Death is no strange concept
even for the Messengers. All
the Messengers have died
with the exception of Eesa (alaihi
as-salaam). Allah said
concerning Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam):
“And We did not grant to any
human immortality before you
(O Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)) then if
you die, would they live for
ever.”[1]
Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam),
passed away in the house of
Aa’ishah (radhi allahu
anha). Abu Bakr (radhi
allahu anhu) uncovered the
blessed face of Allah’s
Messenger (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam), tended down,
kissed him and cried. He
then said: “May my father
and mother be sacrificed for
your sake! Verily, Allah
will not cause you to die
twice. You have just
experienced the death that
Allah had ordained.”
Then he went out and said:
“Now, he who worshiped
Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam), Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) is dead
now! But he who worships
Allah, He is Ever-Living and
He never dies. As Allah
says: “Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) is no more
than a Messenger and Indeed,
(many) Messengers have
passed away before him. If
he dies or is killed, will
you then turn back on your
heels (as disbelievers)? And
he who turns back on his
heels, not the least harm
will he do to Allah, and
Allah will give reward to
those who are grateful.”[2]
Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu)
said: “By Allah, it sounded
as if people had never heard
such a Qur’aanic verse till
Abu Bakr (radhi allahu anhu)
recited it as a reminder.
So, people started reciting
it till there was no man who
did not recite it.” Umar
(radhi allahu anhu) said:
“By Allah! As soon as I
heard Abu Bakr (radhi allahu
anhu) say it, I fell down to
the ground. I felt as if my
legs had been unable to
carry me, so I collapsed
when I heard him say it.
Only then did I realize that
Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) had really died.”[3]
Therefore, the Messengers
die and so do the righteous.
Allah says in the Qur’aan:
“Everyone shall taste
death.”[4]
Believing that the Sufi
saints do not die is giving
them a position higher than
that of the Messengers.
Besides, burying somebody
alive is a major sin. Allah
says in the Qur’aan:
“And when the female
(infant) is buried alive
shall be questioned. For
what sin was she killed?”[5]
