6.6) The presence of Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in many places at the same time 

As for the claim that Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) cannot make himself Haazir (Present) in many places simultaneously we ask you to carefully read the following :

Moulvi Ashraf 'Ali Thanwi writes, "Muhammad al-Hazrami Majzoob was a possessor of amazing qualities and miracles. Once, he performed Jummah and gave Khutbah in 30 cities at the same time. He could be present in many cities in the same night". (Jamalul Awliya, Page 188, Maktaba Islamia, Lahore)

So it is seen that Moulvi Ashraf 'Ali Thanwi makes reference to the above incident thereby accepting the fact that it is possible to be present in many place at the same time. Muhammad al-Hazrami was the servant of Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). So one can imagine what is the status of the blessed soul of Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) if his servant could achieve all this.

Khwaja Azeezul Hassan has written a book by the name of Ashraful Sawaneh in three volumes on the occurrences of Ashraf Ali Thanawi's life which has been published by Khangah Imdadiya Thana Bhoon District Muzaffarnagar. He has copied a very peculiar incident of Thanawi Sahib in his book. He writes :

“After a long period of time a merchant narrated personally to me of his incident that, though as seen, Hadhrat (Ashraf Ali Thanawi) is sitting here yet who knows where he is at this very moment. Because, once despite Hadhrat being in Thana Bhoon I saw him in Alighar where there was an exhibition and was in heavy flames. I also hada shop in that exhibition. On the day when it was going to catch on fire, that very day against my usual habits there was a feeling of fear in my heart from the time of Asr. The effect of which was that despite it being a busy period for business I took all the fittings and merchandise of my shop before time and began packing them into boxes. After Maghrib when there was chaos and confusion of the fire breaking up, then as usual being alone and the boxes being rather heavy I became alarmed that Oh God ! How am I to take these boxes out from the shop. Meanwhile what I saw was suddenly Hadhrat appeared and going to each and every box and said me to quickly pick them up. Accordingly he lifted on one side and I on the other side. In a short while each and every box was placed outside. The other merchants lost heavily from this fire, but with God's blessings all my goods were saved.
On hearing this incident I (meaning the author of the book) asked him that you did not question Hadhrat as to how he is here ? At that moment I was not in my right frame of mind to ask, and was engrossed in my own problems." (Ashrafus Sawaneh, Volume 3, Page 71)

Concerning the questioning (of the dead person) in the grave, the third question that will be asked by the Angels of the grave is, "Ma kunta taqulu fi haqqi hazar rajul" (meaning : "What did you have to say about this person?" (i.e. the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)). When this question is asked the veil is removed from the dead person's eyes so that he can see the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) who will be present (Haazir) in the grave. (Mishkaat Shareef, Bukhaari Kitaabul Janaaiz, Hadith 422) 

From this Hadith we learn that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is seen by the dead in person and not in some sort of mental thought, because the word "rajul" that is used in the question, in Arabic grammar refers to a real person made of flesh and bones.

So it is established that every person that dies sees the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in his grave in person. Now, at any given time thousands of people around the world are buried and all these people see the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) at the same time and are asked the same question. 

This is ample proof that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) by the grace of Allah Ta'ala can present himself in many places at the same time. All the 'Ulama of Ahl as-Sunna agree with this, and the following comment regarding this issue is the fatwa of Ahmad ibn Hajar al-Haitami (rahmat allahi alaih), which is written on the ninth page of the second volume of Fatawa al-kubra: 

Question : "Does a person, when he commends his soul, see Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)? It is said that, when he (Rasoolullah)is seen, he (the person) is asked what he (the person) would say about this person (ie. Rasoolullah). 'This person' is used for the person who is at his presence. Many people die at the same time. Since the words 'this person' are used for all of them (dead people), it is understood that he (Rasoollullah) is seen at many places at the same time. How can this happen?"

Answer: "It is true that Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is seen by everybody who is about to die, and he (the dead person) is asked, 'What did you have to say about this person?' This shows the Supremacy of Allahu Ta'ala's Power. The word 'this' is used for pointing to the person who is at his presence (i.e. Rasoolullah). This word is the answer to the person who does not believe that Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) can be seen in various ways at various places at the same moment. In fact, this can be believed through intellect, also: adh-dhat ash-Sharif (honorable person) of his becomes like a mirror, and everybody sees the image of his own beauty or ugliness in this mirror. There takes place no change in the beauty of the mirror. The life in grave and that in the Hereafter do not resemble to worldly life. Each person has a single figure in the world. It has been witnessed many times that Awliya' have taken various figures in this world, also. It is famous that Kadeeb al-ban Hasan al-Musuli and others have been seen as such." 

Imam Mullah 'Ali Qari states that, Imam Ghazaali (rahmat allahi 'alaih) has said,"When you go into a mosque then say Salaam to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) because the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is present (Haazir) in mosques." (Naseemu Riaz Sharah Shifa in the end of third Vol) 

Now, consider how many mosques there are throughout the world and the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is present in all of them!

Qadhi 'Iyad (rahmat allahi 'alaih), the eminent scholar of the Ahl as-Sunnah, in his book Shifa, writes, "Whenever there is nobody present in the home and you enter the home recite, 'Assalaamu 'Alaika Ayyuhannabi Warahmatullah Wa Barakatahoo'". Meaning, "Peace be upon you 'Oh' Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) of Allah and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you." (Shifa Shareef)

Substantiating the above, the great Islamic scholar, Mulla 'Ali Qari (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in his Sharh Shifa writes, "The reason is that the Holy Prophet's (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) soul is HAAZIR (present) in every Muslim home".

Sayyid Ahmad al-Hamawi (rahmat allahi 'alaih), noted in his book, Nafakhaat al-qurb wa 'l-ittisaal bi-ithbaati 't-tasarrufi li awliyaa'i'llaahi ta'aalaa wa 'l-karaamati ba'd al-intiqaal that the Ruhaniyya (spirituality) ofAwliya (saints) was more powerful than their Jismanniyah (physical existence), and they therefore could be seen in different places at the same moment. He quoted the following Hadith Shareef as a document for his words : "There are people who will enter Paradise through every gate. Each gate will call them to itself," upon which Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq (radi allahu 'anhu)asked, "Will there be anyone to enter through all the eight gates, Oh Rasoolullah?" and Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) answered, "I hope you will be one of them."

One can appear in different places at the same moment when his soul aquires the power of having connection with his original position in 'aalam ul-amr. Since the soul's interest in the world decreases when a man dies, his soul becomes more powerful. It becomes easier for him to appear in different places at the same moment.

7) SOME OTHER OBJECTIONS RAISED BY THOSE AGAINST THE RECITATION OF SALAWAT AND SALAAM

- a -

Some people quote the Hadith Shareef in which the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "Those who visit my grave and recite Durood I can hear them and those who recite Durood from far away their Durood is brought to me". 

Using this Hadith as a basis of proof they say that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) does not hear the voice from far away but the Durood is brought to him and if he could hear the Durood of the person far away then what would be the need for the Durood to be brought to him ?

Answer: Where in this Hadith does it say that he (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) does not hear the Durood from far away? The real meaning of this Hadith is this, that we hear the Durood of the close by and not only do we hear the Durood of the one far away but we make it approach us and be heard.

"We hear the Durood of the loved ones and make sure that those who are not the loved ones, their Durood still reaches us".

Imam Tibraani (rahmat allahi 'alaih) has recorded this Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Abu Darda (radi allahu 'anhu) :

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said: "Increase your recitation of Durood on me on Friday because on this day Angels present themselves to me. There is no servant of Allah who recites Salutations upon me, except that HIS VOICE REACHES ME from wherever he is". The Companions asked even after your departure ? "He replied, Yes after my departure too, because Allah has made it Haraam upon the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets". (Jila-ul Ifhaam, by Ibn Qayyim)

- b -

It was declared in a Hadith, "When a person greets me, Allahu Ta'ala sends my soul to my body and I hear his greeting." Some people quoting this Hadith say that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is not alive since his soul returns to his body only when he is greeted.

Answer: The 'Ulama have given various answers to people who use this Hadith to try to imply that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is dead and that he comes alive only when someone sends Salaam. Imam Jalaal'uddeen as-Suyuti (rahmat allahi 'alaih) listed 17 of these explanations. In the book Anba' al-adhkiya' fi hayat il-anbiya' he said that "radda" means "'ala al-dawam", i.e. permanently, and not temporarily: in other words, Allah does not return the soul and take it back, then return it again and then take it back again, but He has returned it to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) permanently, and the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is alive permanently, not intermittently as some ignorant people have suggested.

