Seeing The Prophet in the Grave

Matchless Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Seeing the Prophet in the grave

Maulana Kashif Shahzad ‘Attari Madani

One of the unique merits that Allah Almighty has granted His Beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is that every deceased person will be questioned about him in the grave. (Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 2, p. 289; Kashf-ul-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 55)

Two sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

1.   When a person is lowered into their grave and his loved ones walk away, he hears the sound of their shoes. Then, two angels come to him, make him sit up, and ask: ‘مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فیْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ’ ‘What did you used to say about this man [Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم]?’ The deceased [believer] replies: ‘اَشْهَدُ اَنَّهٗ عَبْدُ اللهِ وَرَسُولُهٗ’ ‘I bear witness that he is the slave of Allah and His Messenger.’ (Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 450, Hadith 1338)

2.   ‘اَمَّا فِتْنَةُ الْقَبْرِ فَبِیْ تُفْتَنُوْنَ وَعَنِّیْ تُسْاَ لُوْنَ’ ‘The trial of the grave will be such that you will be tested by means of me and you will be questioned about me,’ (Musnad-e-Ahmad, vol. 9, p. 469, Hadith 25143).

The erudite Imam of Islam, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه writes:

After this, the angels will ask, ‘مَا تَقُوْلُ فِی ھٰذَا الرَّجُل’ ‘What do you say about this man?’ The Shari’ah does not provide specific details about whether the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) will be present himself or if the veil between his blessed shrine [and the deceased person] will be lifted. As their question is a test, the angels will say ‘ھٰذَا الرَّجُل’ ‘[what do you say about] this man,’ instead of ‘ھٰذَا النَّبی’ ‘…this prophet,’ (Malfuzaat-e-A’la Hazrat, p. 526).

The night of seeing Him

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه elaborates on the events of the grave thus:

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be shown to the deceased person in his grave and it will be asked, ‘شَمْسُ الضُّحیٰ بَدْرُ الدُّجیٰ صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’ ‘What do you say about this shining sun and full moon صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who is before you?’ The demonstrative pronoun ‘ھٰذَا’ ‘this,’ is used to refer to something nearby. Therefore, it can confidently be said that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be shown from close proximity. This proximity with the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is what drove the Sufis and devotees to long for death.

A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه captures these sentiments in a couplet:

Jaan to jatay hi jaye gi qiyamat yeh hay

Kay yahan marnay pay thehra hay nazarah tayra

Maulana Aasi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه adds:

Aaj phoolay na samayen gay kafan mayn Aasi

Jis kay joyan thay hay us gul say mulaqat ki raat

Joy at the time of death

One evident sign of truly loving the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is yearning to meet him; for every lover yearns to behold their beloved. (Al-Shifa, vol. 2, p. 25)

The hope that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be seen in the grave and that the souls of the righteous will meet each other is the reason why some pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه would rejoice at the time of death. The following are three examples:

1.   When Sayyiduna Bilal Habashi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was on his deathbed, his noble wife رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهَا restlessly cried out, ‘وَاحُزْنَاهْ’ ‘What grief!’ Hearing this, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied, ‘وَاطَرَبَاہ’ ‘What joy! ‘غَدًا اَلْقَى الْاَحِبَّةْ مُحَمَّدًا وَحِزْبَهْ’ Tomorrow, [after death] I will meet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم,’ (Al-Shifa, vol. 2, p. 23; Naseem-ul-Riyaz, vol. 4, p. 430).

2.   A similar account is narrated regarding Sayyiduna Huzayfah Bin Yamaan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما. (Naseem-ul-Riyaz, vol. 4, p. 430)

3.   Sayyiduna ‘Ammar Bin Yasir رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما recited the following couplet during the Battle of Siffeen:

اَلْآنَ اَلْقَى الْاَحِبَّةْ || مُحَمَّدًا ثُمَّ حِزْبَه

‘Soon I will meet my beloveds; Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his companions.’ (Sharh-ul-Shifa, vol. 2, p. 43)

According to another narration, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ also said: ‘اَلْيَوْمَ نَلْقٰى حَبِیْبَنَا مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’ ‘Today we meet our Beloved, Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ (Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 552)

Ruh na kyun ho muztarib maut kay intizar mayn

Sunta hoon mujh ko daykhnay aayen gay woh Mazaar mayn

(Deewan-e-Saalik, p. 22)

Glad tidings to those who yearn for the prophetic vision

Shaykh Abdul Haq Dihlavi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه remarks:

Referring to the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with the demonstrative pronoun ‘ھٰذَا’ ‘this’ is either because his Messenger-ship is well-known and his image is vividly present in our minds or because heصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be present in the grave in such a way that his likeness will be brought. This way, by witnessing his unparalleled beauty and his light removes the darkness of separation and distance [between him and the questioned person], making it easier for the deceased person to answer the question. There are glad tidings for those who yearn to see him and if they give their lives [in the way of Allah Almighty] with the hope of seeing him, then it is possible. (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, vol. 1, p. 124)

Jaan day do wa’dah-e-deedar par

Naqd apna daam ho hi jaey ga

(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish, p. 40)

The deceased in the grave

In his collection of legal edicts, Mufti Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:

In regard to how the deceased will be questioned in the grave, scholars of Hadith have offered three opinions.

1.   All of the veils between the grave and the green dome will be lifted, and the deceased will be honoured with the beautiful vision. Then, Munkar and Nakeer (the two angels that ask questions in the grave) will point towards the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and ask their questions.

2.   A likeness of the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be with the angels and they will point towards it.

3.   The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself will come to the grave of the person. (Fatawa Shareeh-e-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 406)

Jab Qabr mayn daykhoon ga keh doon ga yeh Aaqa say

Yaan kheench kay laaya hay armaan ziyarat ka

(Qabalah-e-Bakhshish, p. 79)

Dear Allah! Illuminate our graves with the presence of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم