Mufti Ebrahim Desai vs. Mufti Ebrahim Desai?

[JayshAllah]

As-Salam Alaykum.

Bismillah.

I am a bit confused by the Ask-Imam website. I've noticed a lot of conflicting answers (or maybe I'm just incapable of seeing the scholarly nuances in them). I will post some of these possible contradictions here, so hopefully maybe Mufti Husain can clarify and/or the corrections can be made to the site itself.

On the issue of the Prophet [s] being alive in his grave, Mufti Ebrahim Desai had formerly said:

Ambiyaa and other chosen servants of Allah are alive in their graves. However, this life is life of the Barzakh and not of this world. The level of life in the Barzakh differs with each individual, however, the level of life in the prophets (alayhis salaam) is more than that in others.’ (Imdaadul Ahkaam vol.1 pg.342)

http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=9704

But then he also said this here:

The view of the wahabi/Salafis is that Nabi sallalahu Alaihi wasallam and all the other ambiyaa as well are not alive in their grave. This view has been incorrectly attributed to the Ulama of Depband. The correct view on the topic is that the Ambiyaa and Shuhadaa are alive in their graves, in a manner like that of their lives in this world, without having to do any Ibadat etc. (Hayaatun Dunyaweeyah bilaa Takleefin). This is the unanimous belief of the Ulama of Deoband and has been mentioned in the book "AL-Muhannad alal Mufannad" (Pg. 3icon_cool.gif which clearly states the beliefs of the Ulama of deoband and which as been attested to by all the senior Ulama of deoband.

http://islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=11749

What gives?

Am I misunderstanding something?

By the way, both links are currently not working for some odd reason...

Fi Aman Allah

[Dhul-Qarnayn]

The two quotes say two different things technically. They say that this life in the grave is life of the Barzakh, and that it is like the life of this world (perhaps in that people can do some things in Barzakh which they did here... for instance, people can visit each other, or receive deeds/blessings done as Isale Thawab, etc).

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Asslamo Allaikum,

Both answers are equally valid. Their life is of Barzakh but of "higher quality" then normal Barzakhi life of Shuhuda and others.

http://www.askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.p...c5b8bf70a9f130

...Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم is physically alive. However, His life is different to this worldly life in that He is not in need of food, drink etc...

And then refers to this article.

http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/alive.htm

[JayshAllah]

Bro Muadh, please edit out my post in your quote, as I edited mine but you posted too quickly.

So can you clarify: does Mufti Sahab believe that the Prophet [s] is alive in the life of barzakh and *not* the life of this dunya?

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Bro Muadh, please edit out my post in your quote, as I edited mine but you posted too quickly.

So can you clarify: does Mufti Sahab believe that the Prophet [s] is alive in the life of barzakh and *not* the life of this dunya?

Asslamo Allailkum Brother,

Done.

There is a difference of opinion on this issue and many great Ulama like Imam Jalulud-deen Suyuti (RA) & others have opined that Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is alive in the grave physically (Not in Barzakh sense).

Mufti Ibraheem Desai (DB) & Mufti Nawalur-Rahman (DB) [Chicago] and many other Deobandi Scholars are of the opposite opinion that Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is alive in the grave in the Barzakh (and not physically).

The view of Mufti Ibraheem Desai (DB) & Mufti Nawalur-Rahman (DB) is consistent with Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (in this sense) who says:

...The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is alive in his grave in the sense of the life of al-barzakh, so he enjoys the blessings that Allaah has prepared for him as a reward for his great good actions that he did in this world...

...The life of al-barzakh is a special life. The Prophets and the shuhada’ (martyrs) are alive in al-barzakh as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Prophets are alive and they pray in their graves.” (Narrated by al-Mundhiri and al-Bayhaqi who classed it as saheeh because of corroborating reports in al-Saheehayn.)...

