Five Explanations Regarding Musa (AS) Performing Salah in His Grave
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Vol. 1, p. 189
Question:
Is the following Hadith authentic in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I saw Musa (AS) performing Salah in his grave"?
If this Hadith is authentic, what does it mean? Because it would seem to imply that the deceased continue to worship after death.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Alhamdulillah, wa-s-salatu wa-s-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
Yes, this Hadith is authentic, and it has been narrated by multiple scholars of Hadith.
◈ Imam Muslim narrated it in his Sahih:
(Sahih Muslim, 2/268)
◈ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated it in his Musnad:
(Musnad Ahmad, 3/144), (5/59, 362, 365)
◈ Imam al-Nasa’i narrated it in his Sunan:
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, 1/242)
Narrator:
Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I passed by Musa (AS) on the night of Isra, near the red sandhill, and he was standing in his grave performing Salah."
Imam al-Nasa’i also mentioned it in Bab Qiyam al-Layl under the heading:
"The Prayer of Allah’s Prophet Musa (Kalimullah)"
In Sharh Sahih Muslim (1/94), in Bab al-Isra bi-Rasulillah, Imam al-Nawawi mentioned several possible explanations for this Hadith:
① Due to a Status Higher Than Martyrs:
Musa (AS) has a status similar to martyrs — in fact, higher.
The Qur’an says martyrs are alive with their Lord.
It is possible that they perform Salah, Hajj, and other acts of worship.
However, this explanation is considered weak.
② Dhikr and Du‘a in the Hereafter as Worship:
The Qur’an says:
"دعواهم فيها سبحانك اللهم"
"Their supplication therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah!'"
(Yunus: 10)
According to this verse, remembrance and supplication may be a form of worship in the Hereafter.
③ Vision in a Dream:
It is possible that this incident occurred in a dream.
Ibn ‘Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"While I was asleep, I saw myself circumambulating the Ka‘bah."
④ A Vision or Glimpse Was Shown:
The Prophet ﷺ may have been shown scenes from Musa’s life — how he performed Hajj, said the Talbiyah, etc.
Just as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"It is as if I am looking at Musa (AS)"
"It is as if I am looking at Yunus (AS)"
"It is as if I am looking at ‘Isa (AS)"
This explanation appears to be the strongest and most correct.
⑤ Informed Through Revelation:
It is possible that the Prophet ﷺ was informed via revelation about the actions of Musa (AS), even if he did not witness them directly.
It is not permissible to make an analogy between righteous people or saints and Musa (AS).
Those who seek help from Prophets or saints commit a prohibited act that causes corruption in religion.
Hadith:
"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three:
① Ongoing charity,
② Knowledge from which benefit is derived,
③ A righteous child who prays for him."
(Sahih Muslim, narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA), Mishkat, 1/25)
Therefore, statements like:
"Ya Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani, shay’an lillah"
are incorrect and an innovation.
The fact that Musa (AS) was performing Salah in his grave is established through authentic Hadith.
Scholars have provided various interpretations for it.
It is not correct to take this as evidence that all deceased persons worship after death.
The unique conditions of Prophets cannot be applied to ordinary people.
Wallahu a‘lam bis-sawab
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Vol. 1, p. 189
Authenticity of the Hadith on Musa (AS) Performing Salah in His Grave and Its Interpretations
Question:
Is the following Hadith authentic in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I saw Musa (AS) performing Salah in his grave"?
If this Hadith is authentic, what does it mean? Because it would seem to imply that the deceased continue to worship after death.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Alhamdulillah, wa-s-salatu wa-s-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
Yes, this Hadith is authentic, and it has been narrated by multiple scholars of Hadith.
Hadith References
◈ Imam Muslim narrated it in his Sahih:
(Sahih Muslim, 2/268)
◈ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated it in his Musnad:
(Musnad Ahmad, 3/144), (5/59, 362, 365)
◈ Imam al-Nasa’i narrated it in his Sunan:
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, 1/242)
Narrator:
Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I passed by Musa (AS) on the night of Isra, near the red sandhill, and he was standing in his grave performing Salah."
Imam al-Nasa’i also mentioned it in Bab Qiyam al-Layl under the heading:
"The Prayer of Allah’s Prophet Musa (Kalimullah)"
Explanation by Imam al-Nawawi (رحمه الله)
In Sharh Sahih Muslim (1/94), in Bab al-Isra bi-Rasulillah, Imam al-Nawawi mentioned several possible explanations for this Hadith:
Different Possibilities and Responses
① Due to a Status Higher Than Martyrs:
Musa (AS) has a status similar to martyrs — in fact, higher.
The Qur’an says martyrs are alive with their Lord.
It is possible that they perform Salah, Hajj, and other acts of worship.
However, this explanation is considered weak.
② Dhikr and Du‘a in the Hereafter as Worship:
The Qur’an says:
"دعواهم فيها سبحانك اللهم"
"Their supplication therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah!'"
(Yunus: 10)
According to this verse, remembrance and supplication may be a form of worship in the Hereafter.
③ Vision in a Dream:
It is possible that this incident occurred in a dream.
Ibn ‘Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"While I was asleep, I saw myself circumambulating the Ka‘bah."
④ A Vision or Glimpse Was Shown:
The Prophet ﷺ may have been shown scenes from Musa’s life — how he performed Hajj, said the Talbiyah, etc.
Just as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"It is as if I am looking at Musa (AS)"
"It is as if I am looking at Yunus (AS)"
"It is as if I am looking at ‘Isa (AS)"
This explanation appears to be the strongest and most correct.
⑤ Informed Through Revelation:
It is possible that the Prophet ﷺ was informed via revelation about the actions of Musa (AS), even if he did not witness them directly.
No Analogy with Other Righteous People
It is not permissible to make an analogy between righteous people or saints and Musa (AS).
Those who seek help from Prophets or saints commit a prohibited act that causes corruption in religion.
Hadith:
"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three:
① Ongoing charity,
② Knowledge from which benefit is derived,
③ A righteous child who prays for him."
(Sahih Muslim, narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA), Mishkat, 1/25)
Therefore, statements like:
"Ya Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani, shay’an lillah"
are incorrect and an innovation.
Conclusion
The fact that Musa (AS) was performing Salah in his grave is established through authentic Hadith.
Scholars have provided various interpretations for it.
It is not correct to take this as evidence that all deceased persons worship after death.
The unique conditions of Prophets cannot be applied to ordinary people.
Wallahu a‘lam bis-sawab