A Critical Analysis of Narrations Cited in Support of the Dead Hearing the Living

Adapted from the original article by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), structured with headings and formatting for clarity.

❖ Subject Overview​

Scholars have long differed on whether the deceased can hear greetings from the living and recognize their visitors. Some claim that the dead do perceive such greetings, but these assertions lack strong and authentic evidence. The following is a detailed analysis of the narrations often cited in this context.

➊ Narration from Abu Hurairah (RA)​

Narration:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a person passes by the grave of someone he knew in the world and greets him, the deceased recognizes and responds to the greeting.”
(Various sources including Musannaf Abi al-‘Abbas al-Asam, Fawa’id Abu al-Qasim Tammam, Tarikh Baghdad)

Commentary:
This narration is fabricated due to the presence of ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, a narrator declared weak and unreliable by the majority of Hadith scholars.
Hafiz al-Haythami: “Most Hadith scholars consider him weak.”
Ibn al-Jawzi: “There is consensus on his weakness.”

➋ Another Mawquf Narration from Abu Hurairah (RA)​

Narration:
When someone greets a grave, if the deceased knew him, he recognizes and responds; if not, the response is still given.
(Shu‘ab al-Iman, al-Sarim al-Munki)

Commentary:
This narration is weak due to the narrator Muhammad ibn Qudamah, and it has a disconnected chain.

➌ Additional Mawquf Report from Abu Hurairah (RA)​

Narration:
Abu Hurairah passed a grave and said, “Greet him! If he saw you in the world, he’ll recognize and respond.”
(Al-Sarim al-Munki)

Commentary:
This is fabricated due to Yahya ibn ‘Ala, a known liar and fabricator.

➍ Narration from Aishah (RA)​

Narration:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When someone visits a Muslim's grave and sits, the deceased becomes familiar and responds to his questions.”
(Al-Sarim al-Munki)

Commentary:
Fabricated due to ‘Abdullah ibn Ziyad ibn Sim‘an, a narrator deemed abandoned (matrook).

➎ Narration from Ibn Abbas (RA)​

Narration:
“If someone greets a believing brother’s grave, the deceased recognizes and responds.”
(Al-Istidhkar)

Commentary:
Weak due to unknown narrators: ‘Ubayd ibn Muhammad and Fatimah bint Rayyan.

➏ Narration About Martyrs​

Narration:
“Greet your martyred brothers, for they respond to you.”
(Al-Kamil fi Du‘afa’ al-Rijal)

Commentary:
Fabricated due to Yahya ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Himmani, deemed weak by the majority of Hadith scholars.

➐ Narration Involving Abu Hurairah (RA)​

Narration:
Abu Razin asked the Prophet ﷺ if the dead can hear. He ﷺ said: “They hear but cannot reply.”
(Al-Du‘afa’ al-Kabir)

Commentary:
Severely weak due to unknown narrators: Muhammad ibn ‘Ammar ibn ‘Atiyyah and Najm ibn Bashir.

➑ Narration on Recognition of the Body Washers​

Narration:
“The deceased recognizes those who bathe, shroud, and bury him.”
(Musnad Ahmad)

Commentary:
Weak due to an anonymous narrator.

➒ Attributed Statement about Familiarity at the Grave​

Narration:
“The deceased finds greatest comfort when visited by someone familiar.”
(Al-Arba‘in al-Ta’iyyah)

Commentary:
Fabricated, lacking any authentic chain of narration.

❖ Conclusion​

A review of these narrations clearly demonstrates that no strong or authentic Hadith supports the claim that the dead hear or recognize the living. Most narrations presented in this regard are either weak or outright fabricated, and have been rejected by the scholars of Hadith and Fiqh. Thus, it is essential to exercise caution and rely only on authentic narrations for matters of belief.