Another explanation of this Hadith is that Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is in the ecstacy of seeing Jamaal-Allah (Allah's beauty) and forgetful of his bodily senses. Such situations are not scarce in this world, either. One does not hear what people say to one when one is in a deep thought of worldly or heavenly affairs. Can someone who is in ecstacy of contemplatingJamaal of Allah hear any sound ?

The above explanations are very much confirmed even if the Hadith is taken literally, since there are always people at prayer (Salaah) in the world during the entire twenty-four hour cycle, and sending Salawat on the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is part of Salaah, therefore people are constantly and permanently invoking blessings and greetings on the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) without stop in the world. This shows that the Hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) on the return of his soul takes into consideration the continuity of prayer (Salaah) concomitant with the revolving five times of prayer around the world, and that indeed he is alive in permanence, since Allah has entitled him to return every single Salaam that is made to him.

- c -

Some people say that it is wrong to send Salaam to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in the form of a Na'at (Verses in Praise of the Prophet ).

Answer: Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) had amongst his Ashaab, poets who used to refute the slanders of the enemies and eulogize (praise) Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) liked the poetry of Hassan ibn Thabit (radi allahu'anhu) the most. He offered the Mimbar to Hassan (radi allahu 'anhu), who would censure the enemies and praise Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) on the Mimbar. Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) on hearing the poetry of Hassan (radi allahu 'anhu) prayed, "Allahumma ayyidhu bi rooh hil Qudus !" (meaning : Oh Allah let the holy ghost (Jibra'il) be his helper (in recitation) !) (Mishkaat)

Furthermore, when Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) made Hijra and entered Madina, the people sang out, 
tala`a al-badru `alaynamin thaniyyat al-wada`
wajaba al-shukru `alaynama da`a lillahi da`

'Ulama from time immemorial have been writing and reciting Na'at and Qasa'id in Praise of Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in a variety of languages. Moulvi Ashraf 'Ali Thanwi, Moulvi Qaasim Nanotwi and many other scholars of Deoband have done so also.

- d -

Another false and baseless accusation is that those that practise Qiyaam claim that it is Fardh to practice Qiyaam.

Answer : No one has ever said that the act of Qiyaam is Fardh. A'la Hadhrat, Imam-i-Ahl as-Sunnat, Mawlana Ahmad Raza Khan (rahmat allahi 'alaih) writes, "Qiyaam is consistently practised by famous Imams. None of them refuted or denied this. Therefore, it is Mustahab (recommended)". (Iqaamatul Qiyaamah, Page 19, Noori Qutub Khana)

- e -

Some people say that it is wrong to send Salawat and Salaam because those who read Salaam, put a chair in the gathering and say that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is sitting on the chair whilst the Salaam is being read.

Answer:The curse of Allah is on those liars ! No true Muslim has ever done such a thing. Certain groups in the community go out of their way to spread confusion and falsehood amongst the people and more specifically, the youth. They have concocted such silly rumours (which are only indicative of their minds and hearts) in order to instill suspicion and hatred in the hearts of some of the youth against those who practice Salawat and Salaam (Salaami). Such rumours are started because these people are unable to provide any proof from the Shari'ah that forbids Salaami. So what happens is that, when they are questioned as to the permissibility of reading Salaami etc., (by the youth) they can not provide any evidence, so they make up such evil rumours.

Many of the youth don't know why they were told not to send Blessings and Salutations on the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). This is because they were brainwashed by their local 'aalim/ ameer/ relatives/ friends not to do it, and not to ask why they should not do it.Many of the youth live in areas away from major city centres where they have never been exposed to Salawat and Salaam, Mawlid etc. but have only been lied to and brainwashed by silly rumours initiated by those who are not scholarly enough to present any authoritative evidence in refutation of it. Many youth come from country townsto workand to study in tertiary institutions. So when they enter a mosque or a Jamaa'at Khana at the University or in the area that they are boarding, and if Salaam is recited, they rush out of the musjid as if a grave sin is being committed. Then, (like their elders) start to initiate silly rumours and theories as to why Blessings and Salutations should not be sent to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam).

May Allah Ta’ala guide us on Siraatul Mustaqeem and instill in our hearts the true love for Taajidare Madina, Muhammadur Rasoolullah (sallalaahu alaihi wasallam). Aameen.