PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ IS ALIVE PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY IN HIS GRAVE (HAYAT UN-NABI ﷺ)
In a hadith, Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Allah Ta'ala did not take oath on the life of any prophets except on the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is our belief that one-day all living things have to taste death, including the prophets of Allah Ta'ala. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also tasted death, but Allah Ta'ala gave him a pure and exquisite life after his demise. Prophet ﷺ is alive in his grave.
Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) narrates that at the demise of Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr(Radi Allaahu Anhu) came, uncovered the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, kissed him and said, 'Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, (O Messenger), you are good in life and in death. By Allah in Whose hands my life is. Allah will never make you taste death twice'. (Bukhari)
It is the belief of the mischievous Wahabi and its affiliated sects that Prophet ﷺ has mingled with dust in his grave. Ma'az Allah. They also believe from some false conviction that they hold, that the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not pass away. This is weird and a blatant lie. Prophet ﷺ did pass away, but after tasting death, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is alive (hayat) for ever.
Allah Ta'ala says that, after death, a mu'min will be granted a magnificent life. If this is the status of the slave, what could be imagined for the life of Prophet ﷺ. After death, the infidels will also be brought back to life, but to suffer the torment of Hell. And the mu'min will be brought back to life for rewards.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And the hereafter is better for you than the preceding one'
(Surah Adh-Dhuha. verse 4)
The life, after the world and resurrection, is better for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ than the worldly life because Prophet ﷺ at all times enjoys union with Allah Ta'ala in the hereafter world. This verse of The Holy Quran resolves the issue of Hayat un-Nabi ﷺ, the eternal life of Prophet ﷺ. The soul of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is in the noblest place in the hereafter world. And the most sacred place is undoubtedly the pure and blessed body of Prophet ﷺ. Hence, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is alive with body and soul in the blessed tomb (under the green dome in Madina Munawarah), which is more sacred than even the Great Throne and Paradise itself.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that on the night of Me'raj, his blessed chest was split open, his heart taken out, washed with Zamzam water and then returned to its original place. All these time, Prophet ﷺ was fully aware of the happenings, hearing and seeing. Hence, Prophet ﷺ is alive at all times, even when his heart was taken out from his blessed body.
In a hadith, Hazrat Ammar Bin Yaasir narrates that Prophet ﷺ said, 'Allah has appointed an angel to my grave, whosoever sends durood upon me, until the Day of Judgement, his durood is presented to me along with his name and his fathers name.' On no account in life, someone is not reciting durood and salutation upon Prophet ﷺ, which means that Prophet ﷺ is always listening to the durood presented to him, so how can he not be alive.
If a Muslim dies in a battle, he is considered a martyr (shaheed) because he recited the kalima of Prophet ﷺ. And a shaheed is always alive. Now! What about the
Prophet ﷺ whose kalima the shaheed recited. How can he not be alive?
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'Who created death and life that He may try you as to which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Honourable, the Forgiving'
(Surah Al-Mulk. verse 2)
Allah Ta'ala created both, death and life, to test who is best in deeds. It is narrated in a hadith that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that the first thing Allah Ta'ala created was the light (noor) of Prophet ﷺ. At that time, Allah Ta'ala had not created any other thing, not even 'death and life'. Prophet ﷺ existed even before 'life and death' was created. He is alive in his grave after his passing away.
'And We did not send you but as a mercy for all worlds'
(Surah Al-Ambiya. verse 107)
The mercy of Prophet ﷺ is absolute, complete and in its entirety. It includes everything and it is for everything. It is within the surrounds of Allah Ta'ala, the knower of everything, hidden and open and omnipresent eternally in both the worlds. Prophet ﷺ is a mercy for the universe. The question that arises is how can the giver of the bounty not be alive when the world continues to receive his bounty.
'And do not say about those who are slain in the path of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive, but you are unaware of it'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 154)
'And those that have been slain in the path of Allah never think of them as dead, but are alive with their Lord, from whom they get their subsistence'
(Surah Ale-Imran. verse 169)
In comparison to the martyrs, the eternal life of Prophet ﷺ is very much superior both in rank and virtue.
