The Sayings of the Scholars regarding the Lives of the Prophets after their Death

The Sayings of the Scholars regarding the Lives of the Prophets after their Death

1. Imam Qurtubi Maliki writes: “Death does not mean non-existence but it is moving from one state to other state. And the point that they are Alive, are given Sustenance, are happy and are given glad tidings near their Lord even after they being killed and have died bears testimony upon this. And these characteristics are that of the Living beings in the world and when this is established for the Martyrs (‘Shuhada’ then the Prophets have more right upon this and they are Greater (‘Awla’ , so they are Alive . Along with this it is narrated from the Prophet  through an authentic chain of narrators (‘Sanad’ that, “The earth does not eat (harm) the bodies of the Prophets” and the Prophet  informed us which demands it that Allah Almighty has returned his Soul (‘Ruh’ to him that he answers to the Salutations (‘Salam’ of each person who Salutes him. So from this we clearly come to know that the Death of the Prophets is just that they are Invisible to us, we can’t sense them! Though they are Present and are Alive and they are like the Angels in this as they are also Alive and Present but none sees them.” {Al Tazkirah fi Ahwal il Mawta wal Akhirah; 169}

2. Imam Hafiz Ibn Rajab Hanbali writes: “Because the Lives of Prophets are more ‘Akmal’ (Complete & Superior) to the Lives of Martyrs and there is no doubt in it. Thus they come under the subject of those who are Alive.” {Ahwal ul Qubur wa Ahwal Ahluha ilan Nushur; 125}

3. Shaykh Ibn Qayyim Hanbali, the student of Ibn Taymiya writes: “Abu Abdullah said that our Shaykh Ahmad bin Amr said with which this doubt becomes clear that Death does not mean non-existence but it is moving from one state to other state. And on this the proof is that the Martyrs (‘Shuhada’ are Alive after their Deaths and moving away from this world, are given Sustenance, are happy and are given glad tidings; and the characteristics of the Living beings in the world are same. And when this is the case of the Martyrs (‘Shuhada’ then the Prophets have more right upon this . And research shows from the Hadith of the Prophet  that, ‘The Earth does not consume or eat the Bodies of Prophets’ and he reported that, ‘Whenever someone sends Salutations (‘Salam’ on him, Allah Almighty returns his Soul (‘Ruh’ to him upon which he answers to their Salutations.’ This Hadith and others like it explicitly provide us with knowledge that the meaning of Death of Prophets just means that they are Invisible to our Eyesight so that we can not see them. Though they are Alive and Present. Their state is like the Angels as they are also Alive and Present but we can not see them.” {Kitab ur Ruh; 57-58}

Shaykh Ibn Qayyim further states: “It is obligatory knowledge to know that his Body is in the earth Tender and Humid , and when the Companions asked him: ‘How is our greeting presented to you after you have turned to dust’ he replied: ‘Allah has defended the earth from consuming the flesh of Prophets,’ and if his body was not in his grave he would not have given this answer.” {Kitab ur Ruh; 58}

4. Imam Taqiuddin Shafai’ Subki writes: “Thus, this collection of Authentic Hadiths proves ‘The Lives of Prophets’ (‘Hayat ul Anbiya’ as the revelation of Allah Almighty  is, “Wala Tahsabunna” When this is proven for a Martyr (‘Shaheed’ then it is established for the Prophet  due to many other reasons.” {Shifa’ us Siqam; 187}

He further states: “And the Lives of Prophets is Greater or Superior (‘Ala’, Complete (‘Akmal’ and Highest (‘Atam’ because their Bodies and Souls both have permanent lives just as in this world.” {Shifa us Siqam; 206}

5. Imam Abul Qasim Abdul Kareem bin Hawazin al Qushayri writes: “According to us the Prophet  is Alive. He has Senses (‘Hiss’ and Knowledge (‘Ilm’...........” {Shikayat ul Ahl us Sunnah fi Rasail ul Qushayriya; 27}

At another place he states: “When it has been proven that our Prophet  is Alive, then the Alive are either Knowledgeable or Ignorant and it is not correct that the Prophet  be Ignorant.” {Shikayat ul Ahl us Sunnah fi Rasail ul Qushayriya; 27}

