This article concerns the third stage of human life’s journey, the grave or the realm of Barzakh. Human life consists of four phases: life in the mother’s womb, life in this world, life in the grave, and the eternal life of the Hereafter. Whatever a person earns in this world, its first practical consequence appears in the grave. This is why the grave is the first and a very important stage of the destinations of the Hereafter. In this article, we will discuss the reality of the grave, its severity, the questions in the grave, blessings and torment therein, as well as the deeds that lead to salvation from the torment of the grave, as established by the Quran and authentic Hadith.
The Grave: The First Destination of the Hereafter
The journey of the Hereafter begins with death, and immediately after death, the first destination is the grave. This is the stage whose very thought causes the hair of a true believer to stand on end.
Hazrat Usman bin Affan رضي الله عنه‘s servant Hani narrates that when Hazrat Usman رضي الله عنه would stand at the grave, he would weep so much that his blessed beard would become wet. Someone asked him, “You do not weep as much upon hearing about Paradise and Hell, so why do you weep so much when looking at the grave?” He replied that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
(( إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الْآخِرَۃِ، فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْہُ أَحَدٌ فَمَا بَعْدَہُ أَیْسَرُ مِنْہُ، وَإِنْ لَّمْ یَنْجُ مِنْہُ فَمَا بَعْدَہُ أَشَدُّ مِنْہُ ))
Translation:
“Indeed, the grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. If a person is saved in it, then the subsequent stages will be easier, and if he is not saved in it, then the later stages will be more severe.”
The Grave Pressing the Deceased (Dammat al-Qabr)
After burial, the grave presses the deceased, no matter how righteous and pious the deceased may be.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about Hazrat Saad bin Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him):
(( ہٰذَا الَّذِیْ تَحَرَّکَ لَہُ الْعَرْشُ، وَفُتِحَتْ لَہُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَائِ، وَشَہِدَہُ سَبْعُوْنَ أَلْفًا مِنَ الْمَلَائِکَۃِ، لَقَدْ ضُمَّ ضَمَّۃً ثُمَّ فُرِّجَ عَنْہُ ))
Translation:
“This is the person for whom the Throne of the Most Merciful shook, for whom the gates of the heavens were opened, and in whose funeral seventy thousand angels participated, yet the grave pressed him, then it released him.”
Similarly, it is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
(( إِنَّ لِلْقَبْرِ ضَغْطَۃً، لَوْ نَجَا مِنْہَا أَحَدٌ لَنَجَا مِنْہَا سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ ))
Translation:
“Indeed, the pressing of the grave is a reality; if anyone could escape it, Saad bin Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him) would surely have escaped it.”
Scholars have explained that the grave presses every good and bad person, but for the believer this pressing is temporary, then the grave is expanded for him, whereas for the disbeliever it takes the form of punishment.
Questions of the Angels in the Grave
The belief of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah is that the deceased is questioned in the grave.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
Translation:
A righteous believer is questioned about his Lord, religion, and Prophet ﷺ, and he answers correctly. He is shown the blessings of Paradise, and his grave is expanded. Whereas a wicked and disbeliever cannot answer, he is shown Hell, and his grave is constricted.
The life of the grave is a reality
It is the first trial for a person after this worldly life. The Quran and Hadith contain detailed descriptions of both blessings and punishments in the grave. In this section, we will present the reality of the punishment of the grave, the wisdom behind its unseen nature, and clear evidences from the Quran and Sunnah.
The deceased is shown his place morning and evening
Narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
(( إِنَّ أَحَدَکُمْ إِذَا مَاتَ عُرِضَ عَلَیْہِ مَقْعَدُہُ بِالْغَدَاۃِ وَالْعَشِیِّ، إِنْ کَانَ مِنْ أَہْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ فَمِنْ أَہْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ، وَإِنْ کَانَ مِنْ أَہْلِ النَّارِ فَمِنْ أَہْلِ النَّارِ، یُقَالُ: ہَذَا مَقْعَدُکَ حَتّٰی یَبْعَثَکَ اللّٰہُ إِلَیْہِ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ))
Translation:
“When any one of you dies, his abode is presented before him morning and evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, then the abode of Paradise is shown to him, and if he is among the people of Hell, then the abode of Hell is shown to him. And he is told: This is your abode until Allah raises you on the Day of Resurrection.”
