The Whole Universe was created for
The Holy Prophet Muhammad
صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم
The Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) said on the authority of 'Umar:
"When Adam committed his mistake he said: O my Lord, I am asking you to forgive me for the sake of Muhammad. Allah said: O Adam, and how do you know about Muhammad whom I have not yet created? Adam replied, O my Lord, after You created me with your hand and breathed into me of Your Spirit, I raised my head and saw written on the heights of the Throne:

LA ILAHA ILLALLAH MUHAMMADUN RASULULLAH
I understood that You would not place next to Your Name but the Most Beloved One of Your creation.
Allah said:
O Adam, I have forgiven you, and were it not for Muhammad I would not have created you."
It was transmitted through many chains and was cited by Bayhaqi (in Dala'il al-nubuwwa), Abu Nu'aym (in Dala'il al-nubuwwa), al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (2:615), al-Tabarani in his Saghir (2:82, 207) with another chain containing sub-narrators unknown to Haythami as he stated in Majma' al-zawa'id (8:253), and Ibn 'Asakir on the authority of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, and most of these narrations were copied in Qastallani's al-Mawahib al-laduniyya (and al-Zarqani's Commentary 2:62).
This hadith is declared sound (sahih) by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (2:651), although he acknowledges Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, one of its sub-narrators, as weak.
However, when he mentions this hadith he says: "Its chain is sound, and it is the first hadith of Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam which I mention in this book";
al-Hakim also declares sound another version through Ibn 'Abbas.
al-Bulqini declares this hadith sound in his Fatawa.
al-Subki confirms al-Hakim's authentication (in Shifa' al-siqam fi ziyarat khayr al-anam p. 134-135).
The hadith is also included by Qadi 'Iyad among the "sound and famous narrations" in al-Shifa, and he says that Abu Muhammad al-Makki and Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi mention it; Qadi 'Iyad says: "It is said that this hadith explains the verse: 'And Adam received words from his Lord and He relented towards him' (2:37)"; he continues to cite another very similar version through al-Ajurri (d. 360), about whom al-Qari said: "al-Halabi said: This seems to be the imam and guide Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn 'Abd Allah al-Baghdadi, the compiler of the books al-Shari'a devoted to the Sunna, al-Arba'un, and others.'"
This is confirmed by Ibn Taymiyya in his Qa'ida fi al-tawassul:
"It is related by Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Ajurri, in his book al-Shari'a
Ibn al-Jawzi also considers it sound (sahih) as he cites it in the first chapter of al-Wafa bi ahwal al-mustafa, in the introduction of which he says: "(In this book) I do not mix the sound hadith with the false," although he knew of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd's weakness as a narrator; he also mentions the version of Maysarat al-Fajr whereby the Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) says: "When satan deceived Adam and Eve, they repented and sought intercession to Allah with my name";
Ibn al-Jawzi also says in the chapter concerning the Prophet's superiority over the other Prophets in the same book: "Part of the exposition of his superiority to other Prophets is the fact that Adam asked his Lord through the sanctity (hurmat) of Muhammad that He relent towards him, as we have already mentioned."
Suyuti cites it in his Qur'anic commentary al-Durr al-manthur (2:37) and in al-Khasa'is al-kubra (1:12) and in al-Riyad al-aniqa fi sharh asma' khayr al-khaliqa (p. 49), where he says that Bayhaqi considers it sound; this is due to the fact that Bayhaqi said in the introduction to the Dala'il that he only included sound narrations in his book, although he also knew and explicitly mentions 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd's weakness;
Ibn Kathir mentions it after Bayhaqi in al-Bidayat wa al-Nihaya (1:75, 1:180).
al-Haythami in Majma' al-zawa'id (8:253 #28870), al-Bayhaqi himself, and al-Qari in Sharh al- shifa' show that its chains have weakness in them.
However, the weakness of Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd was known by Ibn al-Jawzi, Subki, Bayhaqi, Hakim, and Abu Nu'aym, yet all these scholars retained this hadith for consideration in their books.
