With reference to the question that was posted above about the Prophet (AS) being alive after his death, I would like to say that I disagree with what you have written and with due respect to you it seems that you have misinterptreted the ayats in the Holy Qur'an.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Salaam Alaykum,
With reference to the question that was posted above
about the Prophet (AS) being alive after his death, I would like to say that I
disagree with what you have written and with due respect to you it seems that
you have misinterptreted the ayats in the Holy Qur'an.
Firstly, Allah tells us in the Qur'an that martyrs and
those who were close to Allah are alive. I do not have the exact Ayat
with me as I am not at home now but I rembember an ayat in the Quran which
indicates this. This ayat includes all the Prophets and highly respected
people as well. You are wrong to say that all scholars agree that the
Prophet (AS) is dead, they do not all agree on this statement.
Also I remember there is a hadith that tells us that the
Prophet (AS) sends his salams back to the person who sends salaam to
him in his holy shrine in
Secondly, with due respect to you the Prophet (AS) is
not like any ordinary person like you have said in your statement. He was
a Prophet (AS) who was pious and at
the highest possible level, to suggest that he is like any ordinary person is
to degrade his position that Allah (SWT) gave to him.
Thirdly, if he is dead as you suggest then why do people
all over the world go to his holy shrine in
Wasalaam
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Answer:
Prophet (saws) alive
not dead and his grave
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your Statement: Firstly, Allah tells us in the
Qur'an that martyrs and those who were close to Allah are alive. I do not
have the exact Ayat with me as I am not at home now but I rembember an
ayat in the Quran which indicates this. This ayat includes all the
Prophets and highly respected people as well.
Allah Says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 154:
And say not of those
who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay they are
living though ye perceive (it) not.
Allah Subhanah revealed the
above quoted aayah of Surah Baqarah immediately after the Battle of Ohud, when the hypocrites started spreading propaganda
amongst the believers and said that the martyrs died in vain, and did not enjoy the life of this
world! Allah Subhanah revealed this
aayah to comfort the believers and to impress upon them the honor those martyrs
received in the realm of His Presence.
Allah Subhanah declares that these martyrs are honored and are alive in
His Presence, but the people of the
world cannot perceive that reality.
Such is the honor Allah bestows on those who are slain in His
Cause. Allah Subhanah demands that
their death in the life of this world should not, and cannot be compared to the people who die
a normal or natural death.
Thus, Allah has declared honor and admiration to
those who are martyred for Allah’s Cause,
and affirmed that the dying of one in the Cause of Allah cannot be
compared to a normal death of this life!
The very word ‘dead’ as understood by human beings is very
discouraging, and kills the spirit of
self-sacrifice, and the urge to fight in
the Way of Allah. Instead of this, the believers are encouraged to believe that
the martyrs are alive in the Presence of Allah Subhanah, but we are not able to perceive that
honorable life of theirs. And this is
a reality which revitalizes and keeps the spirit of courage and ‘jihad’ alive
in the hearts of the true believers.
That is the basic essence and
meaning of the above aayah 154 of Surah Baqarah.
Allah Subhanah reveals in another Surah, a similar verse and describes the honor and bliss the martyrs are enjoying in the Presence of their Merciful Lord, where they are provided with abundant sustenance and bounty. The aayahs are meant to impress upon the people of this life, that those who are slain in the Way of Allah, have bartered their transitory worldly life for an eternal and everlasting life of joy, bliss, Grace and Mercy, and where they have absolutely no fear, and no cause to grieve.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verses 169-171:
169 Think not of those who
are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live finding their sustenance in the
presence of their Lord.
170 They rejoice in the
bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their
bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact
that on them is no fear, nor have they
(cause to) grieve.
171 They glory in the Grace
and the Bounty from Allah, and in the
fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the faithful to be lost (in the
least).
But some ignorant people who, rather than form their beliefs from the guidance of the Holy Quran, try to make the Quran follow their self-satisfying beliefs! They choose a particular martyr, or martyrs from a particular family of their choice, and then use these Aayahs to justify that these martyrs or ‘auliyaas’ are alive, are very close to Allah Subhanah, and thus can hear and answer their prayers! They thus celebrate the praises of their ‘specifically’ chosen martyrs and ‘auliyaas’, celebrate and perform certain rituals on their birth and death days, make shrines and tombs over their graves, and make their shrines a place of their rituals and worship. They do all these rituals so that their ‘specifically’ chosen martyr and ‘auliyaas’ becomes pleased with their service, and since they have so much ‘influence’ on Allah Subhanah, they will get their prayers answered by Allah Subhanah!
