Let’s listen to some faith-refreshing parables of our pious predecessors      رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی about their blessed journeys to Madinah Munawwarah and be privileged to acquire Madani pearls out of their beautiful travel experiences.

Belief of a blessed companion of the Prophet

Marwaan, the ruler, was going somewhere in the period of his rule and somebody placed his forehead on the blessed grave of the Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Marwaan said, ‘What are you doing? Don’t you know what you are doing?’ When that person turned to him, Marwaan realised that it was Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said,   ‘I have not come to a stone.’ I have come to the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, I have heard the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying: Do not weep for the Deen if the qualified people were in control, but weep for it if it was under the charge of unqualified ones.’

(Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadees 23646)

Dear Islamic brothers! We have learnt from the abovementioned parable that the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم had a deep devotion towards the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and they had always carried this belief that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is alive in his blessed grave, it is for this reason that Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ gave a clear reply that he has not approached any stone which is lifeless, which can neither listen nor speak rather he has approached the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who is alive even today in his blessed grave with remarkable powers and granting privileges; so, we should remain firm in the faith that not only the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم but also all the blessed Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام are alive in their blessed graves.

The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘اَلۡاَنۡبِيَاءُ اَحۡيَاءٌ فِي قُبُوۡرِهِمۡ يُصَلُّوۡنَ’ i.e. the Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام are alive in their graves and offer Salah.

(Musnad Abi Ya’la, vol. 3, pp. 216, Hadees 3412)