Proof for the Prophet being alive in the grave, what is Imam Bukhari's/Muslim's maslak?

Q: 331 : Proof for the Prophet being alive in the grave, what is Imam Bukhari's/Muslim's maslak?

Question

Asalamualaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatu 1)I told My Friend That Prophet Saw is Alive in his grave. My Friend Wants The Proof From Quran & Authentic For The Nabi Sallalahu Alahi wasalam Being Alive in his Blessed Grave.Please Provide The Proof From Quran & Authentic hadees. Jazak Allahu Khairan Kaseeran. 2)I heard that Imam Bukhari ra & Imam Muslim ra are the Muqallid & Followers Of Imam Shafi ra. Is this is true.....If true please explain with the proof. Jazak Allahu Khairan Kaseeran

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salamu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.

1) 1) The bodies of the Prophets are preserved and remain intact in the grave. This is mentioned by the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam himself and is authentically proven. The Prophets are also alive in their graves.

We do not know the reality and exact nature of the life of the Prophets alayhis sal?m in their graves. However, it is mentioned in the Hadith that when a person comes to visit the Prophet Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam and greets Rasulullah Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam, he (Rasulullah) hears the greeting and also replies to the greeting. When a person sends greetings to Rasulullah Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam from far, the angels carry that Salams and convey it to Rasulullah Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam.

For further details (proof) please refer to the link below prepared by Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib:

http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/alive.htm

2) 2) Imam Muslim was not an Maliki nor a Hanafi nor a Shafi. Compilation of the Sahih Muslim shows that he was more inclined towards the Shafi School of thought.

Various scholars have different opinion about Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah alayh's mazhab, some are mentioned hereunder:

1) 1) According to ibn Taimiyyah (R.A), Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh was a mujtahid and an independent Imam.

2) 2) Allama Taqiu'ddeen Subki has regarded him as a Shafii because he was the student of Humaidi, who was a Shafi. This conclusion is not correct because then Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh should be regarded as a Hanafi in view of Ishaq ibn Rahway, Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh's Teacher, being a student of Abdullah Ibn Mubarak Rahmatulllah 'alayh and Abdullah Ibn Mubarak Rahmatulllah 'alayh was a Hanafi.

3) 3) Ibn Qayym (R.A.) says Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh, Muslim and Abu Dawood were strong followers of Imam Ahmed ibn Hambal.

After studing and closely looking at Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh, pone will realize that Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh did not follow any one Imam, he has his independent views on many issues, therefore Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri (R.A.) and Sheikh Zakaria(R.A.) have the same view as that of Allamah Taimiyyah that Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh is a mujtahid.

Muhaddise-Kabir Wa Sheikh-u- Ulama Hadhrat Moulana Fazlur Rahman Sahib D?mat Barakatuhum, Shaikul Hadith of Darul Uloom Azaadville is of the opinion that Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh's Usools (fundamental principles) are not known, it is difficult to regard him as an independent Imm and mujtahid.

Hadhrat Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib's view is that not knowing the Usool of any Imam is not the criteria to disqualify him from being a mujtahid, just as there were many other mujtahids other than the famous and commonly known four Imams. Their Usool are not known, but they were mujtahids or else it would mean that there were only four mujtahids in this Ummat. Yes, one may say that since the Usools of Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh are not known, he cannot be followed, just as we cannot follow for eg. Sufyan Sawri, Sufyan Uyaina, etc.[3]

And Allah Taa'la Knows Best

Imam Bukhari Rahmatulllah 'alayh and his famous Al-Jamius Sahih written by Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib, hereunder is the link to the book:

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http://www.msapubli.com/affiliated/Html/categories/Jamiatul_ulama/bukhari.html

And Allah Ta’?la Knows Best

Mawlana Ali bin Cassim

Student Darul Iftaa

Los Angeles, CA (USA)

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai