Hadith: "Prophets are alive in their graves, praying" Is Jesus included?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وصلى الله على نبيه الكريم

According to a Hadith narrated by sayyidina Anas bin Malik (radi Allahu anhu) the most holy Prophet (sall Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

الأَنْبِيَاءُ أَحْيَاءٌ فِي ‌قُبُورِهِمْ يُصَلُّونَ

“The Prophets are alive in their graves, praying” (Musnad al-Bazar, v.13, p.299, #6888; Musnad Abi Ya’la, v.6, p.148, #3425)

The authenticity of this Hadith is hotly contested. Nevertheless, if we assume the Hadith is sound, it is actually a proof that the Messiah Jesus, who was among the Prophets, was not raised alive to Heaven in his earthly body but like all the other Prophets is buried in a grave.

The reality of the life of the Prophets in their graves is a spiritual life in the Hereafter, and not in this worldly realm. The term ‘grave’ here refers to the dimension known as Barzakh, an intermediary state which the soul enters after death but before the Resurrection. It is comparable to the Biblical concept of Sheol.