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Did the Prophet die?

I don’t know his sources on the above statements on the institution of the five daily prayers in Islam. There is nothing in the authentic sources of Islam to warrant them; as such, they are purely subjective, if not hallucinations.

Imam Malik has cautioned us against relying on spurious and dubious narrations. In other words, it is important for us to rely on well- established precedents and teachings in regards to ritual matters. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I have left you on a highway broad and definite; whoever leaves it and takes to side streets, will only perish.”

 

As stated by Imam Ibn al-Mubarak and others, ‘Isnad is integral to religion; otherwise, everyone would end up making up his or her religion.”

 

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In other words, to attribute something to religion without evidence from the sources is a grave sin. Imam Ibn al-Qayyim considers it as akin to associating partners with Allah.

 

As for the alleged statement that the Prophet did not die, it is even more heretical; it is at once repugnant to reason, revelation and Muslim consensus:  Allah says: “The fact is you are going to die, and they too are going to die. Then you will, on the day of resurrection, debate in the presence of your Lord.” (Az-Zumar 39: 30-31)

 

And the Qur’an reiterates the fact that the Prophet like all other prophets before him is a mortal and that no human being has been destined to live eternally in the material world: “But we never granted immortality to any human before you; so if you die, will others then be immortals?” (Al-Anbiya’  21:34)

 

As we learn from the sources, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, some of the eminent companions like `Umar denied the fact. And it was Abu Bakr who after ascertaining the fact of his death, addressed the congregation saying: “Whoever has been worshipping Muhammad let him know that Muhammad is dead; but whoever has been worshipping Allah, let him know that Allah is Ever-Living and will never die.” He then recited the following verse: “AND MUHAMMAD is only an apostle; all the [other] apostles have passed away before him: if, then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels?  But he that turns about on his heels can in no wise harm God – whereas God will requite all who are grateful [to Him].” (Aal `Imran 3:144)

 

And the Prophet’s death and funeral are also well documented in the sources. The companions prayed his Janazah individually: As Imam Shafi`i states: “Each one of them did pray individually without any imam. The reason because of the high status of the Prophet (peace be upon him) they wanted to preempt any feeling of competition or rivalry…”

 

It is the narrative accepted by Muslims. If anyone says otherwise, he is simply hallucinating and making up things. That is why our eminent scholars warned us against getting carried away by unsubstantiated stories based on hearsay and wishful thinking.

Thursday, Jan. 01, 1970 | 00:00 - 00:00 GMT

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