An-Nisā’ 4:49

The issue

The reports state that the Jews and Christians used to boast, saying, “We are the sons

of God and His beloved...” (Q 5.18).

So Muammad answered them by saying that it was not permitted for people to

praise themselves, and that praise is strictly limited to Allah (Q 4.49).

Muhammad repeatedly warned against praising oneself. Thus, he said in the Qur’ān,

“Make not yourselves out, then, to be pure; He knows best who it is that fears” (Q 53.32). On another occasion he told Muslims, “Do not justify yourselves; Allah knows better those

who are righteous among you.”80 But Muhammad did not abide by this teaching. When

accused by some Muslims of being biased toward his own Quraysh tribe, he answered,

“By Allah I am indeed faithful in heaven and faithful on earth.” This contradictory

behavior was noted by al-Rāzī, who commented on Muhammad’s self-praise by saying,

“Since Allah justified him first by a sign [the miracle], he was permitted to act unlike

any other.”

Question: How could Muhammad forbid something, then do it himself? Is he not

“the best example”? Is it not written in the Qur’ān, “Will ye order men to do piety and

forget yourselves? ye read the Book, do ye not then understand?” (Q 2.44). And is it not

also written, “O ye who believe! say not what ye do not” (Q 61.2)? Or was it, as stated

by al-Rāzī, that according to Islāmic doctrine, a prophet is permitted to do what is considered forbidden to everyone else?