The view of Mufti Ibraheem Desai (DB) & Mufti Nawalur-Rahman (DB) then slightly differs with Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid because they further add degrees to "being alive" in Barzakh and the respected Shaykh doesn't (at least mention it):

http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/alive.htm

From Aayat2/253, it is proven that the martyrs are alive in their graves. Which this is established for the martyrs, then it is also established for the Anbiyaa, because;a ) This position has been bestowed on the martyrs as an honour for them. There is no doubt that there is no rank higher than the rank of the Anbiyaa and that the position of the Anbiyaa is higher and more perfect than the position of all the Shuhadaa. Therefore, it is impossible that this honour is given to the Shuhadaa and the Anbiyaa remained deprived of it, b) This position is granted to the Shuhadaa is a recompense for their Jihaad and for spending their lives in the way of Allah. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was the one who instituted this practice, who called them to this practice and guided them towards it.

Assigning a higher degree of Barazakhi life to Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is what is confusing you i.e. since the rank of Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) was higher then Martyrs in this life hence his Barzakhi status is also higher.

Mufti Taqi Usmani (DB) in one of his books states that Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) life in the grave is superior to our physical life in this world but he also never says that the life is physical!

But the simple-Salafi-type-blinkers-on-box-standard-answer would be that Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is alive in the Barzakh sense and Mufti Ibraheem Desai (DB) has consistenly maintained that.

[JayshAllah]

Wa alaykum as-salam, dear brother Muadh.

Bro, Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid says the exact same thing:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is alive in his grave in the sense of the life of al-barzakh, so he enjoys the blessings that Allaah has prepared for him as a reward for his great good actions that he did in this world....With regard to the soul of the Prophet [in Barzakh], it is in the highest part of ‘Illiyyeen, because he is the best of creation, and because Allaah has given him al-waseelah which is the highest position in Paradise. The life of al-barzakh is a special life.

And I've read another fatwa by him in which he clearly says that the souls will be on different levels in the life of barzakh.

So it is the exact same view, if what you are saying is correct.

And even still, Mufti Ebrahim (and you) decide to bash us poor Salafis! (Yes, I'm Salafi again now, hehe...my soul-searching and little fling with the ikhwani types is over, although I still love them, hehe. .)

[bugmenot]

may be on both sides there is misunderstanding and war of words only.

What about Abu bakr () when after the departure of prophet said he was dead and whoever worshipped him is no more here and whosoever worshipped God He is still there (rough meaning)?

[JayshAllah]

may be on both sides there is misunderstanding and war of words only.

What about Abu bakr () when after the departure of prophet said he was dead and whoever worshipped him is no more here and whosoever worshipped God He is still there (rough meaning)?

He [ra] was Wahhabi.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Wa alaykum as-salam, dear brother Muadh.

Bro, Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid says the exact same thing:



And I've read another fatwa by him in which he clearly says that the souls will be on different levels in the life of barzakh.

So it is the exact same view, if what you are saying is correct.

And even still, Mufti Ebrahim (and you) decide to bash us poor Salafis! (Yes, I'm Salafi again now, hehe...my soul-searching and little fling with the ikhwani types is over, although I still love them, hehe. .)

W-Salam Br,

No, Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid is not saying the same thing as Mufti Ibraheem Desai (DB) is talking about degrees of difference in the grave while Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid is talking about degrees of differences in Illiyyeen of the souls. Two different things.

I wasn't bashing you I was giving you a standard answer.

This is a highly complicated issue and anyone who sincerely researches the matter will understand why the Sufiya have said what they have said and other acts of Kashf and Karaamt about Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and Auliya-Allah (SWT).

But we can agree on a few things:

a) Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is alive in the Barzakh sense

b) It is "Shirk" to call Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) instead of Allah (SWT).

c) Durood is carried to Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) from far and he (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) doesn't have the power to hear it.

d) Anyone who makes Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) witness to a transaction (Nikah etc.) committs Shirk i.e. by saying things like I make Allah (SWT) & his Rasool (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) witness to this or that!

If Sayyidina Abu-Bakr (RA) is Wahabi then Mufti Nawalur-Rahman (DB) deobandi says things far worse than whay Sayyidina Abu-Bakr (RA) said. Listen to his Urdu Fatwa

[bugmenot]

wahhabi means plenty of things, just like salafi.