The burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad is a topic of interest for many Muslims. There are differing accounts of where Muhammad was buried after his death in 632 CE. The most widely accepted location is within Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in the city of Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia. However, some accounts suggest Muhammad may have been buried in Mecca.
Accounts Supporting Burial in Medina
The predominant account among both classical and contemporary Islamic sources is that Muhammad was buried in Medina, in the house of his wife Aisha that adjoined the mosque he established there. Some details from accounts supporting burial in Medina:
- Muhammad fell ill in 632 CE and after several days died in the presence of his wife Aisha in her house in Medina on June 8. His close companion Abu Bakr led the funeral prayer after his death.
- Muhammad was buried in Aisha’s house, in the exact spot where he died, which was an area that already served as a small cemetery for the Muslim community of Medina.
- A grave was dug and Muhammad’s body was bathed and wrapped in linen according to tradition before being placed in the grave and covered.
- The gravesite was kept relatively unadorned, as per Muhammad’s wishes to avoid idolatry of his grave.
Later a structure was built over the gravesite, which was expanded and renovated over the centuries into the massive and ornate Green Dome structure that stands today as part of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. Muhammad’s tomb lies at the center of this structure, next to the graves of his early successors Abu Bakr and Umar.
Accounts of Burial in Mecca
While the Medina burial has strong support, some classical Islamic narrations suggest Muhammad may have been transported to and buried in Mecca after his death:
- A hadith (narrative of Muhammad’s deeds and sayings) collected in Sahih Bukhari states that Muhammad said prophets are to be buried where they die, yet also wanted to be buried in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca.
- Another hadith suggests some of Muhammad’s family and companions felt Muhammad should be buried next to his relatives in Mecca.
- Some early narrations say Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, washed Muhammad’s body in preparation for burial. Since Ali did not make it to Medina before Muhammad’s burial, some take this as evidence the body was moved to Mecca.
- A narration attributed to the early Muslim Aws ibn Symit suggests Muhammad’s body was carried on a litter between two camels to Mecca for burial near his relatives.
However, these accounts are generally considered less reliable than the direct testimony that Muhammad was buried in Aisha’s house the same day he died.
Explanations and Reconciliations
Scholars have forwarded explanations to reconcile these varying accounts surrounding Muhammad’s place of burial:
- The statement attributed to Muhammad about wanting to be buried in Mecca is interpreted as him expressing a wish, not giving final instructions.
- Transporting the body to Mecca would have taken days and been noted by many people, making it unlikely such a major event would have no clear record.
- References to Ali washing the body are possibly metaphorical, not literal. The role of washing the body was also attributed to others like his daughter Fatima.
- The early accounts were collected centuries after the events and some contain clear inconsistencies, so are considered weak evidence.
Overall, the clearest early evidence and the consensus of scholars affirms the accepted account that Muhammad died and was buried in Medina on the same day in 632 CE, where his tomb stands today.
Significance and Legacy
Beyond historical interest, the burial place carries great significance:
- Being buried next to Muhammad is considered a great honor, as evidenced by the nearby graves of Abu Bakr and Umar.
- Islamic tradition holds that prayers recited at a deceased prophet’s gravesite take on special blessings.
- His grave in Medina has become a major pilgrimage site second only to Mecca in significance for Muslims.
- The Green Dome erected over the grave is a globally recognized symbol of Islam found on everything from coins to flags.
- However, strict prohibitions are in place barring worship or prayer to Muhammad himself, which is seen as idolatry.
While early narrations suggest Muhammad’s final resting place was almost relocated to Mecca, the evidence strongly favors his burial in Medina. The site continues to draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually, reflecting its sacred status as the tomb of Islam’s final prophet.
Conclusion
Based on a critical examination of classical and contemporary accounts, the evidence strongly favors Muhammad being buried in Medina on the same day as his death in 632 CE. The gravesite was kept simple per his wishes, later becoming incorporated into the growing mosque that became Al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Varying accounts of relocation of Muhammad’s body to Mecca after his death have weak isnads (chains of transmission) and internal inconsistencies that undermine their reliability. Modern scholarly consensus accepts Medina as Muhammad’s final resting place, though his expressed wish to be buried in Mecca reflects the sanctity of that city in Islam. His tomb in Medina now stands as the second holiest site in Islam.