That the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is alive is already established from
the verses of the Holy Quran as evidenced in the following articles:
There are more proofs on the subject available in Traditions (Sunnah), which is the subject matter of this article.
B) Traditions
There are several traditions in reliable Sunni books that clearly
mention that the Prophets (a.s.) are alive even after their departure
from this world. With regards to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), there are
several instances wherein it is evident that he (s.a.w.a.) is alive.
I) Salawaat
There are too many traditions on salaam (salutations) and salawaat
(benedictions) on the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.), its importance, its
mode, its reward, etc. to be listed over here. This topic can be
researched further under two verses of the Holy Quran:
- ‘Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! Call for (divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation.’ (Surah Ahzaab (33): Verse 56)
- ‘The mercy of Allah and His blessings are on you, O people of the house, surely He is Praised, Glorious.’ (Surah Hud (11): Verse 73)
There are many traditions that underscore the fact that the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is aware of the salaam/salawaat being conveyed to him
and responds to the addressor. This is only possible if he is alive. We
highlight two traditions from the many widely reported traditions on
the topic:
a) Abu Darda narrates that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said: Send
excessive salutations upon me on Friday because this is the day when
the angels come to me and present the salutations of everyone who has
sent salutations upon me.
Abu Darda asked: Even after your demise?
The Prophet (s.a.w.a) replied: Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of Prophets.
(Sunan-e-Ibn Maajah, Jilaa al-Ifhaam by Ibn Qayyim)
b) Jabir b. Samurah reported Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.a.) as saying – I know the stone in Mecca which used to convey me salawaat before my advent as a Prophet and I know that even now.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fazaail, trad 5,654)
These traditions highlight that place and time are not barriers for
the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He hears and sees regardless of the time and
location. Those who consider the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) dead should know
that this is not the characteristic of a dead person; rather it shows
that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is more alive than the living ones.
II) Meraaj (Ascension)
The Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) ascent to the heavens (Meraaj) is another
instance which proves that Prophets (a.s.) are not dead. There are many
reports, some of which are mentioned below, that state he (s.a.w.a.) met
and even conversed with prophets who had passed away centuries earlier.
a) The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said – I
saw Prophet Moosa (a.s.) in the valley of Azraq, while passing from
Mecca to Medina. He was reciting ‘Talbiyyah’ (to say, “Labbaik Allahumma
labbaik” which means here I am, O Allah, here I am denoting readiness
to serve Allah) in a loud voice. On another occasion I saw Prophet Yunus
wearing a long woolen overcoat and riding a red camel.
(Sunan Ibn Majah, pp 20, 208)
b) It is recorded in Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim that Allah
sent all the Prophets (a.s.) to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) on the
night of Meraaj. He was the Imam and the prophets performed two units of
prayers behind him.
c) There are many other reports that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) met
and conversed with various prophets like Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) and
Prophet Yusuf (a.s.) on the skies in the course of his journey to the
seventh sky. Prophet Moosa’s (a.s.) role in reducing the number of units
of (obligatory) prayers from fifty is well-documented by scholars.
It is clear that if the true Prophets (a.s.) were dead and lifeless
as these so-called Muslims claim, they would not have had the honour of
meeting the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and conversing with him.
III) Death pangs and grave of the Muslim
It is an accepted fact that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is present at
the time of the death of a Muslim and the Muslim sees him and
recognizes him. If he deserves it, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) intercedes for
him. In the grave, the angels ask the corpse about his belief in the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while he (s.a.w.a.) is present in the grave and the
Muslim sees him. (Mishkaat al-Shareef by Muhammad b. Abdullah, Saheeh
Bukhari, Kitaab al-Janaaiz, Hadith 422)
This proves that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is alive and is present in
multiple places at the same time. Moreover, depending on the Muslim’s
deeds, he (s.a.w.a.) intercedes for him (both at the time of death and
in the grave) which gives lie to the claims of the so-called Muslims who
declare that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) being dead can neither benefit nor
harm and maintain that such a belief is polytheism.
