The belief of the mainstream Ahlus-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah is that our beloved Prophet of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) and other Prophets (عليه السلام ) are alive in their respective graves.
They are usually involved in performing prayers and worshiping Allah (out of their own free choice without it being obligatory on them), which we cannot normally see or feel just like Angels are alive and present but we cannot normally see them.
There are many proofs in the Qur’an, Hadith and sayings of the predecessors regarding the prophets remaining alive after death. Some are reproduced here:
Qur’an States:
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَاءَ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah. but most of them have no knowledge. [az-Zumar 39:29]
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day). [az-Zumar 39:30]
As mentioned in (Verse number 29) the condition of two persons to be different, similarly the death of Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) is not same like other deaths. There is great difference between the conditions and the levels of both. This example was given because of this reason that equality to the respect of Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) (Shan-e-Nabuwah) should be condemned completely.
And those who have been slain in the way of Allah never think of them as dead; but they are alive with their Lord, get their subsistence. Surah Al-Imran verse 169
وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَكِن لاَّ تَشْعُرُونَ
And say not of those who are slain (martyred) in the way of Allah, “they are dead”, nay, they are living, though you perceive it not” [Surah al-Baqarah, 154]
Of course, it goes without saying that the position of the Prophets (عليه السلام ) is above and beyond the status of those who are martyred in Allah’s way. This proves that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) is alive too.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) states in his monumental commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari i.e. Fath al-Bari: “When the living of the martyrs is proven from the text of the Qur’an, then this is also proven from a analogical point of view. And the Prophets are superior then the martyrs” [Fath al-Bari, Volume 006: Page No. 379]
Qadhi Shawkawni writes: “In the Qur’an it is mentioned that martyrs are alive and food is provided for them. The Prophets and righteous people are a lot higher in status than them so what will be their place? It has been proven through Ahadith that Prophets are alive in their graves. Both Imam at-Tirmidhi and Imam al-Bayhaqi have said that these are authentic Ahadith” [Nayl al-Awtar, Volume 003, Page No. 82]
Hadith #1
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِکٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اﷲِ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم قَالَ : أَتَيْتُ، (وفي رواية هدّاب:) مَرَرْتُ عَلَي مُوْسَي لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي عِنْدَ الْکَثِيْبِ الْأَحْمَرِ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي قَبْرِه
Anas b. malik reported
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) as saying: I came. And in the narration transmitted on the authority of Haddib (the words are): I happened to pass by Moses (عليه السلام ) on the occasion of the Night journey near the red mound (and found him) saying his prayer in his Grave. [Sahih Muslim Book 030, Number 5858:]
Note: Praying inside grave represents “Haqeeqi” life
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِکٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اﷲِ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم : الْأَنْبِيَاءُ أَحْيَاءٌ فِي قُبُوْرِهِمْ يُصَلُّوْنَ
Anas b. malik reported
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: The Prophets are alive in their graves and praying


وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَدِيٍّ : وَأَرْجُوْ أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ
والعسقلاني في الفتح وقال : قد جمع البيهقي کتابًا لطيفًا في حياة الأنبياء في قبورهم أورد فيه حديث أنس رضي الله عنه : الأنبياء أحياء في قبورهم يصلّون. أخرجه من طريق يحيي بن أبي کثير وهو من رجال الصحيح عن المستلم بن سعيد وقد وثّقه أحمد وابن حبّان عن الحجاج الأسود وهو ابن أبي زياد البصري وقد وثّقه أحمد وابن معين عن ثابت عنه وأخرجه أيضاً أبو يعلي في مسنده من هذا الوجه وأخرجه البزار وصحّحه البيهقي
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) have said in Fath-ul-bari that: Imam Bayhaqi has compiled a fabulous book on Hayaat of Anbiya (عليه السلام ) in their graves, there he has narrated a hadith from Hadrat Anas (رضي الله عنهم ) that Prophets (عليه السلام ) are alive in their graves and praying. He has narrated this hadith from the route of Yahya bin Abi kathir and he is narrator of Sahih, (Next Page No. 603) he has narrated from Mustalim bin Saeed who is declared as “THIQA”(Sound) by Imam Ahmad and Imam Ibn Hibban, from Hajaj al-Aswad and he is Ibn Abi Ziyad al-Basri whom Imam Ahmad and (Yahya) bin Moeen declared “THIQA”(Sound) from Thabit and Imam Abu Yala has also mentioned this hadith in his musnad on the same way…. Also when the living of the martyrs is proven from the Nass of the Qur’an, then the Prophets are superior than the martyrs[Fath ul Bari, Volume No. 6, Page Nos. 602-603]
عن أبي الدرداء قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثروا الصلاة علي يوم الجمعة فإنه مشهود تشهده الملائكة وإن أحدا لن يصلي علي إلا عرضت علي صلاته حتى يفرغ منها قال قلت وبعد الموت قال وبعد الموت إن الله حرم على الأرض أن تأكل أجساد الأنبياء فنبي الله حي يرزق
The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; so invoke many blessings on me that day, for your blessing will be submitted to me as Angels witness them, no one will invoke a blessing on me without his blessing being submitted to me till he stops. They (the Companions) asked: Apostle of Allah, how can our blessing be submitted to you, when your body is decayed? He said:Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets. [Sunan Ibn Maja Volume 001: Hadith Number 1626:]
عن أبي الدرداء قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثروا الصلاة علي يوم الجمعة فإنه مشهود تشهده الملائكة وإن أحدا لن يصلي علي إلا عرضت علي صلاته حتى يفرغ منها قال قلت وبعد الموت قال وبعد الموت إن الله حرم على الأرض أن تأكل أجساد الأنبياء فنبي الله حي يرزق
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said, “Invoke many blessings on me on Friday for it is witnessed. The angels are present on it, and no one will invoke a blessing on me without his blessing being submitted to me till he stops.” I asked whether that applied also after his death, and he replied, “Allah has prohibited the Earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets; so Allah’s prophet is alive and given provision.[Sunan Ibn Maja Volume 001: Hadith Number 1627]
The Prophets of Allah are alive in their graves, “JUST AS THEY WERE ALIVE IN THE WORLD“ [Ash’at al-Lam’at – Vol. 1 Pg. 576]
The Prophets are alive and everyone believes that they are alive; there is no disagreement in this. Their life (in their graves)”IS REAL, PHYSICAL LIFE (LIKE THEY POSSESSED IN THE WORLD)” not like the martyrs whose life is only spiritual. [Ash’at al-Lam’at – Vol. 1 Pg. 574]
Narated By AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: If any one of you greets me, Allah returns my soul to me and I respond to the greeting. [Abu Dawud Book 004, Hadith Number 2036:]
رَوَاهُ أبُو دَاوُدَ بإسناد صحيح
Translation: It is narrated by Abu Dawud with a “SAHIH CHAIN” [Riyadh us Saliheen 1/255, Hadith # 1402]
وأصح ما ورد في ذلك ما رواه أحمد وأبو داود عن أبي هريرة مرفوعاً
Translation: It has been narrated by Imam Ahmed and Abu Dawud with a Sahih and Marfu chain from Abu Hurraira [Nayl al Awtar 5/164]
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اﷲِ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم : لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي فِي الْحِجْرِ، وَقُرَيْشٌ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ مَسْرَايَ، فَسَأَلَتْنِي عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ لَمْ أُثْبِتْهَا، فَکَرِبْتُ کُرْبَةً مَا کَرِبْتُ مِثْلَهُ قًطُّ، قَالَ : فَرَفَعَهُ اﷲُ لِي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ. مَا يَسْأَلُوْنِي عَنْ شَيءٍ إِلَّا أَنْبَأْتُهُمْ بِهِ. وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، فَإِذَا مُوْسَي عليه السلام قَاءِمٌ يُصَلِّي، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ ضَرْبٌ جَعْدٌ کَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوْءَةَ. وَإِِذَا عِيْسَي ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ عليه السلام قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي، أَقْرَبُ النَّاسِ بِهِ شَبَهًا عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُوْدٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ. وَإِذَا إِبْرَاهِيْمُ عليه السلام قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي، أَشْبَهُ النَّاسِ بِهِ صَاحِبُکُمْ (يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ) فَحَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَأَمَمْتُهُمْ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْتُ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ، قَالَ قَائِلٌ : يَا مُحَمَّدُ، هَذَا مَالِکٌ صَاحِبُ النَّارِ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَالْتَفَتُّ إِلَيْهِ فَبَدَأَنِي بِالسَّلَامِ
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: I found myself in Hijr and the Quraish were asking me about my might journey. I was asked about things pertaining to Bait-ul-Maqdis which I could not preserve (in my mind). I was very much vexed, so vexed as I had never been before. Then Allah raised it (Bait-ul-Maqdis) before my eyes. I looked towards it, and I gave them the information about whatever they questioned me I also saw myself among the group of apostles. I saw Moses (عليه السلام ) saying prayer and found him to be a well-built man as if he was a man of the tribe of Shanu’a. I saw Jesus son of Mary (عليه السلام ) offering prayer, of all of men he had the closest resemblance with ‘Urwa b. Masu’d al-Thaqafi. I saw Ibrahim (عليه السلام ) offering prayer; he had the closest resemblance with your companion (the Prophet himself) amongst people. When the time of prayer came I led them. When I completed the prayer, someone said: Here is Malik, the keeper of the Hell; pay him salutations. I turned to him, but he preceded me in salutation. [Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0328:]
عَنْ أَوْسِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اﷲِ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم : إِنَّ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَيَامِکُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، فِيْهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ، وَفِيْهِ قُبِضَ وَفِيْهِ النَّفْخَةُ، وَفِيْهِ الصَّعْقَةُ فَأَکْثِرُوْا عَلَيَّ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ فِيْهِ، فَإِنَّ صَلَاتَکُمْ مَعْرُوْضَةٌ عَلَيَّ، قَالَ : قَالُوْا : يَا رَسُوْلَ اﷲِ! کَيْفَ تُعْرَضُ صَلَاتُنَا عَلَيْکَ وَقَدْ أَرِمْتَ؟ يَقُوْلُوْنَ : بَلِيْتَ قَالَ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم : إِنَّ اﷲَ حَرَّمَ عَلَي الْأَرْضِ أَجْسَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ
Narated By Aws b. Aws :
The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: Among the most excellent of your days is Friday, on it Adam was created, on it he died, on it the trumpet will be blown and on it the shout will be made, so invoke many blessings on me that day, for your blessing will be submitted to me. They (the Companions) asked: Apostle of Allah, how can our blessing be submitted to you, when your body is decayed? He said: Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets. [Abu Dawud Book 002, Hadith Number 1526:]
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: Whoever visits my grave after my death it is same he has visited me in my life. [Tibrani Volume 012: Hadith Number 406, Bayhaqi Shab ul Iman Volume 003: Hadith Number 489]
عن عبد الله بن مسعود عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
”إن لله ملائكة سياحين يبلغون عن أمتي السلام”. قال: وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
”حياتي خير لكم تحدثون ويُحدث لكم، ووفاتي خير لكم تعرض علي أعمالكم، فما رأيت من خير حمدت الله عليه وما رأيت من شر استغفرت الله لكم”.
It is attributed to ‘Abdullāh bin Mas‘ūd that the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ) is reported to have said:
My life is blissful for you because you hear traditions from people and relate them to others and my death is also blissful for you because your deeds will be presented to me. If I see the virtues prevail, I will be grateful to Allah, and if I see the vices prevail, I will pray for your forgiveness from Allah.
