Fatwa ID: 07613
Answered by: Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
Asalamualaikum.
I am not asking you whether it waswasa or not. I am asking you whether it is sinful and the level of sin. Is the human skeleton awrah or only the muscles and skin? If someone were to visit Prophet Muhammad’s grave in Medina and when he reaches al-ḥujra al-nabawiyya, he imagines the presence of a human skeleton in the grave of the prophet with his free choice so as not to confuse it with waswasa. He doesn’t intend disrespect but the fear is that many actions are disrespectful in itself. So my question is: Is it a sin to imagine the skeleton of the prophet and what level of sin is it?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Wa alaikum as salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
In Islam, the emphasis is typically on the teachings, life, and spiritual legacy of the Prophet Muhammad rather than on his physical remains after death. Allah ﷻ presented our Prophet ﷺ as a perfect role model for humankind. Thus, he lived like all human beings do, he became hurt like us and felt pain, he healed like we do and died like we will. Therefore, when visiting Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ grave in Medina at al-hujra al-nabawiyya, to imagine that what remains is a human skeleton is not sinful as such but may be deemed disrespectful and inappropriate. Although the lesson and reminder are that the same will happen to us all, it is best to repel these thoughts of the Prophets remains if they recur and focus on positive reflections and the ibadah aspect of visiting and collecting rewards.
Furthermore, there are beliefs based on ahadith that the bodies of prophets are preserved by Allah after death and do not decay like those of ordinary people. For example, a hadith from Anas Ibn Malik (ra) states:
“Prophets are alive in their graves, praying to their Lord.”
Given such beliefs, imagining decay can be seen as contradicting the revered status of prophets.
Muslims are taught to hold the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the highest regard, as he is the final messenger of Allah. Respect for him includes avoiding any thoughts or actions that could be considered disrespectful or irreverent towards his person, including speculative thoughts about his remains. It is generally more appropriate and beneficial to focus on his life, teachings, and the example he set, which are central to Islamic faith and practice.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
٣٤٢٥ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْجَهْمِ الْأَزْرَقُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُسْتَلِمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ أَحْيَاءٌ فِي قُبُورِهِمْ يُصَلُّونَ»
ص147 – كتاب مسند أبي يعلى ت حسين أسد – ثابت البناني عن أنس – المكتبة الشاملة
٣٠٨٩ – (الأنبياء أحياء في قبورهم يصلون) لأنهم كالشهداء بل أفضل والشهداء أحياء عند ربهم. وفائدة التقييد بالعندية الإشارة إلى أن حياتهم ليست بظاهرة عندنا وهي كحياة الملائكة وكذا الأنبياء ولهذا كانت الأنبياء لا تورث وقوله يصلون قيل المراد به التسبيح والذكر
(ع عن أنس) بن مالك وهو حديث صحيح
ص184 – كتاب فيض القدير – فصل في المحلى بأل من هذا الحرف أي حرف الهمزة وهو ختامه – المكتبة الشاملة
