The Dead and Knowledge of Earthly Affairs

There exist a number of traditions and athar (narrations traced to the companions or their followers) which indicate that the dead person’s soul is brought news of worldly affairs and even the minutest details of other’s lives. However, all of these are weak and invalid. The following is an example of such:

It has been related that Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “My life is good for you and my death is also, for your deeds are shown to me. Whatever I see of good [deeds], I praise Allah for that, and whatever I see of evil[deeds], I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you.”[1] And in a narration traced back to Anas: “Your deeds are displayed for me every Thursday.”[2]

Both of these narrations regarding the Prophet himself (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) are rejectable.[3] The first one was transmitted by weak chains of narrators, while the second one contains a transmitter who is known to have forged traditions.[4] Furthermore, the meaning of these texts conflicts with other texts of the divine Shari’ah and contradicts sound reasoning. There are a number of authentically related traditions whose texts clearly stipulate that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) has no knowledge of the condition and circumstances of his followers after his death. Among these are the narrations regarding the Prophet’s pond (hawdh) such as the following:

“Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) related: “I heard Allaah’s messenger say, ‘I will be at the pond, looking at those of you who come to me. Then, by Allaah, some men will be removed from me, whereupon I will say, “O my Lord, they are from my Ummah.” But He will say, “Verily, you do not know what they did after you: they continued backsliding, turning back on their heels.”[5]

If the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) had been shown the deeds of his followers, it would not have been said to him in the preceding hadeeth, ‘Verily, you do no know what they did after you.”  In conclusion, it is obvious that the faculties of the dead regarding earthly affairs during the period of the barzakh are very limited.

Source: Mysteries of the Soul Expounded, p. 101-104, by Abu Bilal Mustafa al-Kanandi (may Allah have mercy on him)

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[1] Related by al-Bazzar with a weak sanad

[2] A forged tradition related by Abu Tahir al-Mukhlis. See al-Albani’s Silsilat al-Ahadith adh-Dha’eefah, vol. 2, hadith no. 975

[3] Another rejectable narration is what has been related from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) that he said: ‘Anyone who passes by the grave of his fellow believer [whom he knew in this world] and pronounces the peace greeting upon him will be recognized by the deceased, and his greeting will be returned.’ Silsilat al-Ahadith adh-Dha’eefah, hadith no. 4493

[4] See Silsilat al-Ahadith adh-Dha’eefah, vol. 2, p. 407

[5] Related by Muslim