Al-Amin (Title): Difference between revisions

Muhammad al-Amin (literally: Muhammad the Trustee) is a title of the Prophet of Islam, with which he was known years before his rise to prophethood. “Amin” is a trusted person who is certainly not going to cheat or betray. According to historical sources, polytheists of the Quraysh never accused Muhammad of lying, although they denied his prophethood. One of the characteristics of the Prophet for which he was known as “Amin” was his reliability in keeping valuable things with which he was trusted. Hadiths from the Shiite Imams emphasize on the Prophet’s being Amin, and in some ziyaratnamas, he is greeted as “peace be upon God’s trustee [Amin] for His messengers.”

Muhammad al-Amin is a title of the Prophet of Islam, with which he was known years before his bi'that. “Amin” is someone who can be trusted and who is certainly not going to cheat or betray. In his book, Tabiqat al-kubra, ibn Sa'd says: “as perfect as his good characteristics were, the Prophet was not called in Mecca except as Amin.” This goes to back to the time when the Prophet was 25 years old, which shows that he was known as “Amin” years before his rise to prophethood. Moreover, according to a report quoted by al-Tabari, before the Prophet received the revelation, he was known as “Amin” (trustee). Ibn 'Abbas is quoted as saying that polytheists of the Quraysh knew the Messenger of God as “Amin” and knew that he would never tell a lie. Notwithstanding this, they denied his claim to prophethood. Enemies of the Prophet admitted that he was “Amin” as it is reported that Abu Jahl admitted this. According to these reports, the reason why they denied the Prophet was not that they did not trust his words. Instead, their denial was grounded in family and tribal rivalries.

One characteristic of the Prophet that led people to refer to him as “Amin” was that people lodged things to him in trust. There are numerous reports in historical sources that he was a depositary. For example, when (prior to his bi'that) the Prophet had commercial transactions with the capital of Khadija and successfully returned from his commercial trip, she told him: “O cousin, I am proud of you for your honorable lineage, kinship, truthfulness, praiseworthy morals, and trustfulness among people and your own tribe.” It was after this that Khadija proposed marriage to the Prophet.

The Prophet was a trusted depositary to whom people lodged their valuable things in trust. When the Prophet was forced to leave Mecca and surreptitiously migrate to Medina, he recommended 'Ali to migrate from Mecca to Medina only after he returns things people had trusted him with to their owners. According to another report, in the Battle of Khaybar, Muslims were short in foods. In the meanwhile, a shepherd who worked for Jews went to the Prophet, and converted to Islam after a conversation with the Prophet. He then told the Prophet that the Jews had trusted him with their ship, and asked him what he should do now that he converted to Islam. In spite of the need Muslims had for food, he asked the shepherd to take the sheep to the Jews’ fort and return them to their owners.

Prophethood is a trust of God, and the Prophet’s rise to prophethood is a clear indicative of his being “Amin.” In hadiths from the Imams, it is emphasized that the Prophet was Amin. According to Nahj al-balagha, Imam 'Ali said, “God sent Muhammad to warn the world and serve as a trustee for the revelation.” In Tafsir al-Qummi, the Quranic verse, “one who is obeyed and is ‘Amin’ as well,” the word, ‘amin,’ is interpreted as the Prophet’s trustfulness. Imam al-Sadiq is quoted as interpreting this verse as “his command being enforced by God and being trusted in the day of resurrection.” Also, in some ziyaratnamas transmitted from the Imams, the Prophet is referred to as “God’s trustee on His messengers.”

Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, is reported as addressing the Prophet as God’s Trustee (Amin Allah):

 

[[Category:Prophet Muhammad (s)]]