An incident involving the Prophet Muhammad is narrated by various narrators in different collections of Hadith. In Sahih al-Bukhari, the incident is recorded as follows:
“In Medina, a funeral procession passed by the Prophet Muhammad while he was sitting. Upon seeing the procession, he stood up out of respect for it, and his Companions stood up with him. It was mentioned to him that it was a Jewish funeral (not a Muslim one). He responded, ‘Was he not a human being?” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1312).
Imam al-Bukhari’s contribution is monumental, as he collected hundreds of thousands of Hadith and, through extraordinary effort, selected 7,563 Hadith (including repetitions) to compile the invaluable collection known as Sahih al-Bukhari. This work, regarded as the most authentic book after the Quran, stands as a singular achievement, unparalleled in its significance.
However, future generations must not confine themselves to Imam al-Bukhari’s arrangement and categorization. For instance, Imam al-Bukhari included the aforementioned Hadith in the chapter on funerals (Kitab al-Jana’iz), under the subheading “The one who stands for a Jewish funeral.” If later generations interpret the Hadith solely through the lens of this chapter title, they will perceive it merely as a guideline for funeral practices, deriving only funeral-related lessons. Consequently, their intellectual engagement with this Hadith will remain limited to the topic of funerals.
Now, consider this matter in the context of the present time. One of the objections frequently raised against Islam is that its moral teachings emphasize respect for Muslims but lack respect for humanity as a whole. This objection is unquestionably incorrect and can be refuted with numerous references from the Quran and Hadith. In this regard, the incident involving the Prophet Muhammad given in the above Hadith serves as a compelling example. It demonstrates that Islam embodies perfect respect for humanity. Islamic teachings hold that every human being created by God deserves respect in all circumstances—whether they share the same religion or belong to another, whether they are from one nation or another, or even if they appear to be from an enemy nation. As human beings, they are entitled to respect.
However, when this Hadith is narrowly interpreted within the confines of funeral practices, an important principle of Islamic teaching—its universal respect for humanity—risks being overshadowed.