Thus in effect, these ignorant
people involve themselves in the abomination and the most heinous of sins in
the sight of Allah Subhanah: ie. Shirk!
They believe that the ‘specific’ martyr and ‘auliyaa’ they are serving
is All-Knowing and knows the rituals and service they do in his name and on his
grave; they believe that their
‘specific’ martyr and ‘auliyaa’ is All-Seeing and can see their state and their
worship; and they believe that their
‘specific’ martyr and ‘auliyaa’ is All-Hearing and can hear and respond to
their invocations!
These ignorant people have dared
to share the Exclusive Attributes of the All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Hearing
Lord with one of Allah’s creation, and
have thus involved themselves in the heinous crime of ‘shirk’! And to top it all, they use the one Aayah of
Surah Baqarah completely out of context to justify their worship of their
chosen martyrs and ‘auliyaas’, and
disregard the rest of the Guidance and Commands of the Holy Quran! The absolute Truth of the matter is that
they want the Quran to conform to their false beliefs; rather than form their beliefs with the clear
Guidance and Teachings of the Glorious Quran!
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 102:
What? Do these people, who have disbelieved, presume that they would make My servants
their ‘auliyaas’ besides Me? We have
prepared Hell for the hospitality of such people.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verse 2-3:
So worship Allah
Alone, making your religion His
exclusively. Beware! Religion is the exclusive Right of Allah. As for those who have taken other ‘auliyas’
(guardians) with Allah (and justify their this conduct by saying): “We serve
them only that they may bring us closer to Allah.” Allah will surely judge between them
concerning all that in which they differ.
Allah does not show guidance to any liar and denier of the Truth.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 18:
These people serve
beside Allah those which can neither harm nor benefit them, and say, “These are
our ‘shofa’a’ (intercessors) with Allah!”
(O Mohammed), tell them, “Do you wish to inform Allah of that thing
which He knows not in the heavens, or in the earth?” He is absolutely free from, and exalted above the shirk that they commit.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah
Nahl verse 20-21:
All the other beings, whom the people invoke with Allah, create
nothing! Nay, they are themselves created. They are DEAD, not living, and they do not
at all know themselves when they shall again be raised to life!
Your Statement: This ayat includes all the
Prophets and highly respected people as well.
Allah Says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 154:
And say not of those
who are slain in the Way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay they
are living though ye perceive (it) not.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verses 169-171:
169 Think not of those
who are slain in Allah's Way as dead.
Nay, they live finding their
sustenance in the presence of their Lord.
170 They rejoice in the
bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their
bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact
that on them is no fear, nor have they
(cause to) grieve.
171 They glory in the Grace
and the Bounty from Allah, and in the
fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the faithful to be lost (in the
least).
Beloved Brother, the above verses
are specific to the blessed ‘martyrs’ who have been slain in the Cause of
Allah…..and there is absolutely no mention of the Noble Prophets and other
‘highly respected people’ to be included in the same rank, nor is there any
reason in the Quran or the Sunnah to believe so!
Allah Subhanah is the One Who
Alone will determine the rank and honor of each individual according to their
deeds….the absolute highest rank being that of the Noble Prophets of the Lord.
Your Statement: You are wrong to say that all
scholars agree that the Prophet (AS) is dead, they do not all agree on this
statement.
Dear and Beloved Brother in
Islam, I sincerely seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah if I have mentioned
in my previous articles that ‘all’ the scholars agree that the Last and Final
Messenger, Prophet Mohamed (saws) is dead…..
What is more accurate and should
have been clarified by me is that all the good scholars, those who sincerely
fear Allah and the Last Day, and those who unconditionally accept the dictates
of the Quran and the Sunnah absolutely unanimously agree with the fact that the
Noble Messenger of Allah, Prophet Mohamed ibn Abdullah (saws) is dead.
Beloved Brother, I sincerely
apologize to you if my statements were misconstrued or gave rise to any misunderstandings,
and I do beg the forgiveness of the Lord Most High for my ignorance and my
severe short-comings.
