and this was the extent of what they had from him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on this subject. He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hears greetings from those nearby, while the angels convey to him blessings and greetings from those far away. As reported by al-Nasā’ī, he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah has angels who travel about, conveying to me the greetings of my community.”

In the Sunan collections, Aws ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Send abundant blessings upon me on Friday and the night before it, for your blessings are presented to me.”

They asked, “How will our blessings be presented to you when your body has decayed?”

He replied, “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets.”

May Allah’s blessings and abundant peace be upon him and his family.

Mālik mentioned in his Muwatta’ that ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar would come and say, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O Abū Bakr. Peace be upon you, Father.” Then he would leave. Another version states that he would do this upon returning from a journey. Ma‘mar narrated this from Nāfi‘, who reported it from Ibn ‘Umar. This was what Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, relied upon regarding what should be done at the chamber, since he had no report on the matter other than that of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both.

As for anything beyond this, such as remaining there to supplicate for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while sending abundant blessings and greetings upon him, Mālik disapproved of it and said: “It is an innovation that the early generations did not practise. Nothing will reform the latter part of this community except what reformed its first.”

As for travelling to the graves of the prophets and the righteous, this did not exist in Islam during Mālik’s time. It arose only after the first three generations—the generation of