What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: [During al-’Isrā’ wal-Mi‘rāj] is the Hadīth regarding Sayyidunā Mūsā , upon whom be peace, praying Salāh in their grave Sahīh? I heard that it was actually his soul that was praying Salāh and not Sayyidunā Mūsā, upon whom be peace, himself in person; is this correct?
Questioner: Khiyam from UK
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
Yes, this is a Sahīh Hadīth, and it is a Hadīth of Sahīh Muslim that when the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ ascended, he ﷺ saw Sayyidunā Mūsā, upon whom be peace, near the red dune valley, that he, upon whom be peace, was praying salāh in his grave, just as it is narrated by Sayyidunā Anas, may Allāh ﷻ be pleased with him,
“أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: “أَتَيْتُ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ هَدَّابٍ مَرَرْتُ عَلَى مُوسَى لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي عِنْدَ الْكَثِيبِ الْأَحْمَرِ، وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي قَبْرِهِ“
“The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ stated that, ‘I happened to pass by Mūsā on the occasion of the Night of Ascension near the red mound (and found him) praying his salāh in his grave.’”
[Sahīh Muslim, Hadīth no 2375]
Imām Muslim has mentioned this Hadīth repeatedly. Other than this, this Hadīth is mentioned in Nasā’ī Sharīf with a Sahīh sanad [strong chain of narration].
“أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:أَتَيْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عِنْدَ الْكَثِيبِ الْأَحْمَرِ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي قَبْرِهِ”
“The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, ‘On the night on which I was taken [i.e. on the Night of Ascension (al-Isrā’)], I came to Mūsā, peace be upon him, at the red dune, and he was standing, praying in his grave.’”
[Sunan Nasā’ī, Hadīth no 1631]
Also, it is mentioned in Hadīth that Sayyidunā Mūsā, upon whom be peace, was physically present whilst praying salāh in his grave. Saying that only his soul was praying salāh and not himself in person is in direct contradiction to the Hadīth and requires proof. Directly contradicting Hadīth like so from one’s own self is only the act of a deviant.
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali
