Wednesday 6 Rabi‘ at-akhir 1446 - 9 October 2024
English

Is Prophet Muhammad Omnipresent ?

Question

The following article was published stating that the prophet’s spirit is omnipresent at all times (may allah bless him & give him peace). below is most of their article and their proofs. is what they say the truth? 
it is the contention and the belief of the ahle sunnat wal jamat that the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) is : (a). present & seeing at all times , (b). aware and witnessing the creation of allah , (c). able to be present in several places at the same time . 
" 'o' nabi (communicator of the unseen) we have sent you as a witness." (s33 v45). 2). "then how shall it be, when we bring up a witness from each nation (of each prophet) and 'o' beloved messenger we will bring you as a witness and guardian against all those." (s4 v41)
observe that the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) is being called a witness to all the nations that allah has put upon this earth. therefore, the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) must have been present before his earthly appearance and is still present after this earthly demise, otherwise he cannot be called upon as a witness in the true sense of the word. there are many other verses of the holy quran that call upon the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) to be a witness. and a witness can only be someone who is hazir & nazir.
a technical point: the following quranic verses are often quoted to show that the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) was not present and seeing before his earthly appearance : "and you('o' prophet) were not with them(present) when they cast their pens(to decide) which of them should be mary's guardian." (s3 v44)
"the prophet was not present when musa was called upon tur" (s28 v46) yes, the holy prophet(sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) was not present (physically speaking) at these .

Summary of answer

Prophet Muhammad died and was buried in his grave, hence Abu Bakr said: “Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died, but whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and will never die.”

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the best and most perfect of creation, and the most beloved to Allah and the most honoured by Him. But this does not mean that his human characteristics are to be denied , or that any of the duties of worship which are due only to Allah should be directed to him. 

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a human being who suffered from sickness and real death the same as any other human being. Allah said (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die, and verily, they (too) will die.” [Az-Zumar 39:30] 

“And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad); then if you die, would they live forever?” [Al-Anbiya’ 21:34]

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died and was buried in his grave , hence Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died, but whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and will never die.”

The fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a witness , a bringer of glad tidings and a warner, and that he will be a witness on the Day of Resurrection, does not mean that he is present among all nations, or that he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will remain alive until the Day of Resurrection, or that he sees and witnesses while he is in his grave. Witnessing does not only mean seeing. Rather he will testify against the nations by means of what Allah tells him, for he does not know the unseen. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“… and If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (Unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth…” [Al-A`raf 7:188]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) does not have the ability to be present in numerous places; he is in only one place, which is his grave, and this is according to the consensus of the Muslims.

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Source:  Shaykh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr