A Prophet Striking the Angel of Death? Another Theological Absurdity in Islamic Tradition

 A Prophet Striking the Angel of Death? Another Theological Absurdity in Islamic Tradition

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

Among the perplexing and mythological narrations preserved within Islamic hadith literature is one recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1339:

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ ‏"‏ أُرْسِلَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ إِلَى مُوسَى ـ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ ـ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ صَكَّهُ...

English Translation:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Angel of Death was sent to Moses (peace be upon him). When he came to him, Moses struck him on the eye, causing him to return to his Lord and complain, saying, “You have sent me to a servant who does not want to die.” So Allah restored his eye and said, “Return to him and tell him to place his hand on the back of an ox, and for every hair that his hand covers, he will be granted one year of life.” Moses said, “O Lord, then what?” He said, “Then death.” Moses said, “Let it be now.” And he asked Allah to let him die near the Holy Land at a distance of a stone’s throw.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “If I were there, I would show you his grave beside the red sand hill by the roadside.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1339)

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Theological Analysis:

From a Christian theological and biblical standpoint, this narration is irreconcilable with the nature of prophecy and the order of divine authority as revealed in Scripture.

1. Prophets of God in the Bible are obedient servants, not aggressors against heavenly beings. Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find Moses striking an angel of death or resisting God’s decree. In fact, Scripture teaches submission to the will of God:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12

2. The idea of Allah being overruled or outmaneuvered by one of His servants is theologically incoherent. The sovereign God of the Bible executes His will perfectly without obstruction or negotiation from His creation.

3. Anthropomorphizing the Angel of Death to the extent that a human can strike out his eye reflects the pre-Islamic mythological culture of attributing human vulnerabilities to celestial beings — something strictly refuted in biblical monotheism.

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Final Reflection:
This hadith illustrates one of many narrations that expose the mythic traditions within Islamic literature, lacking harmony with biblical revelation. Moses, a revered prophet of God, would never lay violent hands on a divine messenger.

Hebrews 11:24-25 affirms Moses' faithful obedience:

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”

Such biblical texts contrast sharply with Islamic narrations that blur the line between myth and divine truth.

At Shimba Theological Institute, we remain committed to unveiling these contradictions, illuminating the unchanging truth of Scripture and exposing the theological inconsistencies of other religious traditions.