Deceased Hearing The Living

QUESTION: 

Are the Marhoomeen able to hear the living people? If so, what are they able to hear?

ANSWER:

It is recorded in the Hadith:

ما مِن أحدٍ يمرُّ بقبرِ أخِيهِ المؤمنِ كانَ يعرفُه في الدُّنْيَا فيُسَلِّمُ عليهِ إلا عرفَهُ و ردَّ عليهِ السَّلام (الاستذكار 305)

“Any person that passes by the Qabr of his brother, whom he knew in the world, and greets him, then Allah Ta’ala returns the Rooh of the deceased (to him) so that he is able to respond to the Salaam.”

There are two things that are proven from this narration. The first is, the deceased has the ability of hearing (with the permission of Allah Ta’ala). The second is, the deceased being able to hear, and us making the deceased hear (our conversation), is not within our ability. If Allah Ta’ala wants them to hear, then they will hear, and if He doesn’t want them to hear, then they will not be able to hear.

Hence, it is proven from the above narration that, at the time of Salaam they are able to hear and they even respond to the Salaam. As for other times, it cannot be said with certainty that the deceased is able to hear or not. [Anwar-ul-Bayaan Pg.350 / 351 Vol.3] It is perhaps on this basis that we make Salaam to the deceased when entering the graveyard, as they are able to hear our Salaam and even respond.

However, it is recorded in Fataawa Darul Uloom Deoband that, according to the researched view of the Hanafis, the deceased are unable to hear the speech of the living. This is the view of Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha as well. This is proven from the verse:

انك لا تسمع الموتي

“Verily you cannot make the deceased hear”

(Re: – Fataawa Darul Uloom Deoband Pg.296 Vol.5)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 17 Safar 1447 / 12 August 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb