THE AWLIYA ALLAH ARE ALIVE IN THEIR GRAVES

Allah Pak says in the Quran Sharif 
“Do not even think of those who are martyred in the way of Allah as dead, BUT THEY ARE ALIVE near their lord and given provision.  They are joyous of what Allah bestowed upon them of his favour and they give good news to those who have not as yet reached them.”  (Surah Al-Imraan, Verse 170).

 As we have explained earlier that the Awliya are those who have attained nearness to Allah.  Attaining this nearness is not easy because there are certain obstacles.  One of the greatest obstacles is bringing one’s carnal desires (nafs-ul-ammarah) under control.  In this regard, the struggle with one’s carnal soul has been regarded as a Jihad-e-Akbar (Great battle), in contrast to Jihad-e-Asghar (Smaller Battle, which is fought on the actual battlefield).  This concept is derived from the popular Hadith of the Most Beloved (S.A.W.), in which he said to his companions returning from a battle:

 “You have returned from a smaller battle to a greater battle.” He was then asked by the companions, “What can be a greater battle that that we have just fought?”
 He (S.A.W.), answered, “The battle against one’s nafs.”

 Imam al-Ghazzali (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) says in Ihya al Uloom Vol. IV:

 “Death cannot destroy the soul, which is the place of Allah’s Ma’rifat, because it is something spiritual.  Death causes the change of the condition of soul, and relieves it from the prison of it’s bodily cage.  It does not end as Allah says

“Do not even think of those who are martyred in the way of Allah as dead, BUT THEY ARE ALIVE near their lord and given provision.  They are joyous of what Allah bestowed upon them of his favor and they give good news to those who have not as yet reached them.”  (Surah Al-Imraan, Verse 170).”

 One should not think that this position is acquired only by those that are
martyred on the battlefield, because every breath of an Arif (one who has
recognized his creator) is a martyr.”

 From the above quotations we can deduce that if those that fight the smaller battle are alive, then surely, without any doubt, those that fight the greater battle are ALIVE!!!

 Imam Abu Naeem (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) , in his book “Hilyaat-ul-Awliya”, narrates from Hadrat Saeed (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) , that:

 “By Allah, Hameed Taweel, and myself were burying Hadrat Thabit Nibhaani (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) .  As we were setting the final rocks, one rock accidentally fell into the grave.  As I peeped into the grave, I saw Hadrat Thabit Nibhaani (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) was about to perform salaah, and he was imploring to Allah in the following manner:

 ‘O Allah!  You have given certain of your creation the permission to perform their salaah within the grave.  Give me also this same permission.’

 It was indeed beyond the mercy of Allah to refuse him.”

 Hadrat Thabit Nibhaani (Radi Allahu ta'ala Anhu) was a Taba’ee (Ones that saw the Sahaaba after the demise of the Most Beloved Prophet S.A.W.