Your Statement: Also I remember there is a
hadith that tells us that the Prophet (AS) sends his salams back to the
person who sends salaam to him in his holy shrine in
Abu Hurairah
reported that the Prophet (saws), "Do not turn my grave into a site of
festivities, but send greetings to me for your greetings are raised to me wherever
you might be." (Reported by Abu Daw'ud)
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws)
said, "When any Muslim sends greetings to me, Allah returns my soul
to me so that I may respond to his greetings." (Reported by Abu
Dawud)
It is indeed true and accurate that whenever a believer
sends his salutations of respect to the Noble Messenger (saws), Allah Subhanah
returns the soul of the Prophet Mohamed (saws) back unto him to enable him to
respond to their greetings.
This is amongst the unique honor the Lord Most High has
bestowed upon the Prophet Mohamed (saws)….but that in no way should mean or
imply that the Prophet Mohamed (saws) possesses (and I seek the refuge in Allah
from saying this!) the attributes of all-seeing or all-hearing!!!! Allah Subhanah, the Majestic and Supreme
Lord Creator is Alone The All-Knowing, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, Ever-Living….
The Messenger of Allah (saws) after his death does not, by
himself, possess the power or is able to
hear or see or know what is going on in the world he has left behind…..but it
is Allah Subhanah, the High and the Exalted Who returns the blessed soul of the
Prophet (saws) unto him when a greeting of peace and blessings is made unto him
so that he (saws) may respond to the greeting.
But if an evil person (Allah
forbid) were to curse or abuse or revile the Prophet (saws), it cannot be
expected or conceived that the Lord Most Merciful would make it known to the
Prophet (saws) so that he may be grieved!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.585 Narrated by Abu Hazim from Sahl bin Sad
The Prophet (saws) said, "I am your
predecessor (forerunner) at the Lake-Fount of Kauthar, and whoever will pass by
there, he will drink from it and whoever will drink from it, he will never be
thirsty. There will come to me some people whom I will recognize, and they will
recognize me, but a barrier will be placed between me and them. I will say:
"They are of me (i.e. my followers)."
It will be said, "You do not know what they innovated (new
things) in the religion after you left." I will say, "Far
removed, far removed (from Mercy), those who changed (their religion) after
me." ' Abu Huraira narrated that
the Prophet (saws) said, "On the Day of Resurrection a group of companions
will come to me, but will be driven away from the Lake-Fount, and I will say,
'O Lord (those are) my companions!' It
will be said, 'You have no knowledge as to what they innovated after you
left; they turned apostate as renegades (reverted from Islam).' "
Your Statement: Secondly, with due respect to
you the Prophet (AS) is not like any ordinary person like you have said in your
statement. He was a Prophet (AS) who was pious and at
the highest possible level, to suggest that he is like any ordinary person is
to degrade his position that Allah (SWT) gave to him.
Allah Subhanah has Himself commanded the Prophet (saws) to
declare in the Glorious Quran, that he
(saws) is no more than a human being; the only difference being that he (saws)
has been chosen as a Messenger of Allah, is directly inspired and guided by
Allah Subhanah, and receives Revelations from the Lord of the Worlds.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah
Kahf verse 110:
Say (O Prophet) : "I am but a man
like yourselves, (but) the
inspiration has come to me that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord admit no one
as partner."
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah
Anbiyaa verses 7-8:
7 Before thee (O Mohamed (saws)) also the Prophets We sent were but
men to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realize this
not, ask of those who possess the Message.
8 Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they exempt
from death.
Without an iota of a doubt, the Noble Prophet Mohamed
(saws) like all the Prophets of Allah Subhanah before him were human beings;
and their greatness lies in the fact that despite the inherently weak nature of
human beings, they chose to unconditionally submit and be obedient to their
Lord Most Gracious.
Allah is our witness brother, and without an iota of a
doubt, Prophet Mohamed (saws) was the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws),
whose piety and character was of the absolute best and highest possible level
which can ever be attained by any in creation.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 68 Surah
Qalam verses 1-4:
1 Nun.
By the Pen and by the (Record) which are written
2 Thou (O Prophet Mohamed (saws)) art not by the grace of thy Lord,
mad or possessed.
