Is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) alive now? Did he ever die? Many people say that he never died and he is alive now.

Question: Is the Prophet (ﷺ) alive now? Did he ever die? Many people say that he never died and he is alive now.

Answer: Our noble Prophet (ﷺ) is alive in his grave, living the life of the Barzakh (i.e., the life between this world and the Hereafter), where he is enjoying the ease and comfort which Allāh has prepared for him as a fitting reward for that which he earned in the life of this world. But his soul is not returned to him in the manner it was when he was in the world and nor in the manner as it will be on the Day of Resurrection. Rather, it is the life of the Barzakh, the life of the grave, which is in between the life of this world and the life of the Hereafter. And everyone will go through these stages. Based upon this, it is clear that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) died, just as the Prophets before him died. The exception being ʿĪsā Ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), Jesus the son of Mary, who was raised up to the heavens and will descend at the end of time, after which he too will die. Allāh (ﷻ) said, “And We never granted immortality to any human before you (O Muhammad). Then if you are to die, would they live forever?!” (Al-Anbiyā’: 34). He also stated, “Whatsoever is on earth will perish. And the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever.” (Ar-Rahmān: 26-27). Allāh informed the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) in a clear verse of the Qur’ān, “Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die and verily, they too will die.” (Az-Zumar: 30). And there are many other similar verses in the Qur’ān which prove that Allāh (ﷻ) brought death to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Companions (Allah be pleased with them) washed his body and prayed over him and buried him. Had they considered him to be alive, as in the life of this world, they would not have buried him in the ground. And just to seal this discussion, when Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) died, his closest friend, Companion and successor, Abu Bakr As-Siddīq (Allah be pleased with him) entered and kissed the Messenger’s (ﷺ) forehead and said, “May my mother and father be your ransom! You were good in life and in death.” And he then said, “He who worshipped Muhammad, then know that Muhammad has died. But he who worships Allāh, then Allāh is above the heavens, He lives and does not die.” (Ad-Dārimī in As-Sunan)