Reference: Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat ash-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn Baaz – Volume 9, Page 31
Question: What is the correct opinion about the stories narrated from one of the famous Soofee leaders, as-Sayyid Ahmad ar-Rifaa’ee, which say that he visited al-Masjid an-Nabawee (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Madeenah and made du’aa at his grave, and the Messenger (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) reached his hand out to him and he kissed it?
This is a widespread belief among the followers of his tareeqah (sect) and it is a belief they hold firmly, even though he lived in the 6th century AH. How true is this story?
Response: This is false[hood] and has no basis of truth, because the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) died as decreed by Allaah and as Allaah said:
According to a Saheeh hadeeth, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
And he (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
And he (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
And there are many ahaadeeth which say similar things, but it is not narrated anywhere that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that he would shake hands with anybody. This indicates that this story is false. Even if we were to assume that it is true, then it could be that that was a Shaytaan (devil) who shook hands with him in order to deceive him and lead him and others astray. What all Muslims have to do is to fear Allaah and to adhere to His Sharee’ah, which is contained in His Book and in the Sunnah of His trustworthy Messenger, and to beware of anything that goes against that.
May Allaah reform the Muslims and grant them understanding of His religion and cause them to adhere to His Sharee’ah, for He is the Most Generous.