Ibn al-Jawzi statement on hadith: Ibn al-Jawzi specifies in the introduction of al-Wafa that he only included sound traditions in his book. He also mentions the version through Aws ibn Aws: “The actions of human beings are shown to me every Thursday on the night of (i.e. preceding) Friday.”
أخبرنا مروانُ بنُ محمدٍ عن سعيدِ بن عبدِالعزيزِ ،، قال: لما كانَ أيام الحرةِ، لم يؤدَّنْ في مسجدِ النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلّم ثلاثاً ولم يُقَمْ ولم يبرحْ سعيدُ بن المسيِّبِ من المسجِدِ، وكان لا يعرفُ وقتَ الصلاةِ إلاَّ بهمهمةٍ يَسْمَعُها من قبرِ النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلّم فذكَرَ معناهُ .
Translation: Sa’eed bin Abdul Aziz (rah) narrates: During the incident of Al-Harra, there was no Adhaan or Iqamah proclaimed from Masjid an Nabi (Peace be upon him) for “3 Days” Saeed bin Musayb (rah) stayed in the Mosque, “HE USED TO FIND OUT ABOUT TIME OF PRAYER BY THE WHISPERING VOICE WHICH HE HEARD FROM INSIDE THE GRAVE OF PROPHET (PEACE BE UPON HIM) [Sunnan al Darimi, Volume No.1, Page No. 44, Hadith # 94, Published by Dar ul Kutb al-iLmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon]
وعن أبي هريرة قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم يقول: والّذي نَفْسُ أَبي القاسِمِ بِيَدِهِ لَيَنْزِلَنَّ عيسى ابنُ مَريمَ إمَاماً مُقْسِطاً، وَحَكَماً عَدْلاً، فَلَيَكْسِرَنَّ الصَّلِيْبَ، وَيَقْتُلَنَّ الخِنْزِيرَ، وَلَيُصْلِحَنَّ ذَاتَ البَيْنِ، وَلَيُذْهِبَنَّ الشَّحْنَاءَ، وَلَيَعْرُضَنَّ المَالَ فَلا يَقْبَلهُ أَحَدٌ، ثُمَّ لَئِنْ قَامَ على قَبْرِي فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ لأجِيْبَنَّهُ . قلت: هو في الصحيح باختصار. رواه أبو يعلى ورجاله رجال الصحيح
Translation: Narrated Abu Hurayra I heard the Prophet say: “By the one in Whose hand is Abu al-Qasim’s soul, `Isa ibn Maryam shall descend as a just and wise ruler. He shall destroy the cross, slay the swine, eradicate discord and grudges, and money shall be offered to him but he will not accept it. “THEN HE SHALL STAND AT MY GRAVESIDE AND SAY: YA MUHAMMAD! AND I WILL ANSWER HIM” (Abu Ya`la relates it with a sound (sahih) chain in his Musnad Volume No. 11, Page No. 462]
Jabir bin Abdullah says that on the day battle of Uhad a person was buried along with my father, i wasnt happy on this, i took my father out and buried at another place, Jabir bin Abduallah says that i took my father our and except the year ‘every part of the body was fine and perfect as before’, Imam Bayhaqi says from another Sanad. Jabir bin Abdullah says that I buried a person along with my father, so some thing came into my heart, and after six months i took it out, ‘except only a few hairs of beard all other parts of body was as before’. [Sunan al-Kubra, Bayhaqi, Volume 004, Chapter No. 141, Page No. 95, Hadith Number 7076-7077]
Sunan al-Kubra Bayhaqi, Publish: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon – see below image
[Sunan Darimi published by Ansaar ul sunna Publication Lahore Jild 1 BAAB Ma-Akramallahu taala Nabiyyahu Sallallahu alaihi wasallam Hadith No.94]
Due to the fact that there are many narrations regarding this (of which we have only reproduced a few, as an example), Imam Suyuti is of the view that these narrations have reached the level of certainty (tawatur).
