Part 8

person, whom no one awakens except the member of his family who is dearest to him.”

The rest of the | He sleeps until | He sleeps like a | 5,6

abode in alAllah raises him | bitten person, Barzakh: from his resting | and his

Where the soul | His soul is (No + stays until the turned into a information.) Day of bird that eats Resurrection: from the trees

of Jannah. L Showing him He is shown his place in Jannah, * his future abode | and is told, “This will be your morning and place when Allah raises you on the

evening: Day of Resurrection.”

Related Texts CONTINUAL EXPOSITION TO THE FUTURE POSITION Allah (88) says: EV (OSI Sai 5058 Ok

Tbn ‘Umar (#) said that Allah’s Messenger (4) said:

<When one of you dies, he is shown his (future) position morning and evening. If he is from the people of Jannah, (he is shown his place) in Jannah, and if he is from the people of the Fire, (he is shown his place) in the Fire; and each is told, “This will be your place when Allah raises you on the Day of Resurrection.”> * ;

SCREAMS OF AGONY Ibn Mas‘tid (#) said that Allah’s Messenger (4) said: <Verily, the dead are punished in their graves, and

even the animals hear their screaming. *

2 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

3 Recorded by Abi Nu‘aym and at-Tabarani in al-Kabir; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami‘ no. 1965).

Zayd Bin Thabit () reported that Allah’s Messenger (88) said:

DARKNESS IN THE GRAVE

Abi Hurayrah and Anas (:) reported that Allah’s Messenger (4%)

‘Indeed, these graves engulf their dwellers with darkness; and verily Allah illuminates them (for the believers) because of my salah (supplication) for ‘them. ?

EATING FROM THE TREES OF JANNAH Ka’b Bin Malik narrated that Allah’s Messenger (&8) said:

| Muslim and Ahmad.

2 Muslim and others.

CHAPTER 7 THE PROPHETS AND THE MARTYRS

The prophets, the martyrs, and the most righteous believers have a special well-earned status in the hereafter. This applies to al-Barzakh as well. The prophets’ bodies are preserved from decay, and they live a special type of life in which they continuously pray to their Lord (3). The martyrs’ souls are with the other believers’ souls in Jannah, but their souls are within green birds, and they are closer to Allah, being immediately under the Throne.

Preservation of the Prophets’ Bodies

The earth does not consume the bodies of the Prophets. Aws Bin Aws (5) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (&) said:

<Indeed, among the best of all of your days is the day of Jumu‘ah (Friday). On such a day, Adam was created, he died, on it the blow (of the Sur or trumpet of the Doom's Hour) will be sounded, and on it is the great shock (when all those on earth will die following the blow of the Sar); so say in plenty your salah upon me on Friday, for indeed your salah will be presented to me. Indeed, Allah has prohibited the earth from eating up the bodies of prophets. '

1 Recorded by Ahmad, Abi Dawid and others; verified to be authentic by al-Albant (Sahih ul-Jami‘ no. 2212).

The Prophets' Life in Their Graves

The Prophets live and pray in their graves. However, their life is not the life of this world, but is a life from al-Barzakh. What distinguishes it from the life of the other believers is that the latter sleep in their graves, whereas the prophets are granted the ability and merit to continue to pray even after death. Anas Bin Malik (5) reported that Allah’s Messenger (2) said:

<The prophets are alive in their graves; and they are praying (therein).> |

Anas (4%) also reported that the Messenger (48) said:

Some scholars, such as al-Manawi, believe that this hadith refers to the original linguistic meaning of the prayer, “It means that he was making du‘@, praising Allah, and mentioning Him.” * Others, such as al-Qurtubi, believe that it refers to the actual shart (legislated) prayer.

Allah (88) appoints an angel at the grave of Allah’s Messenger (88) to inform him, by name, of each one who says the salah upon him. Abi Bakr (<8) reported that Allah’s Messenger (#) said:

1 Recorded by Abi Y‘ala, al-Bazzar and others; verified to be authentic by al-Albant (Sahih ul-Jami’ no. 2790).

Isr@: The Prophet's (@) miraculous night trip from Makkah to Jerusalem. Muslim and others.

Life in Al-Barzakh 51 The Prophets and the Martyrs

<Say the salah upon me frequently, because Allah has appointed for me an angel who stays by my grave. Whenever one of my Ummah (Nation or followers) says the salah upon me, that angel says to me, “OO Muhammad, such and such person said the salah upon you at this moment.”> '

Also, Abii Mas‘tid al-Ansgari (<8) reported that the Messenger (4) also said:

<Say the salah upon me plentifully on al-Jumu‘ah (Friday), for no one says the salah upon me on Friday but his salah is presented to me. ”

Malik Bin Sa‘sa‘ah narrated that Allah’s Messenger () described to the sahabah his Night Journey (al-Isr@ and al-Mi'raj) as follows:

<While I was lying at al-Hatim *, someone suddenly came to me and cut my body open from here to here * and took out my heart. A gold washbow!l full of Iman (faith) was then brought to me. My heart was washed with Zamzam’s water and filled with Iman; it was then returned to its original place. Before me was brought an animal smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey, white in color, called al-Buragq. (It travels so fast that) it places its footstep

1 Recorded by ad-Daylami; verified to be hasan by al-Albant (Sahih ul-Jami‘ no.

2 Recorded by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqj; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami’ no. 1208).

3. The wall of al-Ka‘bah nearest to the black stone. It is so called because people crowd around it.

4 From his throat to his navel.

at the end of its eyesight. I was carried on it, and Jibril led me till he reached the lowest heaven.

When he requested admission, he was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.’” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” The gate was opened. When I entered, I saw Adam (8). Jibril said, “This is your father, Adam; so give him salam (greeting with peace).” I gave him salam. He returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous Prophet and righteous son.”

Jibril then ascended with me until we reached the second heaven. He requested admission, and was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” The gate was opened. When I entered, I saw Yahya (John) and Isa (Jesus), who are cousins. Jibril said, “These are Yahya and ‘Isa; give them salam.” I gave them salam. They returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous brother and righteous prophet.”

Jibril then ascended with me to the third heaven. He requested admission, and was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.’”’ It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” The gate was opened. When I entered I saw Yisuf. Jibril said, “This is Yasuf; give him salam.” I gave him salam. He returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous brother and_ righteous prophet.”

Jibril then ascended with me to the fourth heaven. He requested admission, and was asked,

Life in Al-Barzakh 53 The Prophets and the Martyrs

“Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.”’ It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” The gate was opened. When I entered, I saw Idris. Jibril said, “This is Idris; give him salam.” I gave him salam. He returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous brother and righteous prophet.”

Jibril then ascended with me to the fifth heaven. He requested admission, and was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.”” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” When I entered I saw Haran (Aaron). Jibril said, “This is Haran; give him salam.” I gave him salam. He returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous brother and righteous prophet.”

Jibril then ascended with me to the sixth heaven. He requested admission, and was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” He was asked, “Who accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was then said, “He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” When I entered I saw Misa (Moses). Jibril said, “This is Misa; give him salam.” I gave him salam. He returned my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous brother and righteous prophet.” After I passed on, he began crying; he was asked, “What makes you cry?” He said, “I am crying because a young man, sent after me (with the Message from Allah), has followers who will enter Jannah in greater numbers than my followers.”