The punishment and the bliss of the grave

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When anyone of you dies, he is shown his place both in the morning and in the evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise; he is shown his place in it, and if he is from the people of the Hell-Fire; he is shown his place there-in. Thereupon, it will be said to him: This is your place till Allah resurrect you on the Day of Resurrection."[1]

This Hadith is one of the texts that proves the punishment and the bliss of the grave, and it is a true matter that should be believed in and prepare for it.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Then, if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarrabun (those brought near to Allah), * (There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of delights (Paradise). * And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand, * Then there is safety and peace (from the Punishment of Allah) for (you as you are from) those on the Right Hand. * But if he (the dying person) be of the denying (of the Resurrection), the erring (away from the Right Path of Islamic Monotheism), * Then for him is entertainment with boiling water. * And burning in Hell-fire. * Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty." [Surat Al Waqi`ah: 88 - 95].

Ibn Kathir said: These three are the conditions of people at dying: He either be of those who are brought nearer to Allah, or to be from the people of the right, or to be from those who deny the truth who are away from guidance and ignorant about the command of Allah.

As for His Saying: "(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of delights (Paradise)," they shall have a rest and provision, and angels shall give them glad tiding with bliss at death.[2]

Some scholars said that the torment of the grave is true and people must believe in according to Allah's Saying (may He be Exalted) about the Pharaoh's people: "The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): "Cause Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!"" [Surat Ghafir: 46].

Ibn Kathir said: Their souls shall be exposed to fire in the morning and in the evening until the Hour is established. When the Day of Recompense is established, their souls and bodies are gathered in Hell. This Ayah is the origin of Ahl-us-Sunnah's view that there is a torment in the graves.[3]

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Asma' bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No doubt, it has been inspired to me that you will be put to trial in the graves like or nearly like the trial of (Masih) Ad-Dajjal.(The angels) will come to everyone of you and will ask what do you know about this man (i.e. Muhammad (peace be upon him))?The believer or a firm believer (I do not know which word Asma' said) will reply: 'He is Muhammad, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) who came to us with clear evidences and guidance, so we accepted his teachings, believed and followed him.' Then it will be said to him: 'Sleep peacefully as we knew surely that you were a firm believer.' The hypocrite or doubtful person(I do not know which word Asma' said)will say: 'I do not know. I heard the people saying something so I said it (the same).'" [4]

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewess came to her and mentioned the punishment in the grave, saying to her: "May Allah protect you from the punishment of the grave." `A'ishah then asked Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) about the punishment of the grave. He said: "Yes,(there is) punishment in the grave." `A'ishah added: "After that I never saw Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)but seeking refuge with Allah from the punishment in the grave in every prayer he prayed."[5].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained to his nation one of the types of this affliction in the grave. Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When a human being is laid in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask him: What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad (peace be upon him)? He will say: I testify that he is Allah's slave and His Messenger. Then it will be said to him, 'Look at your place in the Hell-Fire. Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.' "The Prophet (peace be upon him) added, "The dead person will see both his places. But a non-believer or a hypocrite will say to the angels, 'I do not know, but I used to say what the people used to say! It will be said to him, 'Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).' Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings and jinns."[6]

Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Al Bara' ibn `Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter." [Surat Ibrahim: 27]. He said: It was revealed concerning the punishment of the grave. Then it will be said to him: Who is your Lord? He shall say: Allah is my Lord and Muhammad is my Messenger (may peace be upon him), and that is (what is implied) by the words of Allah, the Exalted: Allâh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allâh Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter." [Surat Ibrahim: 27].[7]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) legislated for his nation to seek forgiveness to the dead and ask Allah to make him firm. Abu Dawud reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) After the burial of a dead man, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stand by the grave and say: "Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now."[8]

The Prophet (peace be upon him)used to seek refuge frequently from the torment of the grave and commanded his Companions to do so. Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "This nation will be tested in their graves. Were it not that you would not bury one another, I would pray to Allah to make you hear the torment of the grave that I can hear." Then he turned to face us and said: "Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the Fire." They said: "We seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the Fire." He said: "Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave." They said: "We seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave."[9]

Grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him): "When `Uthman stood by a grave, he wept so much that his beard would get wet. So, it was said to him" Paradise and the Fire are also mentioned but you do not weep, yet you weep here (why)? He said: "Surely, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: 'The grave is the first stop of the several stops before the Hereafter, and deliverance from it means that after it is an easy sailing, but if one does not get deliverance from it then the following stages are more severe than it'." He also said: I have not seen a sight more frightening than the sight of the grave."[10]

No one is safe from the hug of the grave. Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, the grave has a pressure, and if anyone shall survive of it, it will be Sa`d ibn Mu`adh."[11]

An-Nasa'y reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Ibn `Umar that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said about Sa`d ibn Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him):

That was the one at whose death the Throne shook, the gates of heaven were opened of him and seventy thousand angles attended his funeral. It squeezed him once then released him."[12]

Al Shafi`y said: On the Day of Recompense there shall be no money or children.

And the squeeze of the grave makes a person forget the wedding night. Each one should imagine himself carried at the shoulders of men and placed in this tight and dark hole in which there is no company, money, or children. The grave shall become his abode, dust shall be his bed, and worms shall be his company. In such situation, money, posts, or certificates cannot avail. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. please Allâh), but only he who believes (in the Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds (will please Us); as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security." [Surat Saba': 37].

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When carried to his grave, a dead person is followed by three, two of which return (after his burial) and one remains with him: his relative, his property, and his deeds follow him; relatives and his property go back while his deeds remain with him."[13]

So, a believer should take the chance and hasten to sincere repentance, to adhere to obedience and piety, and to be ready for meeting his Lord.

I conclude with this glad tiding. Ibn Kathir said: We reported from the Musnad of Imam Ahmad a Hadith that bears a glad tiding for every believer that his soul shall travel in Paradise, eat from its fruits, feel happy, and watch the great position which Allah prepared for him. It is reported by an authentic chain of transmission and by three of four grand Imams. Imam Ahmad (may Allah be merciful with his soul) reported it from Muhammad ibn Idris Al Shafi`y (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) from Imam Malik ibn Anas Al Asbahy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) from Az-Zuhry from `Abdur-Rahman ibn Ka`b ibn Malik from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The believers soul is a bird that eats from[14] the trees of Paradise, until it will be returned to his body on the Day when he is resurrected."[15] [16].

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. May Allah send His Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions!

                   

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[1] Sahih Al Bukhari No. (1379) and Sahih Muslim No. (2866).

[2] Tafsir Ibn Kathir (13/196).

[3] Tafsir Ibn Kathir (12/193) with paraphrasing.

[4] Sahih Al Bukhari No. (1053) and Sahih Muslim No. (905).

[5] Sahih Al Bukhari No. (1372) and Sahih Muslim No. (584).

[6] Sahih Al Bukhari No. (1338) and Sahih Muslim No. (2870) in brief.

[7] Sahih Muslim No. (2871).

[8] Sunan Abu Dawud No. (3221), and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud (2/620) No. 2758.

[9] Sahih Muslim No. (2867).

[10] Sunan At-Tirmidhy No. (2308), Al Albany graded it as authentic Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhy (2/267) No. (1878).

[11] Musnad (Hadith compilation of) Imam Ahmad (4/327) No. (24283), the verifiers of Hadith said: An authentic Hadith.

[12] Has been previously attributed to its sources.

[13] Sahih Al Bukhari No. (6514) and Sahih Muslim No. (2960).

[14] eats.

[15] Musnad (Hadith compilation of) Imam Ahmad (25/58). The verifiers said: Its chain of transmission is authentic from Imam Al Shafi`y upwards according to the conditions of Al Bukhari and Muslim.

[16] Tafsir Ibn Kathir (3/263).