Three scholars reject it, Ibn Taymiyya (Qa'ida jalila fi al-tawassul p. 89, 168-170) and his two students Ibn 'Abd al-Hadi (al-Sarim al-munki p. 61-63) and al-Dhahabi (Mizan al-i'tidal 2:504 and Talkhis al-mustadrak), while 'Asqalani reports Ibn Hibban's saying that 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd was a forger (Lisan al-mizan 3:360, 3:442).
It is furthermore evident that Ibn Taymiyya considers the meaning of the creation of everything for the sake of the Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) as true and correct, as he declares in his Majmu'at al-fatawa in the volume on tasawwuf (11:95-97):
Muhammad is the Chief of the Children of Adam, the Best of Creation, the noblest of them in the sight of Allah. This is why some have said that "Allah created the Universe due to him," or that "Were it not for him, He would have neither created a Throne, nor a Footstool, nor a heaven, earth, sun or moon."
However, this is not a hadith on the authority of the Prophet... but it may be explained from a correct aspect...
Since the best of the righteous of the children of Adam is Muhammad, creating him was a desirable end of deep-seated purposeful wisdom, more than for anyone else, and hence the completion of creation and the fulfilment of perfection was attained with Muhammad, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace... The Chief of the Children of Adam is Muhammad, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace, Adam and his children being under his banner. He, may Allah Exalted bless him and grant him peace, said:
"Truly, I was written as the Seal of the Prophets with Allah, when Adam was going to-and-fro in his clay," i.e. that my prophethood was decreed and manifested when Adam was created but before the breathing of the Spirit into him, just as Allah decrees the livelihood, lifespan, deeds and misery or happiness of the slave when He creates the embryo but before the breathing of the Spirit into it.
Since man is the seal and last of all creation, and its microcosm, and since the best of man is thus the best of all creation absolutely, then Muhammad, being the Pupil of the Eye, the Axis of the Mill, and the Distributor to the Collective, is as it were the Ultimate Purpose from amongst all the purposes of creation.
Thus it cannot be denied to say that "Due to him all of this was created", or that "Were it not for him, all this would not have been created," so if statements like this are thus explained according to what the Book and the Sunna indicate, it is acceptable.
Its latter part is mentioned as a separate hadith in the wording:
"Were it not for Muhammad, I would not have created the spheres (al-aflak)."
al-'Ajluni said in Kashf al-khafa' (#2123): "al-Saghani (d.650) said it is forged. I say: but its meaning is correct." Similarly 'Ali al-Qari said in al-Asrar al-marfu'a (#754-755): "al-Saghani (in al-Ahadith al-mawdu'a p. 7) said: "It is forged," however, its meaning is sound (mi'nahu sahih), as
Daylami has narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet said: "Gabriel came to me and said: O Muhammad! Were it not for you, Paradise would not have been created, and were it not for you, the Fire would not have been created."
And Ibn 'Asakir's narration has: And were it not for you, the world would not have been created."
Following are some of the hadiths of the mention of the Prophet's name together with Allah on the Throne and in the heavens cited by the hadith masters, as related by Suyuti in al-Khasa'is al-kubra (1:12-14):
In Ibn 'Asakir from Ka'b al-Ahbar:
Adam said to his son Sheeth: "O my son, you are my successor, therefore found my successorhip upon godwariness and the Firm Rope, and every time you mention Allah, do mention next to His name the name of Muhammad, for I saw his name written on the leg of the Throne as I was between the spirit and the clay.
Then I circumambulated the heavens and I did not see in them a single spot except the name of Muhammad was written upon it, and when my Lord made me inhabit Paradise I saw in it neither palace nor room except the name of Muhammad was written on it.
I have seen his name written on the bosom of the wide-eyed maidens of Paradise, on the leaves of the reed-stalks and thickets of the Garden, on the leaves of the Tree of Bliss, on the leaves of the Lote-tree of the Farthermost Boundary, and upon the veils and between the eyes of the angels. Therefore, make frequent remembrance of him, for the angels remember him in every moment."
