Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 27

(Ayah27) ➊ {يُثَبِّتُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا : } By the firm word is meant the testimony of faith and the belief in monotheism. Allah keeps the believers steadfast on Islam even in the hardest of trials and punishments in this world. Look at the people of the trench, look at those prophets and martyrs who were killed in the way of Allah, yet they did not let go of Islam. Look at how Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown into the fire, look at the hardships and difficulties that befell our Prophet (peace be upon him) and the noble companions, such as Bilal, Ammar, Yasir, Khabbab, Sumayyah, Khubaib, and others (may Allah be pleased with them). In this verse, it is said that their steadfastness on the testimony of faith is due to Allah keeping them firm; He alone instills such determination, courage, and perseverance in them that whether the circumstances are extremely difficult or the trial is of worldly comforts, in every situation they remain firmly established on the firm word (the word of Islam). The translation of {’’ يُثَبِّتُ ‘‘} is rendered as "keeps firmly established" due to the causative form.

➋ { وَ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ :} By this is meant the questioning and answering in the grave. It is narrated from Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِذَا أُقْعِدَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِيْ قَبْرِهِ أُتِيَ ثُمَّ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللّٰهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ، فَذٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُ : « يُثَبِّتُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ» ] [إبراہیم : ۲۷ ] "When a believer is made to sit in his grave, angels come to him, then he bears witness: {’’أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ‘‘} Thus, the meaning of Allah’s statement: «{ يُثَبِّتُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا }» is exactly this." [ بخاري ، الجنائز، باب ما جاء فی عذاب القبر : ۱۳۶۹ ] In the following narration in Sahih Bukhari, the words are that this verse was revealed regarding the punishment of the grave.

➌ { وَ يُضِلُّ اللّٰهُ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ:} It is narrated from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِيْ قَبْرِهِ وَتَوَلَّی عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسْمَعُ قَرْعَ نِعَالِهِمْ، أَتَاهُ مَلَكَانِ فَيُقْعِدَانِهِ فَيَقُوْلاَنِ مَا كُنْتَ تَقُوْلُ فِيْ هٰذَا الرَّجُلِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؟ فَأَمَّا الْمُؤْمِنُ فَيَقُوْلُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلُهُ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ انْظُرْ إِلٰی مَقْعَدِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ مَقْعَدًا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، فَيَرَاهُمَا جَمِيْعًا، أَنَّهُ يُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِيْ قَبْرِهِ، وَأَمَّا الْمُنَافِقُ وَالْكَافِرُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ مَا كُنْتَ تَقُوْلُ فِيْ هٰذَا الرَّجُلِ؟ فَيَقُوْلُ لاَ أَدْرِيْ، كُنْتُ أَقُوْلُ مَا يَقُوْلُهُ النَّاسُ، فَيُقَالُ لَا دَرَيْتَ وَلَا تَلَيْتَ، وَيُضْرَبُ بِمَطَارِقَ مِنْ حَدِيْدٍ ضَرْبَةً فَيَصِيْحُ صَيْحَةً يَسْمَعُهَا مَنْ يَلِيْهِ غَيْرَ الثَّقَلَيْنِ ] [ بخاري، الجنائز، باب ما جاء فی عذاب القبر : ۱۳۷۴ ] "When a servant is placed in his grave and his companions turn away and he hears the sound of their sandals, two angels come to him, they make him sit and say: 'What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad (peace be upon him)?' If he is a believer, he says: 'I bear witness that he is the servant of Allah and His Messenger.' Then it is said to him: 'Look at your place in the Fire; Allah has replaced it for you with a place in Paradise.' So he sees both of them, and his grave is made spacious for him. As for the hypocrite and the disbeliever, it is said to him: 'What did you use to say about this man (Muhammad, peace be upon him)?' He says: 'I do not know; I used to say what the people said.' Then it is said to him: 'You neither knew nor did you seek to know.' Then he is struck with iron hammers with a blow that he screams such that everything near him hears it except the two heavy creatures (jinn and mankind)."

