Are prophets' body decayed in their graves?
Dear Brother / Sister,
Abu’d Darda reported:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated the following: “Recite a lot of ‘salawat’ (a prayer in which God is asked to bless the Prophet Muhammad and his descendants) on Fridays. The salawat recited that day are witnessed; angels witness them. Whoever recites a salawat for me, I am informed of it before its recitation finishes.”
Thereupon, I said: “Even after you have died?”
“Yes, he said, even after I have died. For this reason, Allah, the All-Mighty forbade the earth to decay the bodies of the prophets. The Prophets of Allah are always alive, and they are blessed with sustenance.” (see Abu Dawud, salat, 207; Nasai, Jumua 5, 45; Ibn Majah, Janaiz 65; Ahmad b. Hanbal, IV, 8)
After explaining the virtues of the day of Friday, Hazrat Prophet (pbuh) advised his Ummah (Community) to recite a lot of salawat on that day in order that they could benefit from those virtues. And he said that these salawat would be reported to him. Thereupon, sahabas (the Companions of Our Prophet) found that information strange when they first heard it and they asked Our Prophet (pbuh) how these salawat would be reported to him “after decaying and disappearing,”.
Hazrat Prophet (pbuh) answered the question that his Companions asked in surprise as follows:
“The earth is unable to decay the bodies of the prophets.”
So, this shows that prophets are alive in their graves. Certainly, this is an exceptional occasion which is within Allah’s power. And Hazrat Prophet reported it as mentioned above. Therefore, the believers believe it so. As it is narrated with an assumption proof, denying it does not necessitate kufr (unbelief) but denying it does not gain a person anything and deprives him from many things. (see al-Manhal, IV, 186-187; Sunan-i Abu Dawud Tarjama and Sharh, Shamil Publications, 4/126-127)
Questions on Islam
- Do the bodies of prophets decay after they die?
- There are hadiths stating that the dead bodies of the prophets will not decay. Can you clarify this issue for us?
- Will you give information about the importance of saying salawat for the Prophet? Why are hands wiped over the face after saying salawat when the name of the Prophet is mentioned?
- Will you give information about the importance of saying salawat for the Prophet? Why are hands wiped over the face after saying salawat when the name of the Prophet is mentioned?
- Is it haram to cremate the dead body in Islam? Where will the spirit of the dead person be if his body is cremated and its ashes fly away?
- Are the salawat we read in prayer (salah) regarded as salawat read normally? How many times a day should we utter salawat in order to act in accordance with the following statement of the Prophet "Utter salawat for me a lot!"?
- Can a Muslim recite Allah's names in public by using stone prayer beads? Isn't it a Bid'ah
- Did the Prophet himself read Salli and Barik supplications in prayer?
- Will you give information about salawat with a hundred thousand or a hundred million effects?
- Will you explain the hadith, "May his nose soil with dust in whose presence mention is made of me and he does not supplicate (utter salawat) for me!"? What is the importance of uttering salawat?