[…]
The Lord said,
“Write: la ilaha illAllah, Muhammadan Rasulullah.”
Thereupon the Pen exclaimed, “Oh, what a beautiful, great name is that of Muhammad that it is to mentioned in one with Thy hallowed Name, oh Lord.”
The Lord then said,
“Oh Pen, mind your manners! This name is the name of My Beloved, from his Light I have created the Throne and the Pen and the Tablets; you, too, are created from his Light. Had it not been for him, I would not have created a single thing.”
Ibn 'Adi and Ibn 'Asakir from Anas:
The Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) said:
"When I was taken up to heaven I saw written on the leg of the Throne:
“la ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah”
al-Bazzar from Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) said: "When I was taken up to heaven I did not pass a heaven except I saw in it my name written:
Muhammadun Rasulullah."
Ibn 'Asakir from Jabir: The Prophet (Allah Bless him and grant him peace) said: "On the gate of Paradise is written:
“la ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah."
Abu Nu'aym in al-Hilya from Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said: "There is not in all Paradise one tree with a single leaf but inscribed:
“la ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah."
al-Hakim from Ibn 'Abbas, and he graded it sahih (sound): "Allah revealed to 'Isa the following: Believe in Muhammadand order all those of your Community who see him to believe in him, for were it not for Muhammad I would not have created Adam, nor Paradise, nor the Fire. When I created the Throne upon the water it shuddered. So I wrote upon it:
“la ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah”
In Ibn 'Asakir from Jabir through Abu al-Zubayr:
"Between Adam's shoulders is written:
“Muhammadun Rasulullah khatam al-nabiyyin."
Indeed everything was created for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and this is also proven from Quran when Quran states:
Behold!
Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you a Messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses." [The Nobel Quran 3:81]
This proves that even Prophethood of other Prophets and their books were dependent upon Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), hence It is proven directly from Quran that everything was created for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), therefore had Prophets not accepted Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) then Allah would not have become Witness over them and also not sent them!
Another Sahih hadith with
“DIFFERENT CHAIN”
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that Allah inspired Isa (a.s) saying
"O Isa, believe in Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wasalam), and whosoever form your Ummah finds him should believe in him, If I had not created Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wasalam) then I would not have created Adam, If not for him I would not have created the paradise and hell, When I made the throne on Water, it started to shake, I wrote La Ilaha IL Allah Muhammad ur Rasul Allah, due to which it became still
[Imam Hakim in Mustadrak ala Sahihayn, Volume No. 2, Page No. 609]
---
Imam al-Hakim (rah) after narrating it said:
هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد
So there is no doubt left behind that Allah created everything for the sake of Prophet (Peace be upon him) and this is established from Quran, Sunnah and authentication of classical scholars.
This Hadith has “SAHIH CHAIN”
[Mustadrak al-Hakim (2/609)]
---
“Allah created the Universe due to him,”
or
“Were it not for him, He would have neither created a Throne, nor a Footstool, nor a heaven, earth, sun or moon.”
Ibn Taymiyya explains (Majmu’ 11:95):
"These are fabricated report attributed to the Prophet [s], but the meaning is sound if understood and used correctly (as has been the practice of the scholars)."
ويمكن أن يفسر بوجه صحيح كقوله. (سخر لكم ما في السماوات
وما في الأرض)
وقوله: (وسخر لكم الفلك لتجري في البحر بأمره وسخر لكم الأنهار
وسخر لكم
الشمس والقمر دائبين وسخر لكم الليل والنهار وآتاكم من كل ما
سألتموه وإن تعدوا
نعمة الله لا تحصوها) وأمثال ذلك من الآيات التي يبين فيها أنه خلق
المخلوقات لبني آدم
ومعلوم أن لله فيها حكما عظيمة غير ذلك [ص: 97 ] وأعظم من ذلك ولكن
يبين لبني آدم ما
فيها من المنفعة وما أسبغ عليهم من النعمة.
