Some people say that Prophet Mohammed, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had not died and the proof they give is that his wives did not marry after him. Please clarify this issue on the basis of the Quran and Sunnah.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The death and burial of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, constitute a well-known issue. Thus, whoever denies such an issue is without a doubt denying a decisive consensus of opinion among Muslims from the first generation till now. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die and verily, they (too) will die.}[Quran 39:30] Qataadah commented on this verse, saying, “This verse announced the death of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and announced the death of each and every soul.”

As for those who deduce that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is still alive based on the fact that his wives did not marry after him, this deduction indicates their great ignorance.

The wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not remarry after his death because of the Divine prohibition. Allaah, the Great and Almighty, prohibited the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to remarry since they are the Mothers of the Believers. How can one marry his mother?

This prohibition singles out and honors the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and gives us an indication of his high rank. This is also one of the exclusive attributes of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allaah Knows best.