A Scholarly Analysis of 6 Evidences Regarding the Prophet’s ﷺ Visitation in the GraveSource: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 212
❖ Question
Is the deceased shown the Prophet ﷺ in the grave?
❖ The Response
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله
✦ The Claim of Certain Individuals
Some people assert that:
“On the first day of burial, the deceased is shown the Prophet ﷺ.”
Their argument is based on the questioning in the grave, where the angels ask:
"ھٰذا الرجل الذی بُعِثَ فِیکم؟"
They interpret the demonstrative pronoun “ھٰذا” to refer to a physically present person, i.e., they claim that the Prophet ﷺ himself comes to the grave and the deceased sees him.
❖ Scholarly and Research-Based Refutation of This Claim
➊ Belief in Ḥāḍir wa Nāẓir (Omnipresence of the Prophet ﷺ):
This is a belief held by the ignorant followers of the Barelvi sect, who regard the Prophet ﷺ as being present everywhere.
This is a false and corrupt belief.
➋ The Actual Meaning of the Ḥadīth:
The exact wording of the ḥadīth is:
"فَيَقُولَانِ: مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟"
Meaning: “The two (angels) will say: Who is this man who was sent among you?”
The deceased will reply: “He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
This ḥadīth is narrated by Imām Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd:
(Abū Dāwūd: 2/ Ḥadīth 4353)It is also mentioned in Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ:
(Mishkāt: 1/25)✿ Explanation by the Scholars
❀ Imām ʿAlī al-Qārī رحمه الله explains in Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ (1/199):
“It is said that the deceased attains a form of spiritual unveiling (kashf) and sees the Prophet ﷺ. If this proves to be true, then it is a great glad tiding for the believer. However, in our knowledge, there is no authentic ḥadīth on this matter.”
Some people infer from the word “ھٰذا” that it indicates something present and visible. However, this is merely a possibility, not a certainty.
➌ Lexical Analysis of the Word "ھٰذا":
The term “ھٰذا” is not restricted to indicating something physically present. It is also used for known or mentally perceived entities.
Hence, using the word “ھٰذا” as evidence for the physical presence of the Prophet ﷺ in the grave is linguistically incorrect.
➍ Rejection of Figurative Language (Majāz):
The correct position is that the Arabic language does not recognize majāz (figurative language).
This has been discussed in detail by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله:
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, Vol. 20)✦ Conclusion
The belief in the Prophet ﷺ physically appearing in the grave and being seen by the deceased is not established by any authentic ḥadīth.
Taking the words “ھٰذا الرجل” to indicate his physical presence is a weak and invalid interpretation.
☞ The visitation of the Prophet ﷺ for the believers will occur on the Day of Judgement, not immediately after burial.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold; and Allah knows best what is correct.