IV) Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) pleasure and displeasure
Another proof of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) being alive is in his
pleasure and displeasure, which in turn leads to Allah’s pleasure and
displeasure and consequently to Paradise and Hell respectively.
The question these Muslims need to answer is whether it is possible
to please/displease the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) only in his lifetime or even
after his death?
If it is possible to please/displease the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
only in his lifetime then what is the purpose of the numerous traditions
wherein he (s.a.w.a.) has urged/warned towards an action linking it to
Allah’s pleasure/displeasure and therefore heaven/hell. Does it mean
that now that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is dead, Muslims are free to
perform/refrain from such actions since they have no consequence?
For example, take the following traditions widely reported by scholars:
i) Faatemah is a part of me, that which grieves her grieves me and whatever troubles her, troubles me.
(Saheeh-e-Bukhari, vol 6 pg 158, Musnad-e-Ahmad vol 4 pg 324,
Saheeh-e-Muslim vol 7 pg 141 Book of the Companions’ Virtues, Chapter of
Faatemah binte Muhammad’s Virtues, Sunan-e-Abi Dawood vol 1 pg 460)
ii) …. She (Faatemah) is part of me. She is my heart.
She is the soul between my sides. Who displeases her has displeased me
and whoever displeases me displeases Allah.
(Noor al-Absaar, pg 52, Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 43 p. 54)
Do traditions of this nature only hold true during the Prophet’s
(s.a.w.a.) lifetime? Was Hazrat Faatemah (s.a.) part of the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) in his life time only and was her
pleasure/displeasure/anger/grief equal to the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.)
pleasure/displeasure/anger/grief only in his lifetime?
Is this tradition meaningless after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise
because a dead prophet cannot be pleased/displeased/angered/saddened? If
that were the case, why did Abu Bakr, Umar and other Muslims who
disputed with her in the matter of Fadak and were confronted by Hazrat
Faatemah (s.a.) with such traditions, not object to the invalidity of
the traditions by stating that since the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is dead
traditions of pleasure and displeasure lack merit?
This only means that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) can be
pleased/displeased/saddened after his death like he could be
pleased/displeased/saddened in his lifetime and such
pleasure/displeasure/grief has consequences i.e. it is linked to Allah
and leads to Paradise/Hell. This means that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is
alive since pleasure/displeasure/grief cannot be attributed to a dead
and helpless person.
Under the circumstances how can these so-called Muslims claim that
the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is dead and can provide no benefit/loss? Is there
any benefit/loss greater than Paradise/Hell which is the result of his
pleasure/displeasure even after his death?
V) Witness in the nation
We have discussed the position of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as a witness
in the nation at length in an earlier article under the following
verses:
- ‘And on the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against these…’ (Surah Nahl (16): Verse 89)
- ‘And thus We have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you…’ (Surah Baqarah (2): Verse 143)
- ‘How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these?’ (Surah Nisa (4): Verse 41)
- ‘O Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a witness…’ (Surah Ahzaab (33): Verse 45)
Apart from the verses, there are several traditions which prove that
the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is alive and is aware of our actions, which is
the role of a witness. We reproduce a widely reported tradition to
conclude the discussion:
Ibn Masood relates – TheProphet (s.a.w.a.) informed – My life is a
great good for you, you will relate about me and it will be related to
you, and my death is a great good for you, your actions will be
exhibited to me, and if I see goodness I will praise Allah, and if I
see evil I will seek forgiveness from Him for you.
(Musnad, vol 1 pg 397 by al-Bazzaar, Manaahil al-Safa pg 31, Hadith
8,Al-Khasais al-Kubra vol 2, pg 281, Majma al-Zawaaid, vol 9 pg 24
Hadith 91 by Haithami, Tarh al-Tasreeb by Iraqi in (3:297)
This and other traditions of this nature prove that the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) is aware of our actions even after his death and intercedes
for us. The numerous verses and traditions related to the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) being a witness refute the belief of the so-called Muslims
who claim that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is dead and can neither
provide harm nor benefit.
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