Is the Prophet alive in his grave (Hayat un-Nabi)?

It is the belief of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah that the Beloved Prophet ﷺ is alive in his grave, in a manner that his body is attached to the soul. He is nourished by Allah in his grave, he engages in the performance of Salah, and he also hears the salawat sent to him by one who stands close to his grave.

This belief is established from the Qur'an, Hadith, the statements of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, the Tabi'een, the Tab'at-Tabi'een and the pious predecessors. With respect to the evidence from the Qur'an, the scholars establish Hayat un-Nabi, the life of the Prophet ﷺ after death, from the verse which says that the martyrs are alive [Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:154], because if this is the honour for the martyrs who are ordinary believers, then to a greater extent it is established for the Prophets, who were the greatest martyrs.

Regarding the verse on the martyrs, the great scholar Imam Shawkani rahimahullah writes, "It is established from the text of the book of Allah that martyrs are alive, being nourished by Allah and that their lives are connected to their bodies. When this is so, then much more is established for the Prophets." [ash-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar 3/211]

There are many sound and authentic narrations regarding the life of the Prophets after death, as Anas bin Malik may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Beloved Prophet ﷺ said, "The Prophets are alive in their graves and are engaged in praying." [Musnad Abi Ya'la 3425]

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ said, "I passed by Musa peace be upon him at the red hilltop on the night of Mi'raj and I saw him performing Salah in his grave." [Sahih Muslim 2375]

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ said, "Certainly Allah has made it Haram (unlawful) upon the earth (to destroy) the bodies of the Prophets." [Sunan Abi Dawud]

Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "Whoever visits my grave after my death, it is as he has visited me in my life." [at-Tabarani 12/406]

In Al-Qaulul Badee, it is mentioned, "We believe and testify as the truth that the Prophet ﷺ is alive in his grave. And upon this there is Ijma." Mulla Ali Qaari rahimahullah has written in his Al Mirqaat, which is the commentary of Mishkaat, "Certainly the Prophets are alive in their graves and this is Ijma."

There are many other statements, written by the great scholars to prove the consensus, which conform to the above-mentioned belief of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah. Hence, all the scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah have recorded Ijma, consensus, on this belief.