The Grave (3-9)

4 - The Torment and Blessing of the Grave

(1) The ahaadeeth about the torment and blessing of the grave are mutawaatir

The commentator on At-Tahaawiyyah said: "The reports from the Messenger of Allah which confirm the torment and blessing of the grave, as a person deserves, and the questioning by the two angels, reach the level of mutawaatir.[1] So it is obligatory to accept these facts and believe in them, but we do not discuss how these things occur, because the (human) mind is not able to comprehend how they happen, for it is something which is not known in this world. Islam does not teach anything that contradicts common sense, although it may tell of things that are beyond the human imagination. When the soul returns to the body (in the grave), this does not happen in the same manner in which it happens in this world; it happens in a way that is different from what is known in this world."[2]

Elsewhere he said: "Know that the torment of the grave is the torment of Al-Barzakh. Everyone who dies and deserves punishment will receive his share of it, whether he is buried in a grave or not, whether he is eaten by wild animals or burned until he becomes ashes which are blown away by the wind, whether he is crucified, or drowned at sea. His soul and his body will experience the same torment as those who are buried in graves, and he will be made to sit up (to be questioned) and his ribs will interlock (when he is squeezed by the earth), and so on, as was narrated. It is essential to understand what the Messenger meant, without adding or taking away anything."[3]

The heretics and those Muslim scholars who adopted the philosophers' way of thinking denied the torment of the grave, and said that it is not real. They cited as evidence the fact that graves had been opened and none of the things described in the reports had been seen.[4]

It was also denied by the Khawaarij and by some of the Mu'tazilah, such as Diraar ibn 'Amr and Bishr al-Mareesi. They were opposed by all of the Ahl as-Sunnah, and by most of the Mu'tazilah.[5]

They disbelieved in something without examining the matter thoroughly. They thought that their eyes could see everything and that their ears could hear everything. Nowadays we understand mysteries of the universe which our ears and eyes are unable to hear and see. Whoever believes in Allah believes in what He tells us.

There are verses in the Qur'an which point towards the torment of the grave. Bukhari discussed the torment of the grave in Kitaab al-Janaa'iz, in which he includes a chapter entitled Baab ma jaa'a fi 'Adhaab al-Qabr, in which he quotes the aayaat:

“... And if you could but see when the Zaalimoon [polytheists and wrongdoers] are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands [saying]: 'Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation' ...” (Qur'an Surah Al-An’am, 6: 93)

“... We shall punish them twice and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great [horrible] torment.” (Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 101)

“... While an evil torment encompassed Fir'awn's [Pharaoh] 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'awn's [Pharaoh] people to enter the severest.” (Qur'an Surah Ghafir, 40: 45-46)

The first aayah which Bukhari quoted is speaking of how the angels punish the kuffaar at the moment of death, as we have discussed above. The second aayah indicates that there are two torments which will befall the munaafiqeen before the torment of the Day of Resurrection; the first is that which Allah sends upon them in this world, either as a punishment from Him or at the hands of the believers, and the second punishment is the torment of the grave. Al-Hasan said: "(This means) We shall punish them twice, the punishment in this world and the torment of the grave."[6] At-Tabari said: "It is most likely that one of these two times is the torment of the grave, and the other may be any of the things that we have mentioned previously, such as hunger, being taken prisoner, being killed, being humiliated, etc."[7]

The third aayah offers clear evidence in support of Ahl as-Sunnah who believe in the torment of the grave, for Allah states clearly that the people of Pharaoh are exposed to the Fire morning and afternoon, and this happens before the Day of Resurrection, because Allah then says, “... And on the Day when the Hour will be established [it will be said to the angels]: Cause Fir'awn's [Pharaoh] people to enter the severest torment!'” (Qur'an Surah Ghafir, 40: 46)

Al-Qurtubi said: "The majority believes that this exposure (to the Fire) takes place in Al-Barzakh. This is the evidence which confirms the torment of the grave."[8]

Further Qur'anic evidence which clearly points to the torment of the grave is to be found in the aayah,

 “Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter ...” (Qur'an Surah Ibrahim, 14:27) 

According to the hadith narrated by Al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib, the Prophet said:

"When the believer is made to sit in his grave, he testifies that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, that is (what is meant by) the aayah, ... Allah will keep firm those  who believe, with the word that stands firm.” (Qur'an Surah Ibrahim, 14: 27)

Another report adds: "(The aayah),

 “‘Allah will keep firm those who believe' ...” (Qur'an Surah Ibrahim, 14: 27) was revealed concerning the torment of the grave."[9]

'Aa'ishah narrated that a Jewish woman came to her and mentioned the torment of the grave, and said to her, "May Allah grant you refuge from the torment of the grave.' 'Aa'ishah asked the Messenger about the torment of the grave, and he said, "Yes, the torment of the grave." 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "After that I never saw the Messenger of Allah pray, but he sought refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave." Ghandar added, "The torment of the grave is real." This is narrated by Bukhari.[10]

In Muslim it is narrated that 'Aa'ishah said, "Two of the old Jewish women of Madeenah came to me and said, 'The occupants of the graves are being tormented in their graves.' I did not believe them, and I did not want to believe them. Then they left, and the Messenger of Allah came in. I said to him, 'O Messenger of Allah, two of the old Jewish women of Madeenah came to me, and they claimed that the occupants of the graves are being tormented in their graves.' He (blessings and peace be upon him) said,

'They spoke the truth, for they are tormented with a torment which the animals can hear.’

She said: "After that I never saw him pray, but he sought refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave."[11]

Because of the seriousness of the matter, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) used to teach his companions about it, and he also delivered a sermon on it. In Bukhari it is narrated that Asmaa' bint Abi Bakr "The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) stood up to deliver a khutbah. He mentioned the trial of the grave with which each person will be tested. When he mentioned that, a nervous hubbub arose among the Muslims." This is narrated by Bukhari[12] and Nasaa'i. Nasaa'i added: "I was unable to understand what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) was saying. When the hubbub died down, I asked a man who was near me, 'May Allah bless you, what did the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) say at the end?' He said: '[The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him)] said:

"It has been revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves (with a trial) that is similar to the trial of the Dajjaal."[13]  

(Continued)