Translating “Shahid” as “Hadir wa Nazir”

Question

Zayd holds the belief that the Prophet ﷺ is hadir wa nazir (present and watching), and as evidence he cites the verse: [ar]إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ شَـٰهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا[/ar] “Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner” (Surah al-Ahzab, 33:45), translating “shahid” (witness) as “sent as one present and watching”. The question is whether applying this term to the Prophet ﷺ is correct.

Answer

“Hadir” means one present everywhere, and “nazir” means one who sees everyone; in this sense it is an attribute exclusive to Allah the Exalted — that is, nothing is hidden from Him, He sees and knows all: [ar]لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ[/ar] “Not an atom’s weight escapes Him in the heavens or on the earth” (Surah Saba’, 34:3)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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