واحسن من هذا الجواب ان يقال ان حياته صلى الله عليه وسلم في القبر لايعقبها موت بل يستمر حيا والأنبياء احياء في قبورهم
“Death will never come to the Blessed Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) in his grave, but he will remain alive, due to the fact that the Prophets remain alive in their graves” [Fath al-Bari, Volume 17: Page No. 22]
وإذا ثبت أنهم أحياء من حيث النقل فإنه يقويه من حيث النظر كون الشهداء أحياء بنص القرآن، والأنبياء أفضل من الشهداء
Translation: When the living of the martyrs is proven from the Nass of the Qur’an, then the Prophets are superior than the martyrs” [Fath al-Bari, (6/379)]
Imam Jalal ud din Suyuti (Rahimuhullah)’s Al Hawi lil Fatawi in 2 Volumes, Maktabba al Asriyyah, Beirut, Lebanon — see below image

Al Wafa bi Ahwal lil Mustafa, by Imam Ibn Jawzi (Rahimuhullah) – Published by Dar ul Kutb al ILmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon – see below image
Takhreej (2): Imam Ahmed narrated it in his Musnad (5/59), Imam Baihaqi in Dalail an Nabuwwa (1/85, 2/129), Imam Hakim Narrated it in his Mustadrak (2/608) where he said: This Hadith has “Sahih Isnad” and Dhahabi also agreed with him
The great Hanafi jurist, Ibn Abidin says: “The Prophets are alive in their graves, as proven from the Hadith”. [Rasa’il of Ibn Abidin, Volume 002: Page No. 203]
Mirqat al-Mafatih Sharah Mishqat, Mullah Ali Qari, Publish: Dar al -Kutub al-ILmiyah, Beirut/Lebanon


Mullah Ali al-Qari, Sharah al-Shifah, Publish: Dal al-Kutub al-ILmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon


The prophets are alive in their graves living the ‘real’ life which they had in this world. [Naseem ur Rayaadh: Vol. 1 Pg. 196]
الحديث بظاهره يدل على أنه رآه رؤية حقيقية في اليقظة وأنه حي في قبره يصلي الصلاة التي يصليها في الحياة وذلك وذلك ممكن ولا مانع من ذلك
Ibn Asakir narrated in biography of Amr Ibn Jamah: “A young person used to come to the Mosque for his prayers. One day a woman with bad intentions invited him to her house. When he was in her house, he recited a verse from the Qur’an (إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْاْ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَـٰئِفٌ مِّنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ تَذَكَّرُواْ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ ) loudly and collapsed and died from the fear of Allah. The people prayed the funeral prayer and buried him. ‘Umar (may Allah be well pleased with him) asked: ‘Where is that young individual who used to come to the Mosque for his prayers?’ They replied: ‘He passed away and we have buried him’. ‘Umar (may Allah be well pleased with him) went to his grave and called out to him and recited a verse from the Holy Qur’an: ‘But for him who fears to stand before his Lord there are two Paradises’ (Sura al-Rahman, 46) The young man replied from his grave ‘Indeed Allah has given me two Paradises’ [Tafsir Ibn Kathir Volume 006, Page No. 496, Under 7:202]
The above evidences from the Qur’an, Hadith and the sayings of the predecessors are sufficient to prove the fact that the Prophets (عليه السلام ) remain alive in their graves after they pass away from this world. There are many other evidences which we have not mentioned here, However these evidences are more than sufficient for a sane and normal muslims.
Qur’an States:
إِنَّ اللّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
No doubt. Allah has purchased from the muslims their lives and their belongings against this return, that for them is Paradise, they fight in the way of Allah, then they kill and are killed; true promise on His generous responsibility in the Taurah and the Injeel and the Quran. And who is, true to his words than Allah’? Rejoice then in your trade ‘ which you have done with Him And it is this which is, the great triumph. [At-Tawba 9:111].
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