Prepare for the Grave
Hazrat Bara bin Azib (RA) narrates:
(( یَا إِخْوَانِیْ! لِمِثْلِ ہٰذَا فَأَعِدُّوْا ))
Translation:
“O my brothers! Prepare yourselves for such a day.”
This hadith is evidence that the grave is a place of reflection and preparation for it is only possible through faith and righteous deeds.
Things that accompany the deceased
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( یَتْبَعُ الْمَیِّتَ ثَلَاثَۃٌ، فَیَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَیَبْقٰی مَعَہُ وَاحِدٌ… ))
Translation:
“Three things follow the deceased: his family, his wealth, and his deeds. Then the family and wealth return, but the deeds remain with him.”
Punishment of the Grave: A Metaphysical Reality
The punishment of the grave is among the unseen matters, whose reality is known to us only through the Quran and Hadith. Allah Almighty, in His wisdom, has kept the living unaware of the punishment of the dead so that:
➊ The living do not fall into severe shock and despair
➋ The deceased are not disgraced
➌ People do not stop burying the dead
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَوْ لَا أَنْ لَّا تَدَافَنُوْا لَدَعَوْتُ اللّٰہَ أَنْ یُّسْمِعَکُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ))
Translation:
“If it were not for the fear that you would stop burying the dead, I would ask Allah to show you some of the punishment of the grave.”
The Punishment of the Grave is True (Quranic Evidence)
➊ The Holy Quran
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اَلنَّارُ یُعْرَضُوْنَ عَلَیْہَا غُدُوًّا وَّعَشِیًّا وَیَوْمَ تَقُوْمُ السَّاعَۃُ أَدْخِلُوْا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ﴾
Translation:
“It is the Fire before which they are made to stand morning and evening, and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said): Put the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
Evidence from Hadiths about the Punishment of the Grave
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
(( إِنَّہُمَا لَیُعَذَّبَانِ… ))
Translation:
“Those two people in the graves are being punished, and it is not because of a minor sin but a major sin: one used to backbite and the other did not avoid urinating improperly.”
Regarding this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أَکْثَرُ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ مِنَ الْبَوْلِ ))
Translation:
“Most of the punishment of the grave is due to not avoiding urination properly.”
The Prophet ﷺ’s Supplication for Refuge from the Punishment of the Grave
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
(( اَللّٰہُمَّ إِنِّیْ أَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ… ))
Translation:
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of Hell, the trials of life and death, and the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal).”
This hadith is clear evidence that the punishment of the grave is a reality.
Different Forms of the Punishment of the Grave
➊ Being struck with iron hammers
Narrated Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِیْ قَبْرِہٖ وَتَوَلّٰی عَنْہُ أَصْحَابُہُ، وَإِنَّہُ لَیَسْمَعُ خَفْقَ نِعَالِہِمْ… ))
Translation:
“When a person is placed in the grave and those who bury him return, he hears the sound of their shoes. Then two angels come to him, sit him up, and ask: What did you say about this person (Muhammad ﷺ)?
The believer says: I testify that he is the servant and Messenger of Allah.
Then he is told: Look at your place in Hell; Allah has given you a place in Paradise in exchange.
And when the same question is asked of the hypocrite and disbeliever, he says: I do not know; I used to say what people used to say.
Then he is told: You neither knew nor followed. Then he is struck between his ears with iron hammers so that he screams, and his scream is heard by all except jinn and humans.”
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2870
➋ The bed of Hellfire in the grave
➌ The clothing of Hellfire
➍ The door to Hellfire being opened
➎ The grave being made extremely narrow
➏ Being struck with an iron rod
➐ The threat of severe punishment in the Hereafter
All these situations are described in the long and famous hadith of Hazrat Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that the soul of the disbeliever is thrown from the sky to the earth, then it is returned to the body. Two angels come and question him:
❀ Who is your Lord?
❀ What is your religion?
❀ Who is your Prophet?
He is unable to answer. Then a call comes from the sky that he has lied, so prepare the bed of Hell for him, dress him in the garment of Hell, and open a door towards Hell for him.
His grave is made so narrow that his ribs press against each other.
