A Superstition that must be rejected

I was informed of what the newspaper Ukaz published in issue number 5977 that came out on Monday, the 24th of Thul- Hijjah, 1402 AH, on page 20. The article was taken from the paper As-Siyasat Al-Kuwaitiyyah (The Kuwaiti Politics), from a man called Muhammad Al-Misri, who claims that he passed out unconscious on a Wednesday. He was presumed to be dead, so he was buried on Wednesday. He was brought out of his grave on Friday and he mentioned what he saw of amazing and strange things. Due to the fact that this story is circulating among some of the people and it is believed to be true, I thought that people should be made aware of its falsehood and that it is a superstition that should not be spread by an intelligent person. Rather, it is an absolute lie that was fabricated by someone who calls himself Muhammad Al-Misri or someone else, for some despicable reasons that have caused him to do so. It is well known that whoever hears the speech of his family, the doctor and the people accompanying his funeral procession, will be recognizably alive. This will be clear to the doctor and anyone other than him from those who look at him and examine him. Then, how can he have passed out unconscious and at the same time he perceived and remembered everything that went on around him? It is also known that the Sunnah of Allâh with His servants is that whoever is placed in a sealed off, tight place, will not live for this length of time. It is also well known religiously that the two angels of the grave do not come to the living person if he is placed in the grave. They only come to the deceased. Allah knows the living and the deceased and He is the One Who sends the two angels to the deceased to question him. Then, this lying man described the two angels in a way that implies that they are two men and not two angels. Also, the angels do not inform the deceased about his good deeds and bad deeds. They only ask him about his Lord, his religion and his Prophet. If he responds with the correct answer, he will be rewarded with pleasure, and if he answers with doubt, he will be tormented.

Then, what he mentioned after that of strange sights is only intended to help spread his falsehood. He intended by it to incite the people into thinking that he is from those who are successful so that they would be kind to him and help him with whatever he requests of them or they will be affectionate towards him without any request. He intended to gain popularity among the people so that he would be requested to come to every place and be questioned about what he saw and so that he could get whatever he wanted. From his ignorance is his statement: "And coincidence willed that my family should come to visit my grave." Statements like this are not permissible. What is correct for one to say is, "And Allâh willed", because coincidence does not have any will. In conclusion, this story is a fabricated lie that is baseless in regard to its authenticity. This is clear from the context of the story and what occurred in it. It is not befitting for our papers or any newspaper that have any self-respect to publish the likes of these superstitions. We ask Allâh to cleanse our newspapers and the newspapers of the Muslims from every falsehood, and that He suppress the deceivers and schemers, and disgrace them. May He keep the Muslims safe from the evil of these people and grant all the Muslims success in understanding His religion and being firm upon it. Verily, Glorified is He and the Best One to beseech. May Allâh send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

Source:
Ash-Shaykh Abdul-'Aziz bin 'Abdullah bin Baz General President
For the Administrations of Scientific Researches, Religious Verdicts, Preaching and Guidance
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 3 Pages 141-142