The punishment of the grave is true. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has established it from many verses and hadiths; see Surah Bani Isra’il (20), Surah An’am (93), Surah Tawbah (101), Surah Mu’min (45, 46), and the verse under commentary. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to make this supplication: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَ مِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيْحِ الدَّجَّالِ ] [ بخاری، الجنائز، باب التعوذ من عذاب القبر : ۱۳۷۷ ] In fact, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When any of you finishes the tashahhud, he should seek refuge from four things: [اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَفِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ الْمَسِيْحِ الدَّجَّالِ ] After that, he may supplicate for whatever he wishes for himself." [ السنن الکبریٰ للنسائی : 389/1، ۳۹۰، ح : ۱۲۳۳، عن أبي ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ۔ صحیح ] For this reason, some imams have declared it obligatory to recite this supplication after tashahhud, and other supplications should be recited after it. Despite such clear verses and hadiths, many unfortunate people deny the punishment of the grave. They, insha’Allah, will soon see everything with their own eyes.

➍ {وَ يَفْعَلُ اللّٰهُ مَا يَشَآءُ :} Keeping the believers firm, depriving the wrongdoers of guidance—Allah does whatever He wills. If He had willed, He could have compelled the jinn and mankind, like all His other creation, to obey His commands, but it is His will that He has given both of them the choice of guidance or misguidance, disbelief or faith. Now, whichever way one wishes to go, Allah makes that path easy for him. See Surah Dahr (3) and Surah Lail (1 to 10).

27. 1. Its explanation is found in the hadith as follows: "After death, when a Muslim is questioned in the grave, he testifies in response that there is no deity except Allah and Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah. This is the meaning of Allah's statement, (يُثَبِّتُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا) 14. Ibrahim:27) (Sahih Bukhari). In another hadith, it is stated: 'When the servant is placed in the grave and his companions depart, and he hears the sound of their sandals, then two angels come to him, raise him up, and ask him: What do you say about this man? If he is a believer, he replies: He is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. The angels show him his place in Hell and say: Allah has replaced this for you with a place in Paradise. Thus, he sees both places, and his grave is expanded seventy cubits for him, and his grave is filled with blessings until the Day of Resurrection.' (Sahih Muslim, mentioned chapter) In one narration, he is asked: مَنْ رَبُّکَ ؟ دِیْنُکَ ؟ مَنْ نَّبِّکَ ؟ Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet? Then Allah grants him steadfastness, and he replies: رَبِّی اللّٰہُ (My Lord is Allah), وَ دِیْنِیَ الاِ سْلَامُ (My religion is Islam), وَ نَبِیِّی مُحَمَّد (And my Prophet is Muhammad ﷺ) (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

27. Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word (the pure word) in the life of this world [34] and in the Hereafter, and Allah lets the wrongdoers go astray [35]. And Allah does whatever He wills.

[34] Among the blessings of the Kalimah Tayyibah is that a believer never panics in any situation. Even in times of trials and difficulties, he keeps his trust in Allah, remains steadfast, and endures everything with perseverance. In the Hereafter, he will encounter exactly the same conditions and scenes in which he already believed. Therefore, there will be no reason for him to panic there either, and by the blessing of this Kalimah, he will remain steadfast there as well.
[35]
Questioning and Answering in the Grave:

Apart from this world and the Hereafter, there is a third stage: the realm of Barzakh or the stage of the grave. That is, when the angels will question the deceased in the grave, even then the believer will remain steadfast, as is clear from the following hadith: Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib says that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a Muslim is questioned in the grave, he will say ﴿اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَ اِلٰهَ الآَاللّٰهُ وَاَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ﴾ In this verse, ‘the firm word’ refers to this.” [بخاری، کتاب التفسیر، نیز کتاب الجنائز، باب ماجاء فی عذاب القبر مسلم، کتاب الجنۃ وصفۃ نعیمھا واھاھا۔ باب عرض مقعد المیت من الجنۃ]
And the wording of the narration in Tirmidhi is as follows: When he is asked in the grave, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet?” [ترمذي۔ كتاب التفسير]

Supplication for the Deceased After Burial:

That is why, when a believer is buried, after burial, standing by the side of his grave, this supplication is also made: ﴿اَللّٰهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ بالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ﴾ And by ‘the firm word’ is meant this Kalimah Tayyibah. And when the angels question the wrongdoer, i.e., the disbeliever and the polytheist, in the grave, he will not be able to answer anything except to say, “Alas! I do not know. I used to say only what the people used to say.” That is, whatever false and baseless beliefs those people had invented and adopted in the world, he will completely forget them, because their foundation was on falsehood and untruth. As is clear from the following ahadith:
1. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When a person is placed in his grave and his companions turn back, he certainly hears the sound of their sandals. At that time, two angels come to him, make him sit up, and say: What did you use to believe about this man, i.e., Muhammad ﷺ? If he is a believer, he says: I bear witness that he is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. Then it is said to him: Look at your place in Hell; Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it. So he will see both places together. Qatadah says: It has also been narrated to us that his grave is made spacious for him. Then, while narrating Anas’s hadith, he said: If he is a hypocrite or a disbeliever, he is asked: What did you use to say about this man? He says: I do not know; I used to say what the people used to say. It will be said to him: Neither did you understand yourself, nor did you recite yourself. Then he will be struck with iron hammers in such a way that he will scream, and everything around him except jinn and mankind will hear his scream. [بخاري، كتاب الجنائز۔ باب ماجاء فى عذاب القبر]
2. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When the deceased is placed in the grave, two angels come to him whose color is black and whose eyes are blue. One is called Munkar and the other Nakir. They say: What did you use to say about this man? If he is a believer, he says: He is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. They say: We knew you would say this. Then his grave is made seventy by seventy cubits for him, and it is illuminated for him. Then it is said to him: Sleep. He says: I will go to my family to inform them. They say: Sleep like a bridegroom whom none awakens except the dearest of his people, until Allah raises him from his resting place. If he is a hypocrite, he says (in response to the angels): I heard people saying something, so I said the same; I do not know. They say: We knew you would say this. It is said to the earth: Close in upon him. So it closes in upon him, and his ribs are crushed together. He remains in torment therein until Allah raises him from his grave. [ترمذي، بحواله مشكوة۔ كتاب الاعتصام بالكتاب والسنة۔ فصل ثاني]
3. It is narrated from Bara’ bin Azib ؓ that he narrated from the Prophet ﷺ: Two angels come to the deceased, make him sit up, and say: Who is this man who was sent among you? He says: He is the Messenger of Allah. They say: How did you come to know this? He says: I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and affirmed it as true. This is the meaning of Allah’s statement: Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word... (the verse). A caller from the heavens calls out: My servant has spoken the truth; spread out for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him with garments from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise. It is opened for him, and its breeze and fragrance come to him, and his grave is expanded as far as the eye can see. And as for the disbeliever, regarding his death, it is mentioned: Then his soul is returned to his body. Two angels come to him, make him sit up, and say: Who is your Lord? He says: Alas, alas, I do not know. They say: What is your religion? He says: Alas, alas, I do not know. They say: Who is this man who was sent among you? He says: Alas, alas, I do not know. A caller from the heavens calls out: He has lied; spread out for him a bed from the Fire and clothe him with garments from the Fire, and open for him a door to Hell. Its heat and flames come to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: His grave is constricted for him until his ribs are crushed together. Then a blind and deaf angel is appointed over him, with an iron hammer, which if struck upon a mountain would turn it to dust. He strikes him with it, and everything between the east and west except jinn and mankind hears his scream. He becomes dust, then his soul is returned to him. [احمد، ابو داؤد، بحوالہ مشکوۃ کتاب الاعتصام بالکتاب والسنۃ فصل ثانی]