THE HOLY PROPHET (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) IS ALIVE

Some people do not accept the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to be alive. They say that he is dead & mixed with the soil. Allah forbid! The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama'at believes that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is "Hayaat-un-Nabi", that is, he is alive both physically & spiritually.

Regarding the Martyrs (Shuhada), those who are slain in the path of Allah, Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "& say not those who have been slain in the path of Allah to be dead for they are alive & you do not know." (Part 2, Ruku 3) Since it is evident from the Holy Quran that the Martyrs are alive, then it follows that the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam), whose status are much greater than that of the Martyrs, are also alive. (Fath-ul-Baari & Sharah Bukhari)

Allah Ta'ala states in the Holy Quran: "& say not of those who are slain in the Way of Allah "They are dead". Nay, they are living, though you perceive it not". (al-Baqarah: 154) "Think not of those who are slain in Allah's Way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their Lord". (al-Ale' Imraan: 169) The above two Ayahs were revealed after the Battle of Badr. The Ashaabs (radi Allahu anhum) used to feel sorry for those who lost their lives in the battle & used to say: "Alas, so & so has lost his life & has missed the pleasures of this world!" Allah Ta'ala revealed these Ayahs clarifying that the Shuhada (Martyrs) are not "dead" but are transferred from one place to another where they live & are fed by the Bounteous Lord who is not deficient of anything. If the Shuhada are not "dead", how can we say that the greatest Apostle, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), is no more amongst us?

Referring to the Messengers, Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "& ask those of our Mesengers, whom we sent before you, "Did We appoint any other god except the All-Affectionate, to be worshipped"?" (Part 25, Ruku 10) This verse proves that the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) are alive because Allah Ta'ala commands us to ask the Messengers about all matters. If they had passed away & mixed with the soil, surely, we would not have been commanded to ask them about anything. (Tafseer Dur Manthur & Tafseer Rooh-ul-Muaani)

Another proof supporting that the Ambiya are alive is that on the night of Me'raj, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passed by Sayyiduna Moosa (alaihis salaam). He saw him in his grave standing & reading his Salaat.

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Recite Durood upon me in abundance on a Friday since it is a respected day. On that day the Angels are present & whosoever sends Durood upon me on that day, then his Durood is placed before me till the time when they have completed sending Durood & Salaam". (Sayyiduna Abu Dardah radi Allahu anhu says), "I asked, "Huzoor! Will you even hear (the Salaam) after your demise?" The Prophet (sallallahu alaii wasallam) said, "Verily Almighty Allah has made it Haraam upon the earth to devour the bodies of the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam). Thus, all the Nabis of Allah are alive & they are given sustenance." (Ibn Majah, Jame Sahgeer & Mishkaat Shareef) We learn from this Hadees Shareef that the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) are alive & they have only been hidden from us. We cannot understand their position, like those of the Angels that they are alive & present but we cannot obtain (see) them. Yes! Those whom Allah has blessed, they can even see them. This has been confirmed that the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) are alive. (Umdat-ul-Qaari & Shara Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlvi (alaihir rahmah) wrote: "There is no death for the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam). They are alive & existing. For them is that one death that has come only once. After this, their souls are put back into their bodies & the life that they had on earth is given back to them." (Takmeel-ul-Imaan)

The greatest proof concerning the Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) being alive is that they make Ibaadah in their graves. They perform their Salaat & they are well provided with food & drink. Like the Angels who are alive, but do not eat & drink. (Mirkaat Shar Mishkaat)

Allah Ta'ala states in the Holy Quran: "& how would you deny faith while unto you are rehearsed the Signs of Allah & among you lives the Prophet". (Sura al- ale 'Imraan: 101) This is a typical Ayat proving Hayat-un-Nabi - "among you lives the Prophet". The word "lives" has cleared all doubts. "Among you" has been generalised, meaning with every individual, wherever he or she may be regardless of time. Man's vision & power of hearing is restricted, but it is not so in the case of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). His powers are far beyond imagination. If somebody says, "Where is the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)? I cannot see him! Why must I stand & read Salaam?" Surely, this statement is absurd because none of us has seen Allah Ta'ala & the Angels. Kiraaman Katibeen are two Angels constantly present with every individual. Can we deny their existence merely because we did not see them?

It was declared in a Hadees, "When a person greets me, Allahu Ta'ala sends my soul to my body & I hear his greeting." Some people quoting this Hadees say that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is not alive since his soul returns to his body only when he is greeted.

Imam Jalaal'uddin as-Suyuti (alaihir rahmah) said in the book "Anba' al-azkiya' fi hayat il-anbiya" that "radda" means "ala al-dawam", i.e. permanently & not temporarily: in other words, Allah does not return the soul & take it back, then return it again & then take it back again, but He has returned it to Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) permanently & the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is alive permanently, not intermittently as some ignorant people have suggested.

Another explanation of this Hadees is that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is in the ecstasy of seeing Jamaal-Allah (Allah's Beauty) & forgetful of his bodily senses. Such situations are not scarce in this world, either. One does not hear what people say to one when one is in a deep thought of worldly or heavenly affairs. Can someone who is in ecstasy of contemplating Jamaal of Allah hear any sound ?

Thus, we have proved from authentic sources that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is alive both physically & spiritually.