Hazrat Khizar (علیہ السلام) is alive or dead?
According to the public scholars
Allama Nawi (رحمة الله عليه):
Khizar (علیہ السلام) is alive and has been given a long life, and he is still alive today but is hidden from the eyes of the people. And he will remain alive until the emergence of Dajjal, and he will defend Medina.
Sheikh Abu Amr bin Salah:
He has quoted the consensus of the public scholars and righteous people on the life of Khizar (علیہ السلام).
To some gentlemen:
Who has denied the life of Khizar (علیہ السلام), and they say that he has passed away like Imam Bukhari, Allama Ibn Juzi, etc.
Arguments for the death of Khizar (علیہ السلام)
1. Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala Said:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ٱلْخُلْدَ
Translation
We did not assign immortality to any human (even) before you. (21:34)
This verse proves that Khizar (علیہ السلام) will not live forever.
The Answer: The answer to this argument is that, sir! When did we say that they would not die? Instead, it means that they will live for a long time and then they will also die, so it is not correct to argue about their death.
2. Imam Bukhari (رحمة الله عليه), presented this blessed hadith about the death of Khizar (علیہ السلام).
إِنَّ رَأْسَ مِائَةٍ لاَ يَبْقَى مِمَّنْ هُوَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ
Means,
Nobody present on the surface of the earth tonight would be living after the completion of one hundred years from this night. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Answer: This is what the Prophet (ﷺ) said about those people who will be on the earth’s surface while Khizar (علیہ السلام) was in the sea.
3. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
لَوْ كَانَ مُوسَى حَيًّا مَا وَسِعَهُ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعِي
Means,
If Moses were alive, he would feel it absolutely necessary to follow me. (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Similarly, if Khizar (علیہ السلام) were alive, he would have followed the service of the Prophet (ﷺ) and obeyed him.
Answer: This blessed hadith does not prove that Khizar (علیہ السلام) has passed away because it is not necessary to come to the Prophet (ﷺ) to believe in him, but it is enough to confirm the news of the prophethood.
As the king of Abyssinia, “Najashi (Ashmah)” had accepted Islam without attending the service of the Prophet (ﷺ). Then the Prophet (ﷺ) led his funeral prayer in Madinah.
Public arguments
The public argues from these hadiths and the saints’ events that these gentlemen met Khizar (علیہ السلام).
1. Rabah bin Ubaydah says: “I saw a man walking hand in hand with Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمة الله عليه, so after knowing him, I asked Umar bin Abdul Aziz who they were. So, he said, “Have you seen them?” I said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Rabah, I consider you a good man. He was Khiazr (علیہ السلام). He gave me the good news that I would become a Wali (governor), and I will do justice.”
2. This is in Sahih Muslim
فَيَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ رَجُلٌ هُوَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ – أَوْ مِنْ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ – فَيَقُولُ لَهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ الدَّجَّالُ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدِيثَهُ
Translation,
A person who would be the best of men or one from amongst the best of men would say to him: I bear testimony to the fact that you are Dajjal about whom Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) had informed us. (Sahih Muslim)
Imam Abu Ishaq says that, “یقال أن الرجل هو خضر عليه السلام“. That is, it will be said that he is “Khizar (علیہ السلام)”.
When the Prophet (ﷺ) died, Khizar (عليه السلام) came to comfort the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
NOTE: This problem is not from the belief system of Islam, although every soul will die one day after a long life.
Therefore, it is better to be silent and pause this issue until one side is proven by experience or observation.
Allah knows best.
