Is It Possible to Bring the Dead Back to Life in Today’s Era? Sharʿi Guidance
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – ʿAqāʾid ka Bayān, Vol. 1, p. 67
A person asked a religious elder:
"Can it happen, even in today’s time, that if Allah wills, a person could bring the dead back to life by Allah’s command?"
The elder replied:
"Yes, it is possible. Just as ʿĪsā (عليه السلام) used to bring the dead to life by Allah’s command, similarly, near the end of times, a kāfir (Dajjāl) will also bring the dead back to life. So, if a disbeliever like Dajjāl can be given such an ability, why can’t a pious servant of Allah be granted the same?"
One should present the following questions to such elders:
❀ If someone uses the example of ʿĪsā (عليه السلام) to claim that he too can bring the dead back to life — would that not imply he is claiming to be a prophet?
❀ If someone uses the example of Dajjāl to justify such a claim — would that not imply he is Dajjāl himself?
Merely discussing the possibility (imkān) is of no real benefit. The real matter is the occurrence (wuqūʿ) — meaning, has such an event actually happened in reality after the era of the prophets?
Without proven occurrence, possibility-based arguments remain speculative and cannot be taken as evidence.
Conclusion:
The Qur’an and Sunnah establish that bringing the dead to life was a muʿjizah (miracle) granted to specific prophets, like ʿĪsā (عليه السلام), and certain extraordinary events in fitnah times (like those involving Dajjāl). It is not an ability granted to ordinary people in general.
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – ʿAqāʾid ka Bayān, Vol. 1, p. 67
Background of the Question
A person asked a religious elder:
"Can it happen, even in today’s time, that if Allah wills, a person could bring the dead back to life by Allah’s command?"
The elder replied:
"Yes, it is possible. Just as ʿĪsā (عليه السلام) used to bring the dead to life by Allah’s command, similarly, near the end of times, a kāfir (Dajjāl) will also bring the dead back to life. So, if a disbeliever like Dajjāl can be given such an ability, why can’t a pious servant of Allah be granted the same?"
Sharʿi Response
One should present the following questions to such elders:
❀ If someone uses the example of ʿĪsā (عليه السلام) to claim that he too can bring the dead back to life — would that not imply he is claiming to be a prophet?
❀ If someone uses the example of Dajjāl to justify such a claim — would that not imply he is Dajjāl himself?
Core Point
Merely discussing the possibility (imkān) is of no real benefit. The real matter is the occurrence (wuqūʿ) — meaning, has such an event actually happened in reality after the era of the prophets?
Without proven occurrence, possibility-based arguments remain speculative and cannot be taken as evidence.
Conclusion:The Qur’an and Sunnah establish that bringing the dead to life was a muʿjizah (miracle) granted to specific prophets, like ʿĪsā (عليه السلام), and certain extraordinary events in fitnah times (like those involving Dajjāl). It is not an ability granted to ordinary people in general.
