Question
Didn’t the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) say that his tomb would be the first to open followed by Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) who’ll be on this right and left side?
In light of that, I do not understand these narrations found in Sahih Bukhari:
Rasulullah (sallallhu ‘alayi wa sallam) stated,
‘Do not prefer me over Musa. On the Day of Rising, people will faint, and I will faint with them. I will be the first to regain consciousness, and there will be Musa grasping the Throne. I do not know whether he will be among those who fainted and came to before me, or if he was one of those that Allah exempted.'”
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said,
“Do not give me superiority over Musa, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Musa) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke.”
Answer
The Hadith commentators mention that both the narrations are correct and are referring to different occurrences.
1. The Hadith which states that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) will rise first, refers to when the trumpet will be blown to awaken the entire creation for Qiyamah.
2. The Hadith you quoted from Sahih Bukhari is referring to another occurrence which will happen after all will be resurrected.
This Hadith clearly speaks about ‘unconsciousness’ which isn’t death. Nabi Musa (‘alayhis salam) will possibly be exempted because he did fall unconscious in his lifetime when he asked to see Allah Ta’ala.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 3408)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar