❖ Reality of the Belief that the Prophet ﷺ is Present and Observing in Every Gathering ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 135
Some people claim that the Prophet ﷺ is personally and spiritually present in every gathering and at all times, and although we cannot see him because he is made of light, he is not human. They cite the phrase:
"السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ"
“Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah,”
Is this belief valid?
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
To believe that the Prophet ﷺ or any other individual has knowledge of the unseen or is present in every gathering is false and contradicts the foundations of Islamic belief. It is a form of disbelief to claim that anyone knows the unseen except Allah.
Allah says:
"قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ"
“Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah.”
(Sūrah al-Naml: 65)
Also, denying the Prophet ﷺ's humanity is a severe deviation.
Allah clearly says:
"قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ"
“Say: I am only a human like you, to whom revelation has been sent.”
(Sūrah al-Kahf: 110)
Those who claim he is not human but pure light (nūr) and present everywhere are following their own desires and satanic deception.
May Allah protect us from such misguidance.
Those who use this phrase to prove the Prophet ﷺ is omnipresent misunderstand its usage for several reasons:
Just like in the Qur’an:
"وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ"
“And Pharaoh said: O Hāmān...”
(Sūrah Ghāfir: 36)
"وَنَادَىٰ مُوسَىٰ"
“And Mūsā called out...”
(Sūrah Ṭāhā: 11)
These are quoted addresses, not proof of present existence.
According to authentic narrations, the Sahābah رضي الله عنهم changed "السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ" to "السَّلَامُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ" after the Prophet ﷺ passed away.
Narrated by Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه:
“During the life of the Prophet ﷺ, we used to say: ‘Peace be upon you, O Prophet.’ But after he passed away, we began to say: ‘Peace be upon the Prophet.’”
Sources:
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (9026)
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
➤ Musnad Aḥmad (1/414)
➤ Bayhaqī (2/138)
➤ ʿAbd al-Razzāq (2/204)
If the Prophet ﷺ were physically or spiritually present in every gathering, the Companions would not have altered the wording.
In Arabic, one can use second-person speech (خطاب) without implying actual presence. This is a linguistic style, not proof of physical or spiritual existence.
This principle is explained in detail by Maulānā Khalīl Aḥmad Bānpūrī in “Al-Barāhīn al-Qāṭiʿah.”
✔ The belief that the Prophet ﷺ is present in every gathering and observing all matters is false and against the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ is a human being, not a being of pure light, as clearly stated in the Qur’an.
✔ The phrase “السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ” does not prove omnipresence, especially since the Companions changed it after his passing.
✔ Addressing someone in speech does not imply their physical or spiritual presence.
The belief that the Prophet ﷺ is present in every gathering is a baseless, false doctrine with no support in authentic Islamic teachings.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 135❖ Question
Some people claim that the Prophet ﷺ is personally and spiritually present in every gathering and at all times, and although we cannot see him because he is made of light, he is not human. They cite the phrase:
"السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ"
“Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah,”
Is this belief valid?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
➊ Belief in the Prophet ﷺ Being Ever-Present is Incorrect
To believe that the Prophet ﷺ or any other individual has knowledge of the unseen or is present in every gathering is false and contradicts the foundations of Islamic belief. It is a form of disbelief to claim that anyone knows the unseen except Allah.
Allah says:"قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ"
“Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah.”
(Sūrah al-Naml: 65)
Also, denying the Prophet ﷺ's humanity is a severe deviation.
Allah clearly says:"قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ"
“Say: I am only a human like you, to whom revelation has been sent.”
(Sūrah al-Kahf: 110)
Those who claim he is not human but pure light (nūr) and present everywhere are following their own desires and satanic deception.
May Allah protect us from such misguidance.
➋ Misuse of “السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ”
Those who use this phrase to prove the Prophet ﷺ is omnipresent misunderstand its usage for several reasons:
(1) This is a Reported Statement, Not a Literal Address
Just like in the Qur’an:
"وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ"
“And Pharaoh said: O Hāmān...”
(Sūrah Ghāfir: 36)
"وَنَادَىٰ مُوسَىٰ"
“And Mūsā called out...”
(Sūrah Ṭāhā: 11)
These are quoted addresses, not proof of present existence.
(2) The Companions Changed the Phrase After the Prophet’s Death
According to authentic narrations, the Sahābah رضي الله عنهم changed "السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ" to "السَّلَامُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ" after the Prophet ﷺ passed away.
Narrated by Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه:“During the life of the Prophet ﷺ, we used to say: ‘Peace be upon you, O Prophet.’ But after he passed away, we began to say: ‘Peace be upon the Prophet.’”
Sources:
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (9026)
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
➤ Musnad Aḥmad (1/414)
➤ Bayhaqī (2/138)
➤ ʿAbd al-Razzāq (2/204)
If the Prophet ﷺ were physically or spiritually present in every gathering, the Companions would not have altered the wording.(3) Addressing Someone Does Not Mean They Are Present
In Arabic, one can use second-person speech (خطاب) without implying actual presence. This is a linguistic style, not proof of physical or spiritual existence.
This principle is explained in detail by Maulānā Khalīl Aḥmad Bānpūrī in “Al-Barāhīn al-Qāṭiʿah.”➌ Summary
✔ The belief that the Prophet ﷺ is present in every gathering and observing all matters is false and against the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ is a human being, not a being of pure light, as clearly stated in the Qur’an.
✔ The phrase “السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ” does not prove omnipresence, especially since the Companions changed it after his passing.
✔ Addressing someone in speech does not imply their physical or spiritual presence.
Final Verdict
The belief that the Prophet ﷺ is present in every gathering is a baseless, false doctrine with no support in authentic Islamic teachings.وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
