Fatwa ID: 05276

 

Answered by: Mufti Eunus Ali

 

Question

 

Assalamu Alaikum.

Does the Qur’an, and Sunnah say anything about the Prophets being questioned on the Day of Judgement even though they were infallible, and are guaranteed Jannah?

If so, then by extension will our Prophet (SAW) also be asked in the court of Allah?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer

 

In regards to the Prophets of Allah being questioned about their personal needs, there is a difference of opinion between the scholars.

 

Allah has stated:

So, We shall ask those to whom the messengers were sent, and We shall ask the messengers. (Surah Al Araf:6)

 

Commenting on the above both Imam Qurtubi and Imam Ibn Kathir have stated the questioning of the messengers in the above verse is referred to being questioned about conveying the message they were tasked with and not referring to the questioning of accountability.[1]

 

Furthermore, this is supported by the Hadith narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Noah will be brought (before Allah) on the Day of Resurrection, and will be asked, ‘Did you convey the message of Allah?” He will reply, ‘Yes, O Lord.’ And then Noah’s nation will be asked, ‘Did he (Noah) convey Allah’s message to you?’ They will reply, ‘No warner came to us.’ Then Noah will be asked, ‘Who are your witnesses?’ He will reply: ‘(My witnesses are) Muhammad and his followers.’ Thereupon you (Muslims) will be brought and you will bear witness.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited: ‘And thus We have made of you (Muslims) a just and the best nation, that you might be a witness over the nations, and the Apostle a witness over you.’ (2.143)[2]

 

 

The scholars have stated that all the Messengers of Allah will be posed the same question as Nuh (peace be upon Him) will be asked.[3]

 

Imam Qurtubi has authored a book titled At-Tazhkirah Fi Ahwalil Mautawa Umuril Aakhirah (The remainder of the circumstances of the deceased and the affairs of the Hereafter) in which he has dedicated a whole section about the questioning of the Prophets of Allah.

 

He has mentioned a number of Ahadith and incidents dedicated to the accountability of the Prophets, however, none of them has discussed the accountability of their personal actions and deeds.[4]

 

On the other hand, there are some scholars who have stated that the Prophets will be questioned just as any other person would be due to the general nature of the above verse.[5]

 

Conclusion: there is no one unanimous opinion in regards to this issue however it appears that the majority of the scholars are more inclined towards the first opinion.

 

 

Only Allah knows best

Written by Mufti Eunus Ali

Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

[1]Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Volume 2, Page 251, Darul Hadith

Tafseer Qurtubi, Volume 4, Page 144, Darul Hadith

 

[2] Saheeh Al Bukhari: 7349

 

[3]Mirqatul Mafatih, Volume 10, Page 210, Al Maktabah Ar Rasheediyyah

 

[4] At-Tazhkirah Fi Ahwalil Mautawa Umuril Aakhirah, Page 250-254, Darul Hadith

 

[5] Tafseer ArRaazi, Volume 14, Page 25, Darul Fikr