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:

Asalam Aleikum:

I am asking a question in the light of Q&A related to Prophet Mohammad SAW being alive in his grave, and you clarified in the light of Quran and Hadith that no such evidence is present and thus it is not part of the Aqeeda.  Jazak Allah Khair for providing the light to us all. 

Now in the same series I have couple more questions for you, if you could guide me in a timely fashion may Allah be pleased with you.

1.  I have heard time and time again folks quoting that the Umah's deeds are presented to Prophet Mohammad SAW, periodically by Allah to show how we are doing in the duniya.  Please reflect on this, in the light of Quran and Hadith.

2. When the Muslims go and visit the Roza of our beloved prophet in Mecca, we offer salaam, by saying As-salaam Aleikum Ya Rasool Allah.  What is the significance of that in the light of Quran and Hadith.  Is that something being done on an emotional level and out of one's respect and aqeedath, or are we really supposed to believe that the salaam NEEDS to be performed and the beloved prophet is hearing it?  After all we do pay our salaams to him in the 5 daily prayers, but that is a request we are sending to Allah that may Allah raise him in his ranks even higher, it's not a salaam straight to the prophet himself.

3. I heard a Hajji saying that no women folk are allowed to go into the Roza or even view it directly since Prophet did not like women to come in front of him if they were not Mahram.  Please reflect on this in the light of Quran and Sunnah once again. 

JAK
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why say Salaams to Prophet (saws) 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.

Q-1:   I have heard time and time again folks quoting that the Umah's deeds are presented to Prophet Mohammad SAW, periodically by Allah to show how we are doing in the duniya.  Please reflect on this, in the light of Quran and Hadith.

There is evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that Allah Subhanah presents the deeds and the state of the Muslim Ummah to the Prophet (saws) after his death, so that the Prophet (saws) may feel pleased with it.

It is only obvious from the narrations that the Lord would not present the evil deeds or convey the evil happenings to the Prophet (saws) for him to be grieved, but rather the Lord presents him the best selected deeds from amongst the Prophet’s Ummah or the significant growth of the number of believers…so that the Prophet (saws) may be pleased that his efforts and his striving in the Cause of his Lord and in the propagation of the Lord’s Message bore fruit and was accepted by the Lord Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Similarly whenever a muslim sends the salutations or greetings of blessings and peace upon their Noble Prophet (saws), the Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah Subhanah returns his soul back to him so that he may respond to the greetings. But it is obvious and inconceivable that if an evil person were to curse, or revile, or abuse the Prophet (saws) the Lord Most High would, in His Mercy and Grace towards the Prophet (saws), not convey the abuse to him so that he (saws) be grieved.

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."

Related by Abu Daw'ud.

But under no circumstances should these narrations be taken to mean that the Prophet (saws) is alive in his grave, or is all-aware or all-knowing of what exactly is happening with every believer in the world after him. Allah Subhanah Alone is the All-Knowing, All-Seeing and the All-Aware and He Alone Knows the exact situation, conditions and intentions of each an everyone in creation.

Q-2: When the Muslims go and visit the Roza of our beloved prophet in Mecca, we offer salaam, by saying As-salaam Aleikum Ya Rasool Allah.  What is the significance of that in the light of Quran and Hadith.  Is that something being done on an emotional level and out of one's respect and aqeedath, or are we really supposed to believe that the salaam NEEDS to be performed and the beloved prophet is hearing it?  After all we do pay our salaams to him in the 5 daily prayers, but that is a request we are sending to Allah that may Allah raise him in his ranks even higher, it's not a salaam straight to the prophet himself.

Ibn Abbas reported: "Once the Prophet (saws) passed by graves in Madinah. He (saws) tumed his face toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves. May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us, and we are following your trail'."

Related by Tirmidhi.

Aishah reported: "I asked: 'What should I say when I pass by a graveyard, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?' He (saws) replied, 'Say, "Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allah grant mercy to those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you"'.

Related by Muslim.

The ‘salaams’ or salutations one says upon the Prophet (saws) when one is blessed to visit the Prophet’s (saws) grave while visiting the Prophet’s (saws) Mosque in Madinah is not dis-similar to the salaams or salutations a believer conveys to his other deceased brothers and sisters when visiting a muslim graveyard.

There is absolutely no harm if one visiting the Prophet’s (saws) grave says ‘as-Salaamo Alaykum ya Rasool Allah’ just as the Prophet (saws) taught us to say salaams upon our deceased brethren when visiting a muslim graveyard.

Q-3: I heard a Hajji saying that no women folk are allowed to go into the Roza or even view it directly since Prophet did not like women to come in front of him if they were not Mahram.  Please reflect on this in the light of Quran and Sunnah once again. 

If what the ‘Hajji’ brother said were true, then the believing woman would not even be allowed to approach or look at the Prophet’s House when he was behind closed doors in it!!

When the noble Prophet (saws) was alive, the believing woman would come to him (saws) seeking guidance on matters of the deen and the Prophet (saws) would guide them; and the believing woman would come to his (saws) mosque and offer their prayers behind him in congregation.

There is absolutely no truth or basis in what the ‘Hajji’ has said, nor is there any restriction in Shariah in the believing woman approaching the house of Hadrat Aisha (r.a.) where the Prophet (saws) is now buried

and conveying their salaams unto him (saws) and the companions who are buried alongside him (Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.)).

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