Question: Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahima Ullah. Is Prophet Rasullullaah (P.B.U.H) alive in His grave? If so, what is He doing? I ask this question because some people say He is dead whilst others say he is not. Please help! Muhammad Khan (Birmingham)

Answer: The belief of Ahl ul Sunnah Wa al-Jama'ah (Four Schools of Thought) is that the beloved prophet of Allah Taa'la, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and all the other Prophets are alive in their graves in the sense of al-barzakh (literally al-barzakh means 'interval' or 'a barrier between two things'), so they enjoy the blessings that Allah Taa'la has prepared for them as a reward for their great actions that they did in this world. But, the life in the grave is not like the life of this world, or the life in the Hereafter.

Hence, we know that He died (as from this world) as other Prophets and other people died before Him. Allah Taa'la says:

"And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad); then if You die, would they live forever?" (HOLY QUR'AN: al-Anbiya': 34)

"Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die and verily, they (too) will die…" (HOLY QUR'AN: az-Zumar: 30)

From this verse, it is crystal clear that Allah Taa'la doesn't allow any non- Muslims to attack Islam by suggesting that death doesn't come to you. Allah Taa'la makes it apparent that I (Allah Taa'la) am the Lord and Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is My Messenger and Devotee.

With regard to the soul of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), it is in the highest part of `Illiyyin, because He is the finest of creation and because Allah Taa'la has given Him al-Wasilah which is the highest position in Paradise. This is the belief held by the Sunni Ulama throughout the ages and many books in Arabic have been written on this subject.

The great Imam, Shaykh Jalalud Din Suyuti (Alayhi Rahmah) compiled a whole work on this subject titled ‘Informing the intelligent regarding the living of the Prophets’, in which he quoted many evidences in support of this belief. Similarly, other scholars such as Imam al-Bayhaqi, Imam Abdul Wahhaab al-Sha'rani and Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (Alayhim Rahmah) in his book 'al-Ruh' (The Soul) have also written and gathered evidences with regards to this.

Imam al-Bayhaqi (Alayhi Rahmah) compiled a brilliant book regarding the life of the Prophets in their graves in which he mentions the Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Anas (Radi Allah Anho):

"The prophets are alive in their graves and praying", (Al-anbiyaa'u ahyaa'un fi quboorihim yusalloon) which he transmits from the channel of Yahya Ibn Abu Kathir, who is a meticulously authenticated transmitter, on the authority of Al-Mustalim Ibn Sa'eed, whom Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan consider reliable, on the authority of Al-Hajjaj Al- Aswad, whom Ahmad and Ibn Ma'een (Alayhim Rahmah) deem reliable.

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA'LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)