Is the following statement Shirk (polytheism): Allaah has given the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, special powers, he is all-hearing and all-seeing (omnipresent). With security cameras, we can see different things at the same time; similarly, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, can see different things at the same time with the powers given by Allaah. Please reply soon. May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that Allaah granted His Prophet special abilities. But this is not the principle, and only what is proven by evidence is confirmed.

For instance, Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, “Do you find me looking towards the Qiblah only? (I swear) by Allaah, your bowing and your prostrating are not hidden from my view. Verily, I see you from behind my back.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This is something peculiar to the Prophet and it is among the special abilities that Allaah granted him.

Ibn Rajab said in Fath Al-Baari, “It (i.e. the Prophet seeing from behind his back) is a virtue that Allaah granted to the Prophet specifically, so he was seeing with his insight in the same manner that he sees with his sight (eyes), so he could see from behind him as he would see in front of him.”

Also, Ibn Hajar said in Fath Al-Baari, “The correct view and the chosen one is that the hadeeth means its literal meaning and that this seeing was a real perception that is peculiar to him and was a miracle for him.”

However, even though this was a miracle and was something peculiar to him it is not something absolute. Some scholars stated that this only applied to the time of the prayer and not to other cases.

Ibn Hajar said in At-Talkhees Al-Habeer, “The ahaadeeth that were mentioned in this regard are limited to the time of the prayer; this is how we can reconcile between this and his saying, 'I do not know what is behind this wall of mine.'” 

Also, Al-Qaari said in Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh, “It does not necessarily mean that it [him seeing behind his back] is permanent so that (someone may say that) the account, 'I do not know what is behind this wall of mine,' contradicts it, as the former only applies to the time of the prayer and him knowing about the people praying behind him.”

Since the Prophet seeing behind his back during the prayer was restricted to the time of the prayer, then it is not proper to say that he sees everything and even hears everything! This is indeed a matter that contradicts the reality with absolute evidence; otherwise how is it that the Prophet used to send people to bring him news about the war? And look at what happened to him and his Companions on the day of the battle of Uhud and other matters that apply to every human being, as is evident to whoever reads his biography .

For example, ‘Aa’ishah narrated:

“When it was my turn for Allaah's Messenger to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle, took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, spread the corner of his shawl on his bed, and then laid down till he thought that I was asleep. Then he slowly took hold of his mantle, slowly put on his shoes, opened the door, and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my head, put on my veil, tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps till he reached Al-Baqee' graveyard. He stood there, and he stood for a long time. He then raised his hands three times [as he supplicated], and then returned, and I also returned. He hastened his steps, and I also hastened my steps. He came (to the house), and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him, and I entered (the house) before him, and as I lay down in the bed, he entered the (house), and said, 'Why is it, O ‘Aa’ishah, that you are out of breath?' I said, 'There is nothing.' He said, 'Tell me or (Allaah) the Subtle and the Aware will tell me.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, may my father and mother be ransomed for you, and then I told him (the whole story).' He said, 'Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me?' I said, 'Yes...'” [Muslim]

The Prophet did not know that the person that he saw in front of him was his wife ‘Aa’ishah until she told him that it was her.

To conclude, saying that the Prophet “he is all-hearing and all-seeing (omnipresent)” is a false statement without any doubt. There is no authentic evidence that says this, so we must abide by the principle that is found in the Command of Allaah to His Prophet to say: {Say: I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allaah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe.} [Quran 7:188]

Indeed, the Prophet refused to be extolled, as is seen in the hadeeth that was reported by Ar-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwith, in which she said, “The Prophet entered upon me on the day of the consummation of my marriage. He sat on my bed and the little girls started beating the duff (a tambourine-like instrument without bells) and mourning their fathers who had been killed in the battle of Badr. One of them said, 'Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.' Upon hearing that, the Prophet said, 'Leave this (saying) and keep on saying what you were saying before.'” [Al-Bukhari]

Ibn Hajar said in Fath Al-Baari, “His saying, 'Leave this,' means leave what you said regarding praising me with words that include extolling me, which is forbidden. The narration of Hammaad ibn Salamah includes the following addition, 'No one knows what will happen tomorrow except Allaah;' so he pointed out the reason why this is forbidden.”

The Prophet forbade exaggerating in praising him and extolling him, as we have already explained in fataawa 87271 and 86241.

Allaah Knows best.