In the Grave

The questioning in the grave

Whilst the deceased can hear the footsteps of his companions at his gravesite during his burial and then disappear into the distance as everyone departs from the cemetery, two black and blue angels (named Munkar and Nakeer), severe in interrogation, come to question the person. These angels have voices that rumble like thunder, and eyes that flash like lightning and they have fangs that are capable of tearing the earth asunder. They make the person sit up in the grave and then they ask him/her some questions.


 For the believer....

If the deceased died believing in Allah the following takes place:

"The two angels ask the person: 'Who is your Lord?' He replies: 'My Lord is Allah. They ask: 'What is your religion?' and he replies: 'My religion is Islam'. They ask again: 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He replies: 'He is Allah's messenger'. They ask: 'What is your knowledge?' He replies: 'I read the book of Allah, believed in it and declared it to be true.'

Then it will be said by Allah: 'My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out carpets from Paradise for him, cloth him from Paradise, and open a gate for him into Paradise'.

Then some of its joy and fragrance come to him, his grave is made spacious for him as far as he can see. A man with a glorious face, beautiful garments and sweet perfume comes to him and says: 'Rejoice in what pleases you for this is your day which you have been promised! Rejoice at Allah's pleasure and His Paradise, whose joys and delights never end.'

The person in the grave asks: 'Who are you, for your appearance brings goodness? The man replies: 'I represent your good deeds; by Allah I have always known you to be quick in obedience to Allah and slow to His disobedience.'

Then a door to Hell is opened for him and he says, 'This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in your Lord, but because you believed, this is your place.' Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he wants to go there, but the angel says to him, 'Calm down,' and his grave is made wide and spacious for him."

When he sees what awaits him in Paradise he says: 'O Allah, bring the hour (i.e. the Day of Resurrection), so that I may return to my family and property'. Therein in it is said to him 'Rest in Allah's tranquility'"

(from a collection of Hadith)

The believer will wish for the Day of Resurrection to be hastened so that s/he may enter Paradise and enjoy its blessings.

In summary, the pious believer is given the following in the grave:

  • Clothes from Paradise

  • A grave furnished from Paradise

  • A gate to Paradise is opened for him/her, and its breeze reaches him/her and s/he smells its fragrance and feels delight in what s/he can see of its blessings

  • The grave is made wide and spacious

  • S/he is given the glad tidings of Allah's pleasure and Paradise and therefore longs for the Hour to begin

  • S/he will be happy when s/he sees what would have been his/her place in Hell, which Allah has replaced for him/her with a place in Paradise

  • S/he will sleep the sleep of a bridegroom (because s/he will be so happy and comfortable)

  • The grave will be illuminated for him/her

For the disbeliever....

If the deceased person died disbelieving in Allah (or is a hypocrite or disobedient Muslim) then the following takes place:

"The two angels ask the person: 'Who is your Lord?' He replies: 'My Lord? Oh, oh, I do not know'. They ask: 'What is your religion?' and he replies: 'My religion! Oh, oh, I do not know'.

They then ask: 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' (The disbeliever does not seem to understand who they are talking about so they say:) "Muhammad'. He replies: 'Oh, oh, I do not know, I heard the people saying talking about him.' The angel says, 'You did not know, you did not read (the Qur'an), you did not follow those who knew and you were not guided.' Then it will be said: 'He has lied, so spread out carpets from Hellfire for him, and open a gate for him into Hellfire.'

Then a gate to Hell is opened for him so some of its heat and poison come to him, his grave is made narrower and narrower for him until his ribcage is crushed by the force.

A man with a horrifying face, ugly garments and an offensive odour comes to him and says: 'Tidings of evil to you, be grieved with what displeases you for this is your day which you have been promised'. The disbeliever says 'And you, too; may Allah give you evil tidings! Who are you, for your appearance brings evil?' The man replies: 'I represent your wicked deeds. By Allah I have always known you to be slow in obedience to Allah and quick in disobedience to Him. May Allah reward you with evil!'

Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and the man says, 'This would have been your position if you had believed in your Lord. But because you disbelieved, Allah has replaced it for you with this.'  Then a door to the fire is opened for him, beddings of the fire are spread for him, where upon he cries "Lord, do not establish the hour!'"

Then one who is deaf, dumb and blind and is carrying an iron rod (hammer) is sent to the deceased. The hammer is such that if a mountain were struck with it, it would turn the mountain to dust. He strikes the deceased a blow with the hammer between his ears and he turns to dust. Allah returns the deceased to his original form, whereupon he is struck a second time. This causes him to scream a scream which is heard by all of Allah's creation apart from the two races (of mankind and the jinn)." Some of the people said, "O Messenger of Allah, there is no one who would have an angel standing by him holding a hammer but he would dumbfounded." (The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) then recited the following verse: "Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm." (Qur'an 14:27)).

(collection of Hadith)

The unbeliever will wish for nothing more than to delay the Day of Resurrection so that s/he does not enter Hell and suffer the punishment and torment therein.

In summary, the torment of the grave for the disbeliever (or the hypocrite or the disobedient Muslim) will vary according to what sins s/he has committed but may include some or all of the following:

  • The grave is furnished with furnishings from Hell

  • S/he is clothed in fire

  • A door to Hell is opened for him/her

  • S/he is struck with a great hammer which, if a mountain were to be struck with it, it would turn to dust

  • S/he is given tidings of the torment in the Hereafter and will therefore will it to never come

  • S/he is swallowed up by the earth (as a punishment for dragging one's lower garment out of pride)

  • S/he tears his/her mouth with a hook to the back of the head, has the head reformed and repeats the process over and over (for telling lies so serious that they spread all over the world)

  • The head being smashed with a rock (as punishment for the person who studies the Qur'an and neither recites it nor acts upon it, and goes to sleep neglecting the obligatory prayers)

  • Being burned in a tannoor (open flame) oven or pit with no way out (for the adulterers and adulteresses)

  • Swimming in a river of blood and every time s/he comes to the shore s/he is pelted with stones and sent back into the river (as punishment for dealing with interest (riba))

  • Items stolen from the war booty will be set ablaze on the one who stole them

  • Along with physical punishment, there will also be spiritual or mental punishment from being shown Paradise and told that s/he will not enter it and seeing the Hellfire
     

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Taking the Soul

Al-Barzakh

 


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