Can we see the Prophet (pboh)?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We often say Ash-hadu anla ilaha illallaah Wa Ash-hasu anna Muhammadar Rasuulullaah; I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad (pboh) is Allah's Messenger.

In order to testify definitely that there is no God but Allah we rely upon the testimony of Prophet Muhammad (pboh), because he was taken up in the Divine Presence of Allah.  And Allah says in His Holy Words; 

There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, (3:18)

So whether we can conceptualised this fact or not we accept it because Prophet Muhammad (pboh); that one who never spoke a lie and who is the most trusted said so.  So we accept it wholeheartedly.

The next part of the declaration of faith is the testimony that Muhammad (pboh) is Allah’s last Messenger.  How can we verify this statement? 

Firstly, Allah tells us this; so we accept it.  It is also necessary for us to experience and to gain knowledge about whatever Allah tells us.  That is why He says; 

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.  3:191

What then about the finality of the Messenger?  Every Messenger who came before brought something about the messenger, but they never brought the comprehensive message.  How then can we say with certainty that Muhammad (pboh) is the last Messenger?

Allah says in Qur’an ‘take note that amongst you is the Messenger of Allah’.  And the Qur’an contains the message for all times, not just during the life of Prophet (pboh).  Some scholars interpret this ayat to mean that it is his sunnah that is with us.  They also say the recitation of Al Qur’an is another way that he is with us because he taught us its recitation.

Whilst these are all true the ayat reflects more than that.  For example he is reported to have said: “Whoever sees me in a dream actually sees me”.  What does that mean? 

In other narrations we see that when a person is being questioned in the grave he visits them while the angels are questioning the person.  Physically he is not with us but he still maintains a connection with us.

This is possible why Allah says ‘amongst you is the Messenger of Allah’ 

Understand that you don’t have to wait until the time of death comes in order for you to have vision of the Beloved Prophet (pboh).  If you purify yourself and connect to him, insha Allah you can achieve it in this realm.

May Allah bless us and enable us to connect and attach ourselves to His Beloved (pboh) in this world and the next.

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed