The Reality of Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) Death in Islamic Teachings
Question: Is Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) alive in his grave?
Answer: One of the three ranks of faith is belief (Iman), and there are six pillars of faith. Among these six pillars, one is the belief in death and resurrection after death. This pillar includes our belief that everything in this world is mortal except Allah, and there is no human who is immortal. Every person dies, and on the Day of Judgment, Allah will resurrect us. A Muslim who is unaware of this belief has a weak understanding of faith and lacks proper knowledge in matters of belief. Such a person should thoroughly learn the six pillars of faith to strengthen and solidify their belief and faith because, in religion, belief and faith are the most important aspects. If someone’s belief is not correct, their actions will not be acceptable to Allah. Therefore, it is crucial to gain complete knowledge of belief.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has passed away, and that’s why he was buried. He is not alive. In fact, Allah informed him during his lifetime that he, like other people, would pass away, as stated in the Quran:
"Indeed, you (O Muhammad ﷺ) are to die, and indeed, they (too) will die." (Az-Zumar: 30)
Allah has clearly used the word “death” (Mawt) for the Prophet (ﷺ), yet some Muslims still doubt and believe that the Prophet (ﷺ) is alive, essentially denying the verse of Allah. In addition to this verse, all other proofs from the Quran and Hadith that mention the death of all humans also serve as evidence of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) passing.
Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah
Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail