Taken from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ alive in his grave?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has passed away and is cut off from the worldly life, living a Barzakh (intermediate) life with Allah.
There is no evidence to suggest that he retains worldly life in the grave.
❖ Allah ﷻ says:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
(Surah Al-Anbiya: 34–35)
We did not grant everlasting life to any human before you. So if you die, would they live forever? Every soul shall taste death. And We test you with evil and good as a trial. And to Us you shall return.
❖ Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (رحمه الله) writes in the tafsir of this verse:
Allah, the Lord of Honor, says to His Prophet ﷺ:
"O Muhammad ﷺ! We did not give eternal life to any human before you in this world. So you too shall certainly pass away, just as the messengers before you passed away."
(Tafsir al-Tabari: 24/17)
❖ Another verse:
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
(Surah Az-Zumar: 30)
Indeed, you will die, and indeed, they too will die.
❖ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) writes:
This verse is among those which Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) recited to the people at the time of the Prophet’s ﷺ death, leading them to accept the reality of his passing.
Another verse he recited was:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ ۚ...
(Surah Aal-e-Imran: 144)
Muhammad ﷺ is no more than a Messenger. Many messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 6/488)
❖ Scholars have clarified that Barzakh life is a distinct and separate form of life, not comparable to worldly life.
Be informed that the return of the soul to the body after death does not necessitate continuous life, nor does it establish worldly life before the Day of Judgment.
The return of the soul to the body in the Barzakh is a purely intermediate state, and this does not nullify the term "death" for the deceased.
Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn ʿAzib (رضي الله عنه) narrated a well-known long hadith
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 4753, Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1/95 – Chain: Hasan)
which confirms that the soul is returned to the body, but this does not imply permanence or worldly life. It is a type of Barzakh life.
Death and Barzakh life are two names for the same reality.
Some forms of death do not contradict life, as proven in a hadith where the Prophet ﷺ, upon waking from sleep, would say:
ٱلْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَآ أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ
All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6324)
The soul’s connection to the body varies across different states:
in wakefulness, in sleep, in Barzakh, and on the Day of Judgment.
The life of the Prophets is more complete than the martyrs, which is why their bodies do not decay.
Similarly, martyrs’ lives are more complete than ordinary believers.
Believing that the Barzakh life is like worldly life contradicts physical reality, the Shari'ah, and sound reason.
(al-Sarim al-Munki fi al-Radd ʿala al-Subki, p. 223)
❖ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله, d. 1420 AH) writes:
The life of the Prophet ﷺ after his death is different from his life before death, because Barzakh life is part of the unseen, and only Allah knows its true nature.
It is not subject to the laws of this world.
In worldly life, a person eats, drinks, breathes, marries, moves, speaks, falls ill, etc.
But none of these things can be proven to occur after death – even for the Prophets, and at the forefront, our Prophet ﷺ.
(Al-Tawassul: Anwaʿuhu wa Ahkamuhu, p. 65)
❖ He also writes:
Know that the Barzakh life of the Prophets is different from worldly life.
Believing in it is obligatory, but it is not allowed to give examples, explain its nature, or compare it to worldly life.
Every believer must accept the authentic Hadiths and refrain from speculation, unlike the innovators.
Some have falsely claimed that the Prophet ﷺ lives in his grave like worldly life, eats, drinks, and has marital relations — (Allah forbid).
In reality, this is only Barzakh life, the true nature of which only Allah knows.
(Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah: 2/190, Hadith 621)
✔ Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaʿah are united upon the belief that every soul experiences a Barzakh life, not just Prophets and martyrs.
✔ However, the Barzakh life of the Prophets and martyrs is more pure and elevated.
✔ Believers receive blessings in their graves, while disbelievers and transgressors are punished.
✖ Some deny Barzakh life entirely.
✖ Others equate the Prophet’s ﷺ Barzakh life with worldly life — both positions are extremist and not based on Qur'an or Sunnah.
✔ None of the righteous Salaf (early generations) ever held such deviant views.
Dividing the Ummah based on disputes regarding life and death opposes the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah.
This is a matter of the Hereafter, and it should be grounded solely in the Qur'an, Hadith, and the consensus of the Ummah.
The moderate and correct belief is:
Every person receives Barzakh life, which is entirely an affair of the Hereafter.
Equating the Barzakh life of the Prophets with worldly life is against Qur'an and Sunnah.
❖ Question:
Is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ alive in his grave?
❖ Answer:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has passed away and is cut off from the worldly life, living a Barzakh (intermediate) life with Allah.
There is no evidence to suggest that he retains worldly life in the grave.
✿ Qur'anic Evidences:
❖ Allah ﷻ says:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
(Surah Al-Anbiya: 34–35)
We did not grant everlasting life to any human before you. So if you die, would they live forever? Every soul shall taste death. And We test you with evil and good as a trial. And to Us you shall return.
❖ Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (رحمه الله) writes in the tafsir of this verse:
Allah, the Lord of Honor, says to His Prophet ﷺ:
"O Muhammad ﷺ! We did not give eternal life to any human before you in this world. So you too shall certainly pass away, just as the messengers before you passed away."
(Tafsir al-Tabari: 24/17)
❖ Another verse:
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
(Surah Az-Zumar: 30)
Indeed, you will die, and indeed, they too will die.
❖ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) writes:
This verse is among those which Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) recited to the people at the time of the Prophet’s ﷺ death, leading them to accept the reality of his passing.
Another verse he recited was:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ ۚ...
(Surah Aal-e-Imran: 144)
Muhammad ﷺ is no more than a Messenger. Many messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 6/488)
✿ Scholarly Clarifications on Barzakh and Death:
❖ Scholars have clarified that Barzakh life is a distinct and separate form of life, not comparable to worldly life.
➤ Hafiz Ibn ʿAbd al-Hadi (رحمه الله, d. 744 AH) states:
Be informed that the return of the soul to the body after death does not necessitate continuous life, nor does it establish worldly life before the Day of Judgment.
The return of the soul to the body in the Barzakh is a purely intermediate state, and this does not nullify the term "death" for the deceased.
Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn ʿAzib (رضي الله عنه) narrated a well-known long hadith
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 4753, Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1/95 – Chain: Hasan)
which confirms that the soul is returned to the body, but this does not imply permanence or worldly life. It is a type of Barzakh life.
Death and Barzakh life are two names for the same reality.
Some forms of death do not contradict life, as proven in a hadith where the Prophet ﷺ, upon waking from sleep, would say:
ٱلْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَآ أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ
All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6324)
The soul’s connection to the body varies across different states:
in wakefulness, in sleep, in Barzakh, and on the Day of Judgment.
The life of the Prophets is more complete than the martyrs, which is why their bodies do not decay.
Similarly, martyrs’ lives are more complete than ordinary believers.
Believing that the Barzakh life is like worldly life contradicts physical reality, the Shari'ah, and sound reason.
(al-Sarim al-Munki fi al-Radd ʿala al-Subki, p. 223)
✿ Views of Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله):
❖ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله, d. 1420 AH) writes:
The life of the Prophet ﷺ after his death is different from his life before death, because Barzakh life is part of the unseen, and only Allah knows its true nature.
It is not subject to the laws of this world.
In worldly life, a person eats, drinks, breathes, marries, moves, speaks, falls ill, etc.
But none of these things can be proven to occur after death – even for the Prophets, and at the forefront, our Prophet ﷺ.
(Al-Tawassul: Anwaʿuhu wa Ahkamuhu, p. 65)
❖ He also writes:
Know that the Barzakh life of the Prophets is different from worldly life.
Believing in it is obligatory, but it is not allowed to give examples, explain its nature, or compare it to worldly life.
Every believer must accept the authentic Hadiths and refrain from speculation, unlike the innovators.
Some have falsely claimed that the Prophet ﷺ lives in his grave like worldly life, eats, drinks, and has marital relations — (Allah forbid).
In reality, this is only Barzakh life, the true nature of which only Allah knows.
(Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah: 2/190, Hadith 621)
✿ The Balanced Belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaʿah:
✔ Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaʿah are united upon the belief that every soul experiences a Barzakh life, not just Prophets and martyrs.
✔ However, the Barzakh life of the Prophets and martyrs is more pure and elevated.
✔ Believers receive blessings in their graves, while disbelievers and transgressors are punished.
✖ Some deny Barzakh life entirely.
✖ Others equate the Prophet’s ﷺ Barzakh life with worldly life — both positions are extremist and not based on Qur'an or Sunnah.
✔ None of the righteous Salaf (early generations) ever held such deviant views.
Dividing the Ummah based on disputes regarding life and death opposes the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah.
This is a matter of the Hereafter, and it should be grounded solely in the Qur'an, Hadith, and the consensus of the Ummah.The moderate and correct belief is:
Every person receives Barzakh life, which is entirely an affair of the Hereafter.
Equating the Barzakh life of the Prophets with worldly life is against Qur'an and Sunnah.