6. Imam Nuruddin Samhudi writes: “And the Proofs of the Lives of Prophets are such that they demand that their Lives be with Bodies as was their state in the World along with being rich in Sustenance and with the strength of Enforcements in the World. And we have clarified this in our book ‘Al Wafa Lima Yajibi li Hazrat il Mustafa’.” {Wafa ul Wafa bi Akhbar Dar ul Mustafa; 4:1355}

7. Imam Sayyid Umar bin Saeed al Fawti writes: “And this is because that the Prophet  and other Prophets are Alive and their Souls (‘Arwah’ have been returned to them after seizing them .” {Ramah Hizb ur Raheem ala Nahoor Hizb ur Rajeem; 1:228}

This same scholar writes at another place: “After mentioning all these statements and Hadiths we come to know the Prophet  is Alive in his Grave with his Body!” {Ramah Hizb ur Raheem ala Nahoor Hizb ur Rajeem; 1:230}

8. Imam Abu Mansur Abdul Qahir bin Tahir al Baghdadi writes: “From our companions , the Theologians and Researchers have said that our Prophet is Alive after his death and becomes happy on the good deeds of the nation (‘Ummah’ and becomes sad on the bad deeds of sinners and whoever sends Blessings and Salutations, it is presented to them and they said that verily the Bodies of Prophets do not decay nor does the Earth consume or eat it.” {Havi ul Fatawa; 2: 149 & 2: 263}

9. Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf Salihi Shami writes: “May Allah have Mercy on you, when it has been proven from the previously mentioned Hadiths that the Prophet  and other Prophets are Alive and Allah Almighty has revealed regarding the Martyrs that: “Think not of those Killed in the Way of Allah as ‘Dead’; but they are Alive with their Lord, get their sustenance (provision).” {Surah Al Imran; 3:169} and the Prophets are more worthy of being Alive in greater and glorious terms. And the attribute of Martyrdom also supports the Prophets therefore they are included in the commonness or generality (‘Umoomiat’ of the term. Therefore, it is proven that the Prophets are alive in their graves according to the explicit evidence (‘Nass’ of the Holy Quran.....” {Subul ul Huda wa Rishad; 12:362}

10. Imam Sahabuddin Khafaji states: “Research proves that Allah Almighty  has made his Body Haram upon the Earth. And he has been provided life in Grave like other Prophets.” {Naseem ur Riyaz Sharh Shifa Qazi Ayyaz; 1:316}

He also states: “Because he is Alive in his Grave and listens to the Supplication (‘Dua’ of the visitor and the one who comes with the hope of his Intercession (‘Shafa’at’, the Prophet  with out any doubt gives Attention (‘Tawajju’ with Heart and Body.” {Naseem ur Riyaz Sharh Shifa Qazi Ayyaz; 3:398}

He writes at another place: “And there is evidence that the Prophet  is Alive and his Life is permanent and it is proven from Authentic Hadiths that he and other Prophets are Alive with Real Lifes.” {Naseem ur Riyaz Sharh Shifa Qazi Ayyaz; 3: 499}

11. Imam Ibn Hajar al Asqalâni’s student- Imam Shamsuddin Shafai’ Sakhawi said: “As for us (Muslims) we believe and we confirm that he is Alive and provided for in his Grave.” {Al Qawl ul Badee’; 161}

12. Imam Ismail Haqqi Hanafi writes: “The connection of their Souls with their Bodies is such that their Bodies become Alive just as they were in the World and they have been given the power of Actions and ‘Ikhtiyar’ (Rights and Duties) as it is present in ‘Insan ul Uyun’ {Tafsir Ruh ul Bayan; 4:78}

13. Imam Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi states: “And the most Reliable Doctrine and Belief is that the Prophet  is Alive in his Grave as all other Prophets are Alive in their Graves and the connection of their Souls with Celestial (‘Ulvi’ and Base (‘Sifli’ worlds is just like as it was in this world. They are Empyrean (‘Arshi’ with regards to their Hearts and they are Humans (‘Farshi’ with regards to their Bodies.” {Sharh ush Shifa; 2:142}

14. Imam Najmuddin al Ghayti , the teacher of Imam Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi writes: “Verily! They are Alive like the Martyrs (‘Shuhada’ but more superior to them. They offer Prayers in their Graves and perform Pilgrimage (‘Hajj’ as is present in another Hadith.” {Al Mairaj ul Kabeer; 67}

Compiled & Translated by

Basharath Ali Siddiqui Ashrafi and Published in the book 'Are the Prophets Alive?'