3 Nay! Verily, for thee is a reward
unfailing:
4 And thou (standest) on an exalted
standard of character.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah
Ahzab verse 21:
There is indeed the best example for you
to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks
forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.
Such exalted is the standard of the character of the Noble
Prophet (saws), that the Lord Most High Himself has Commanded and Guided the
believers to make the Noble Prophet (saws) their example to follow, if indeed
they look forward to Allah and the Last Day…………..but without an iota of a doubt,
the Prophet Mohamed (saws) was still a human being!
Some people, in their excess, try to spread such false
beliefs that the Prophet (saws) was not created like the other human beings,
and thus try to propagate that he (saws) was created like the Angels from
‘noor’ or light! Because they believe
that if the Prophet (saws) was only a human being, then what would be the
difference between him and other human beings?
So, in their excess, they try to invent falsehoods and say things about
the Prophet (saws) and his self which have absolutely no basis to the reality
or truth! People who claim such
falsehood, in their excess and their ignorance, try to belittle the Noble
Prophet (saws) by claiming he was created from ‘noor’! The greatness and significance of the Noble
Prophet (saws) lies in the fact that he, like all the other human beings, was
created from clay, possessed the nature of a human being, and was bestowed with
a ‘free will’ to choose like every human being; and the Noble Prophet (saws) chose
to submit himself unconditionally to His Supreme Lord and Creator.
Had he (saws) been created from ‘noor’, he would have been
an angel, who do not possess the nature of human beings, do not have to fight
temptation like the humans, and do not possess a ‘free will’ to choose between
obedience and disobedience! Greatness
and magnificence is when one is bestowed with the weak nature of man, and this
human being chooses to remain an unconditionally obedient slave of his Lord and
Creator!
Thus the Prophet (saws) was definitely a human being like
all the other human beings in creation, but it was with the level of piety,
character, and deeds of righteousness that chose to elevate his rank in the
Sight of his Lord.
Your Question: Thirdly, if he is dead as you
suggest then why do people all over the world go to his holy shrine in
Abu Hurairah
reported: "The Prophet (saws) said:
'May Allah destroy the Jews, because they used the graves of their
prophets as shrines (places of worship).''
(Related by Bukhari and Muslim)
Aishah reported:
"Umm Habibah and Umm Salamah mentioned to Allah's Messenger (saws) a
church in which they saw drawings while in Abyssinia, whereupon he (saws) said:
'Those people used to build a shrine over the grave of a righteous man among
them when he died, and make such drawings
in it. These will be the worst of people
in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.''
(Related by Bukhari
and Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Before
you there was a group who turned the graves of their prophets and their righteous
ones into places of worship. Do not tum graves into places of worship. I forbid
you to do that'.''
(Related by Muslim)
It is indeed a grave misconception that the believers
travel and visit the blessed city of Madinah al-Munawwara to visit the ‘shrine’
of the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws)….but the truth is the believers who
sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day travel to Madinah to visit the
Prophet’s Mosque….and it only so happens that the Noble Messenger’s (saws)
grave happens to be in the house of Hadrat Aisha (r.a.) which was adjacent to
the Prophet’s Mosque.
Allah is our witness, if the noble Prophet’s (saws) grave were
not in Madinah, it would not have been permissible for a believer to make a
specific travel for the sole purpose of visiting his grave; for to undertake a
travel to any place of worship or a grave, except to the three holy mosques (in
Makkah, in Al-Aqsa, and in Madina) was absolutely forbidden for the believers
by none other than the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself!
Sa'id bin Al-Musayyib reported from Abu
Hurairah that the Prophet (saws) said, "You should not undertake a special
journey to visit any place other than the three Mosques: the Sacred Mosque of
Makkah, this mosque of mine (in Madinah), and Al-Aqsa Mosque (of
Thus beloved brother, when one travels to the blessed city
of
But one definitely does not need to go to Madinah or to
the Prophet’s (saws) grave to fulfill the Command of Allah to send the
greetings and salutations of peace upon the Noble Prophet (saws); one may do it
wherever one happens to be or resides!
Abu Hurairah
reported that the Prophet (saws), "Do not turn my grave into a site of
festivities, but send greetings to me for your greetings are raised to me wherever
you might be." (Reported by Abu Daw'ud)
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister