Islaam has it’s principles and they are governed by Qurʾān and authentic traditions of Prophet (Peace be upon him).There are many people amongst us who believe that Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) is alive.
Shirk of Mushrikeen of Makkah
Some of these people even go further and ask Prophet (ﷺ) for help as means of getting closer to Allāh (
). This is not from the teachings of Prophet (ﷺ) or any of the righteous predecessors. In fact, Qurʾān has spoken against seeking such means to get closer to Allāh () Allāh () said:
Unquestionably, for Allāh is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], “**We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allāh in position.**” Indeed, Allāh will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allāh does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever. — Surah az-Zumar 39:3
Correct Ways to Get Closer to Allāh
The only ways you can get closer to Allāh () through means of Prophet (ﷺ) is by:
- Sending blessings on Prophet (ﷺ) as commanded by Allāh ()
Indeed, Allāh confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allāh to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allāh to grant him] peace. — Surah al-Ahzaab 33:56
- Adopting sunnah and leaving the newly invented matters (or ways to worship) as Allāh () said:
Say, [O Muḥammad], “If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.” — Surah aale-Imraan 3:31
Mushrikeen of Makkah used to worship idols in order to get closer to Allāh () but we know that anyone who died on that without repenting will abide in hell forever. Those people knew who Allāh is, as Allāh () said:
And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, “Allāh.” So how are they deluded? — Surah az-Zukhruf 43:87
Aqeedah of Sahaaba
Read what Abu Bakr (
) and other sahaaba said about death of Prophet (ﷺ):
Narrated ‘Aisha (
):
Abu Bakr came from his house at As-Sunh on a horse. He dismounted and entered the Mosque, but did not speak to the people till he entered upon ‘Aisha and went straight to Allāh’s Apostle who was covered with Hibra cloth (i.e. a kind of Yemenite cloth). He then uncovered the Prophet’s face and bowed over him and kissed him and wept, saying, “Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you. **By Allāh, Allāh will never cause you to die twice. As for the death which was written for you, has come upon you.**” Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Abu Bakr went out while Umar bin Al-Khattab was talking to the people. Abu Bakr said, “Sit down, O ‘Umar!” But ‘Umar refused to sit down. So the people came to Abu Bakr and left Umar. Abu Bakr said, “To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muḥammad , then Muḥammad is dead, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allāh, then Allāh is Alive and shall never die. Allāh said:–“Muḥammad is no more than an Apostle, and indeed (many) apostles have passed away before him..(till the end of the Verse )……Allāh will reward to those who are thankful.” [Surah aale-Imraan 3:144] By Allāh, it was as if the people never knew that Allāh had revealed this Verse before till Abu Bakr recited it and all the people received it from him, and I heard everybody reciting it (then). Narrated Az-Zuhri: Said bin Al-Musaiyab told me that ‘Umar said, “By Allāh, when I heard Abu Bakr reciting it, my legs could not support me and I fell down at the very moment of hearing him reciting it, declaring that the Prophet had died.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 4452
There are many other references of death of Prophet (ﷺ) for example:
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet did not come out for three days. The people stood for the prayer and Abu Bakr went ahead to lead the prayer. (In the meantime) the Prophet caught hold of the curtain and lifted it. When the face of the Prophet appeared we had never seen a scene more pleasing than the face of the Prophet as it appeared then. The Prophet beckoned to Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer and then let the curtain fall. We did not see him (again) till he died. — Sahih al-Bukhari 681
In another tradition
Narrated Az-Zuhn:
Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari, told me, “Abu Bakr used to lead the people in prayer during the fatal illness of the Prophet till it was Monday. When the people aligned (in rows) for the prayer the Prophet lifted the curtain of his house and started looking at us and was standing at that time. His face was (glittering) like a page of the Qur’an and he smiled cheerfully. We were about to be put to trial for the pleasure of seeing the Prophet, Abu Bakr retreated to join the row as he thought that the Prophet would lead the prayer. The Prophet beckoned us to complete the prayer and he let the curtain fall. **On the same day he died.**” — Sahih al-Bukhari 680
Qurʾān is also explicit is this context, Allāh said:
Indeed, you are to die and indeed, they are to die — Surah az-Zumar 39:30
Haafiz Ibn Katheer has mentioned the same ḥadīth in tafseer of this ayah.
Alhamdullilah, Allāh () has not left even a single matter that doesn’t have evidence (daleel) in our religion. People of “tassawwaf” come with all sorts of statements with NO evidence from Qurʾān or Sunnah
Our Aqeedah
People who call us “mamaati” (i.e., people who believe that Prophet ﷺ is dead [in derogative fashion]) are mistaken because our aqeedah is based purely on Qurʾān and sunnah. We do not believe that Prophet ﷺ is present everywhere and watching us, wallahi, this is a false aqeedah. Sahaaba did not believe it (and we certainly do not understand Islam better than honourable sahaaba)
People who call themselves “hayaati” (i.e., people who believe that Prophet ﷺ is alive just as he was alive 1400 years ago) are also mistaken – for we have presented enough evidences above to show the aqeedah of sahaaba.
We’re “_ummatun-wassata_” who are in the middle ground. We do not go to either extremes (saying Prophet ﷺ is dead and is now dust or Prophet ﷺ is alive just as he was alive 1400 years ago) – we believe Prophet ﷺ is in the life of barzakh, he is presented with salaawaat that his ummah sends upon him. He ﷺ does not have knowledge of unseen (except what Allāh gives him)
Fix your aqeedah
Rectify your and your family’s aqeedah before death approaches. May Allāh guide us to the way of prophets, rightly guided caliphs and righteous predecessors, āmeen