فإذا قيل: فعل كذا لكذا لم يقتض أن لا يكون فيه حكمة أخرى. وكذلك
قول القائل: لولا
كذا ما خلق كذا لا يقتضي أن لا يكون فيه حكم أخرى عظيمة بل يقتضي
إذا كان أفضل
صالحي بني آدم محمد وكانت خلقته غاية مطلوبة وحكمة بالغة مقصودة
[أعظم] من غيره
صار تمام الخلق ونهاية الكمال حصل بمحمد صلى اله عليه وسلم.
والله خلق السموات والأرض وما بينهما في ستة أيام وكان آخر الخلق
يوم الجمعة وفيه خلق
آدم وهو آخر ما خلق خلق يوم الجمعة بعد العصر في آخر يوم الجمعة.
وسيد ولد آدم هو
محمد صلى اله عليه وسلم – آدم فمن دونه تحت لوائه – قال صلى اله
عليه وسلم (إني عند الله لمكتوب خاتم النبيين وإن
آدم لمنجدل في طينته) أي كتبت نبوتي وأظهرت لما خلق آدم قبل نفخ
الروح فيه كما
يكتب الله رزق العبد وأجله وعمله وشقي أو سعيد إذا خلق الجنين قبل
نفخ الروح فيه.
فإذا كان الإنسان هو خاتم المخلوقات وآخرها [ص: 98 ] وهو الجامع
لما فيها وفاضله هو فاضل
المخلوقات مطلقا ومحمد إنسان هذا العين، وقطب هذه الرحى وأقسام هذا
الجمع كان كأنها
غاية الغايات في المخلوقات فما ينكر أن يقال: إنه لأجله خلقت
جميعها وإنه لولاه لما خلقت
فإذا فسر هذا الكلام ونحوه بما يدل عليه الكتاب والسنة قبل ذلك.

Hakim in Mustadrak and Abu as-Shaykh in Tabaqaat al-Isfahani’ in a report from
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiyallahu ta'ala anhuma) that:
“Allah revealed to Prophet ‘Isa ‘alaihis salam that:
O ‘Isa! Have faith (imaan) in Muhammad and order your ummah to do the same. If Muhammad was not in existence, I would not have created Adam nor would I have made heaven or hell”.
(Also from Shaykh Taqi ad-Din Subki in Shifa as-Siqam and Shaykh al-Islam al-Bulqini in his Fatawa and ibn Hajar in Afdal al-Qur’an).
Dailami in Musnad al-Firdaus reports from
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiyallahu ta'ala anhuma) that:
“The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said that Jibra’il came to me and said that Allah says: If you were not created, I would not have made the heaven or hell”.
Ibn Asakir reports from Salman al-Farsi (radiyallahu ta'ala anhu) that:
“Jibra’il came to the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and said that Allah says:
I have not created anyone who is more honoured to me that you. I have created the world and all that is therein so that they may know the rank that you possess. I would not have created the world if I had not created you”.
Imam Shihab ad-Din ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani says:
“These reports say that if Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) were not created then Allah would not have made the skies nor the Earth, neither heaven nor hell, neither the sun nor the moon”.
Imam
Saif ad-Din Abu Ja’far bin Umar al-Humairi al-Hanafi in his
‘al-Durr
al-tanzeem fee mawlid al-nabi al-kareem’ says:
“When
Allah made Adam He revealed to Adam to ask Him:
O
Allah! Why have you made my kuniyah as ‘Abu Muhammad’?
Allah said: O Adam! Lift you head. He lifted his
head and saw the Noor (light) of the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu
'alaihi wasallam) on the ‘Arsh.
Adam asked: O Allah! Whose is this Noor?
Allah
said: It is a Prophet from your
progeny. His name is Ahmad in
the skies and Muhammad on the Earth. If he were not created, I would not
have created you or the skies and the Earth”.
Sayyidi Abul Husain Hamdooni Shadhili writes in his Qasida Daaliyah that:
“The dear Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is the essence of the universe and is the reason for all creation. Had he not have been, then nothing would have come into existence”.