Is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with his body on earth or in the sky?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, it is reported in a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he met the prophets in the sky in the hadith of the Night Journey...
The Shaykh : the Ascension.
The questioner : The hadith of the Ascension, and this was after their deaths (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon them). So do we say...
The Shaykh : except for 'Isa.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : except for 'Isa.
The questioner : except for 'Isa
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : So do we say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), after his death, is in the sky now because of his status (peace and blessings be upon him), since some scholars consider the hadith to be weak? What is your opinion?
The Shaykh : Our view is that we should stand firm in matters of the unseen on what has come in the text and not investigate further. This is delving too deep and being overly strict. Investigating matters of the unseen is a mistake, a great mistake. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) met the prophets in the heavens, greeted them, and they returned his greeting. They welcomed him, and he also prayed with them in the Sacred Mosque. He informed us that Allah forbade the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets. So we stand on this. As for the body of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no doubt that it is on earth, as are the bodies of the prophets. As for their souls, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said regarding the martyrs that they are alive with their Lord, receiving sustenance, and the prophets are better than the martyrs. But even so, we remain silent as Allah and His Messenger remained silent. Beware in matters of the unseen of trying to go ahead, even by one step, of what has come in the text, neither in this matter nor in the names and attributes of Allah, for the slip is great. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were more eager for knowledge than we are, and they had with them one who was more knowledgeable than us, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet they did not ask about such matters. You are concerned with what pertains to you: What must I believe? What must I do regarding purity, prayer, zakah, and the like?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : If we want to be at peace?
The Shaykh : I do not find peace in this. I have not found more peace than standing on what has come in matters of the unseen and not investigating beyond it. Yes. No, here, here.
The Shaykh : the Ascension.
The questioner : The hadith of the Ascension, and this was after their deaths (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon them). So do we say...
The Shaykh : except for 'Isa.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : except for 'Isa.
The questioner : except for 'Isa
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : So do we say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), after his death, is in the sky now because of his status (peace and blessings be upon him), since some scholars consider the hadith
that the earth was forbidden to consume the bodies of the prophets
أنّ الأرض حرّمت أن تأكل أجساد الأنبياءThe Shaykh : Our view is that we should stand firm in matters of the unseen on what has come in the text and not investigate further. This is delving too deep and being overly strict. Investigating matters of the unseen is a mistake, a great mistake. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) met the prophets in the heavens, greeted them, and they returned his greeting. They welcomed him, and he also prayed with them in the Sacred Mosque. He informed us that Allah forbade the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets. So we stand on this. As for the body of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no doubt that it is on earth, as are the bodies of the prophets. As for their souls, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said regarding the martyrs that they are alive with their Lord, receiving sustenance, and the prophets are better than the martyrs. But even so, we remain silent as Allah and His Messenger remained silent. Beware in matters of the unseen of trying to go ahead, even by one step, of what has come in the text, neither in this matter nor in the names and attributes of Allah, for the slip is great. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were more eager for knowledge than we are, and they had with them one who was more knowledgeable than us, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet they did not ask about such matters. You are concerned with what pertains to you: What must I believe? What must I do regarding purity, prayer, zakah, and the like?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : If we want to be at peace?
The Shaykh : I do not find peace in this. I have not found more peace than standing on what has come in matters of the unseen and not investigating beyond it. Yes. No, here, here.