Aqeedah 101

Full Name: Syeed Farhad REZA

Second Assignment

Question:

Many Muslims use the verse "and do not say of those who are slayed in Allah's path that they are dead, rather they are alive but you perceive not," (2:154) as proof that the Awliya of Allah are alive in their graves and can hear and help us. Research this issue and refute this claim by clarifying the authentic interpretation of this verse and the correct belief on this issue. (1200-1500 words). Answer:
In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful. According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, online version, the following was given as an authentic interpretation of the verse 154 of Suratul Baqarah: (The souls of the martyrs are inside green birds and move about in Paradise wherever they wish. Then, they take refuge in lamps that are hanging under the Throne (of Allah). Your Lord looked at them and asked them, `What do you wish for' they said, `what more could we wish for while You have favoured us with what You have not favoured any other of your creation' He repeated the question again. When they realize that they will be asked (until they answer), they said, `We wish that You send us back to the earthly life, so that we fight in Your cause until we are killed in Your cause again,' (because of what they enjoy of the rewards of martyrdom). The Lord then said, `I have written that they will not be returned to it (earthly life) again.) Imam Ahmad reported that `Abdur-Rahman bin Ka`b bin Malik narrated from his father that Allah's Messenger said: (The believer's soul is a bird that feeds on the trees of Paradise until Allah sends it back to its body when the person is resurrected.) This Hadith includes all the believers in its general meaning. Thus, the fact that the Qur'an mentions the martyrs in particular in the above Ayah serves to honour, glorify and favour them (although the other believers share the rewards they enjoy). www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=280 The above verse refers to a life of Barzakh, very little is known to us, except by of Prophetic narrations. Allah says in the Quran: That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier (Barzakh) until the Day they are resurrected. (Al-Muminoon 23:100). This is a special life, the nature of which is known to Allaah. It is not like the life of this world in which the soul remains with the body. The basic principle concerning the dead is that they do not hear us; Allaah says: Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs retreating. an-Naml 27:80 Allah also says: "Surely you cannot make those in the graves hear" Faatir 35:22

The above verses carry general meaning, then, there are some specific exemptions from this general rule: The dead hear the footsteps of those at their burial walking away. These specific exemptions have been authentically reported by the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). It was narrated that Ibn Umar (RA) said: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) stood over the well of Badr [into which the bodies of the polytheists had been thrown] and said, Have you found the promise of your Lord to be true? Then he said, They can hear what I am saying now. (Narrated by alBukhari, 3980; Muslim, 932). It was narrated that Abu Talhah said: Umar said, O Messenger of Allaah, why are you speaking to bodies that have no souls? The Messenger of Allaah (sas) said: By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, you do not hear what I am saying any better than they do. Qutaadah said: Allaah brought them back to life so that they could hear what he was saying, so that they might be rebuked and feel regret and shame. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 3976; Muslim, 2875. See Fath al-Baari, 7/304). www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/10547/Dead%20can%20hear%20us

Some people feel some apparent contradiction, but this is a principle called "'Aamm and khaass". The general rule has been stated by Allaah in His Book, and VERY specific cases were exempted from that generality. There are those who refer to the verses in Al-Araf as below and claim that the dead can hear us and evidences are in the Quran: There are others who refer to the verses in Al-Araf 7:77 -79, referring to Prophet Salih (AS) speaking to the dead after their destruction by Allah Almighty and also in verses in 7:90-93 in the case of Prophet Shuaib (AS) speaking to his community after their destruction. However, we note other verses, as below, in the same Chapter, Allah relates the story of Musa (AS) when some of his community were caused to die as punishment and Allah make them living again. Some were transformed to monkeys, as punishment. These are specific verses about specific incidences from which we take heed of warnings for what happens to disobedience and nothing whatsoever to do with the ability of the dead hearing us. On the contrary, Allah azza wa jal has made it VERY clear in Surah an-Naml 27:80 that the dead CANNOT hear us, just like the deaf cannot hear us. And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on. (2:55). Then We (Allah) revived you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful. (Al-Baqarah 2:56). And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the Sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised." (Al-Baqarah 2:65). It is not the Prophets (PBUH all), nor the Companions (RA), nor any pious people, saints etc who can help anyone answering their prayers or ask Allah through them. They do not have the ability to help the living. It is only Allah azza wa jal who can help and respond to peoples prayers and wants He wills. We do not know the heart of an individual, no matter how pious he/she seemed to have been. It is only within Allahs Knowledge, Knower of All. Allah has favoured some over others (man over women in responsibility; Prophets one over another (pbuh all), men over men, wealthy over not wealthy etc) as mentioned in various verses in the Quran (Fundamentals of Tawheed, pdf, pages 171-173). It is the sea of Taqwa in the heart (piety, fear of Allah, being conscious of Allah at all times) that Allah honours from amongst the mankind and Jinn (ibid, page 174), as clearly stated in the Holy Quran: O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Al-Hujurat 49:13).

And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. (Al-Ghafir 40:60). "The Messenger of Allah said: (And your Lord said: "Call upon Me, I will answer you. Verily, those who scorn My worship they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!''). This was also recorded by the Sunan compilers; AtTirmdhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Jarir with a different chain of narration. Allah's saying: (Verily, those who scorn My worship) means, `those who are too proud to call on Me and single Me out,' (The proud will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection like ants in the image of people, and everything will be stepping on them, humiliating them, until they enter a prison in Hell called Bulas. They will be fed flames of fire, and given for drink a paste of insanity dripping from the people the Fire.)'' http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2138&Itemid=96. In conclusion, it can be stated very emphatically that the dead cannot hear the living people in a general sense, except for the specific rules as described above, including those incidences where Allah caused the dead to hear the Prophets. There is no evidence found here that the dead continues to hear. There are no general rules at all about the dead hearing us, nor can they help us. Prophets and martyrs are alive in the Barzakh in the way known to Allah only, but for us they are dead, but their examples, advice and guidance continue to benefit us. Allah says in Surah Az-Zumar Indeed, you (Muhammad (pbuh) are to die, and indeed, they are to die. (39:30) and the verse continues from 31 to 35 with the warning the Fire for those who choose not to follow him (pbuh) and good news for the Muhsinin, who choose to follow the Prophet (pbuh). Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (Al'An`m 6:162). And Allah knows best. Word count: 1444.