that when she used to feed the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) milk in his infancy, she never felt the need for a light in her house. (Bayaanul Miladun Nabwi; Tafseer Mazhari).

Sayyida Safiya (radi Allahu anha), the aunt of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) states that on the eve of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) she was present in his house. She said that she saw his Nur became more powerful than the light from the lamp. (Shawaahidun Nubuiwat)

Hazrat Ali Murtuza (radi Allahu anhu) said that when the Beloved of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) spoke, Nur (light) used to be seen emerging from between his blessed teeth. (Muwahibul Laduniya; Anwaarul Muhammadiyah)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) states that when the beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) smiled, then the walls use to glow with his Nur. (Muwahibul Laduniya; Shifa Shareef)

Hazrat Anas (radi Allahu anhu) states that the day in which the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) arrived in Madinatul Munawwarah, everything in Madinatul Munawwarah became bright through his Nur. (Tirmizi Shareef; Ibn Majah)

Ummul Mo'mineen, Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (radi Allahu anha) is recorded to have said: "In total dark nights, I used to put the thread into a needle with the help of the Nur of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)." (Shara Shifa Bar Hashia Naseemur Riaz)

Hazrat Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) praises the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in the following poem: "You are that Nur that the full Moon is brightened by your Nur and you are with your beauty and elegance a shining sun." (Qasidaul Nu'maan)

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari (radi Allahu anhu) reports: I asked: "O Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), What did the Almighty Allah first create?" The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied: "Allah first created my Nur (Light) of His Nur. This Nur travelled about according to the Will of Allah. At that time, there was no Heaven, Hell, Lawh (Divine Tablet), Pen, Earth, Skies, Sun, Moon, Jinn or Human Beings. When He decided to create, He divided that Nur into four parts. From one part He created the Pen, from the second, the Lawh and from the third, he made the Arsh (Throne).

"He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one, He created those Angels who carry the Arsh, from the second, the Kursi (Divine Chair) and from the third, He created the Angels.

"He again divided the remaining parts into a further four parts. From one, He created the skies. The second was used in creating the planets. From the third, Heaven and Earth were created.
"Once again, He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one part He created the power with which the believers see. From the second, He created in the hearts of the Believers the Nur of Marifat. From the third, He created in the tongues of the Believers, Nur, so that they can read the Kalima of Tauheed". (Dalaa'il-un-Nubuwwat, Imam Baihaqi)

This astonishing Hadith Shareef proves that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the life of this world and everything in it. When he is the life of this world, then everything that happens in it is clear to him and nothing is concealed from him. Who then can deny that he is not Nur (light)?

Source: Imam Ahmed Reza Khan Academy