From this we learn that the bodies and spirits of the martyrs are both alive. For this reasons their bodies do not decay in the grave which has been witnessed on many occasions.
In comparison to the martyrs, the eternal life of Prophet ﷺ is very much superior both in rank and virtue. The wealth of the martyr can be distributed as inheritance, but the wealth of prophets cannot be distributed as inheritance. The wives of the martyrs can get married, after the period of iddat, but the wives of the prophets cannot be married. The bodies of the martyrs do not decay in the grave. Then, how can the blessed body of Prophet 'Muhammad ﷺ get mingled with dust in the grave. Ma'az Allah.
Hazrat Anas(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that all the prophets are alive in their graves and they are worshipping. (Baihaqi). Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'I saw Prophet Musa(alaihis salaam) worshipping in his grave standing'. ( journey of Me'raj).
Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'when a man passes by a grave whose inhabitant he knew, and sends peace upon him, he returns his salutation and recognises him; and when he passes by a grave whose inhabitant he did not know and he sends peace upon him, he returns his salutation'. If this were the dignity of the inhabitants of the grave, then what would be the dignity and honour of Prophet ﷺ.
Hazrat Abu Darda(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said, 'whoever sends durood upon me, it is presented before me as soon as he finishes'. Hazrat Abu Darda(Radi Allaahu Anhu) reports that I asked, 'is this also the case after death?' Prophet 'Muhammad ﷺ replied, 'the earth has been prohibited by Allah to eat the bodies of the prophets'. (Ibn Majah).
Now! Where did the deviants get their belief that Prophet ﷺ has mingled with dust in his grave? This is nothing more than disrespect and enmity towards the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
In another narration, it is reported that 'so the prophets of Allah are alive and are given food (rizq)'.
Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) narrates that, 'whenever I entered the house in which Prophet ﷺ and my father, Hazrat Abu Bakr(Radi Allaahu Anhu) are laid to rest, I used to take off my veil from my head thinking that it is only my father and husband whom I am visiting. However, when Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was laid to rest with them, I never went inside without being fully covered. This is because of being shy of Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu). (Musnad Bin Hanbal).
From this we learn that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr(Radi Allaahu Anhu), and Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) are alive in their graves.
As per his request, Hazrat Abu Bakr's(Radi Allaahu Anhu) janaza was taken to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and a request was made to Prophet ﷺ to give burial to Hazrat Abu Bakr(Radi Allaahu Anhu) beside him in the same chamber. The door of the tomb opened and a voice came consenting to the request. Prophet ﷺ is alive and listens to the grievances of his visitors and bestows his bounty upon them.
However, there are people who are quoting the following verse of The Holy Quran to propagandize that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not alive. Ma'az Allah.
'Every soul shall taste death, and you will be given your (full) compensation only on the Day of Resurrection''
(Surah Ale-Imran. verse 185)
Undoubtedly, every soul has to taste death. But there is always a difference as who tastes death. There are some who are cremated after dying. Muslims are given a bath (ghusul), shroud (kaffan), and taken to the burial ground with utmost respect. Janaza salaah is performed. Supplication is made for the forgiveness of sins and for a better hereafter. Esaal e sawaab (sending rewards to the deceased) gatherings are organized. This is the death of an everyday Muslim.
In a hadith, it is reported that at the time of the demise of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Hazrat Israel(alaihis salaam) stood at the door of Prophet 's ﷺ house and asked for permission to enter and to take his soul.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And if when they do injustice unto their souls, then O Beloved they should come to you, and then beg forgiveness of Allah, and the Messenger should intercede for them'
(Surah An-Nisa. verse 64)
All types of wrong-doers, during all periods of time who have committed any type of sin must come to the court of Prophet ﷺ (even in Madina Munawarah) or sincerely and mentally turning to him and beg for forgiveness of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will intercede for them. This proves that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is alive and will continue to intercede till the Day of Judgement.
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This article is an abridged English translation of Urdu sermons delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