Then an ugly person comes and says: I am your evil deed.
After that, a blind, deaf, and mute angel is appointed over him who beats him with an iron rod, and he screams in such a way that everyone except jinn and humans can hear it.
and Sahih Al-Albani Fi Ahkam Al-Janazat: p. 156
➑ Being sunk into the ground
Narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA):
(( بَیْنَمَا رَجُلٌ یَجُرُّ إِزَارَہُ مِنَ الْخُیَلَاءِ خُسِفَ بِہٖ… ))
Translation:
“A person was dragging his cloak arrogantly, so he was sunk into the ground, and he will continue to be sunk into the earth until the Day of Judgment.”
➒ Cutting the back up to the saddle
➓ Crushing the head with a stone
⑪ Burning in a fire oven
⑫ Beating with stones in a river of blood
All these punishments were shown in the dream of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as narrated in the long hadith of Hazrat Samurah bin Jundub (RA).
According to the explanation:
◈ Those whose backs are cut: Spreaders of lies
◈ Those whose heads are crushed: Those who learn the Quran but do not act upon it
◈ Those burned in the oven: Adulterous men and women
◈ Those killed in the river of blood: Usurers
⑬ Scratching the face and chest with copper nails
Narrated by Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA):
(( لَہُمْ أَظْفَارٌ مِنْ نُحَاسٍ یَخْمِشُوْنَ وُجُوْہَہُمْ وَصُدُوْرَہُمْ ))
Translation:
“These are the people who used to eat the flesh of others (backbite) and attack their honor.”
⑭ Being burned with stolen goods
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that at the occasion of Khaibar, a person was martyred. The companions said: Congratulations on his martyrdom, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“By Him in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad ﷺ, the sheet he stole from the spoils is burning him like fire.”
Blessings granted to the believer in the grave
Righteous deeds: The companion of the believer in the grave
In the lengthy hadith of Hazrat Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him), the state of the believer is also mentioned. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Then the soul of the believer is returned to the earth and it comes back into his body. When his companions bury him and return, he hears the sound of their shoes. Then two angels come, shake him and make him sit up, and ask him:
Who is your Lord?
He replies: My Lord is Allah.
What is your religion?
He says: My religion is Islam.
Who is the person sent among you as a Prophet?
He says: He is Muhammad ﷺ.
Then the angels say: How do you know this?
He replies: I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and confirmed it.”
Then a call comes from the sky: My servant has spoken the truth, so prepare a bed of Paradise for him, clothe him with the garments of Paradise, and open a door to Paradise for him.”
Sahih al-Albani in Ahkam al-Janazat: p. 156
Translation:
Thus, the fragrance and blessings of Paradise come to him, and his grave is expanded to the horizon. Then a person with a beautiful face comes to him, whose clothes are very fine and whose fragrance is very pure. He says: May you have Allah’s pleasure and the glad tidings of Paradise. This is the day that was promised to you.
The believer says: May Allah give you glad tidings of goodness as well, who are you?
He says: I am your righteous deed.
The steadfast response of the believer in the light of the Qur’an
Allah Almighty says:
﴿یُثَبِّتُ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِیْ الْحَیَاۃِ الدُّنْیَا وَفِیْ الْآخِرَۃِ﴾
Translation:
“Allah keeps firm the believers in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.”
According to the commentators, the Hereafter here also refers to the time of questioning in the grave.
Guardianship of Good Deeds in the Grave
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a believer is placed in the grave, prayer comes to his head, fasting to his right side, zakat to his left side, and other good deeds to his feet. Then when torment tries to come from any side, the good deeds say: No way from here.”
Translation:
Then he is questioned about the Prophet ﷺ, and if he answers correctly, he is told: You lived by him, you died by him, and you will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment by him.
Then the gate of Paradise is opened for him, and his grave is expanded and illuminated up to seventy cubits.
The Believer’s Grave: A Lush Garden
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ فِیْ قَبْرِہٖ لَفِیْ رَوْضَۃٍ خَضْرَائَ ))
Translation:
“Indeed, a believer is in his grave like a lush garden. His grave is expanded up to seventy cubits and it is illuminated with light like the moon on the fourteenth night.”
Questions of Munkar and Nakir and the Sleep of the Believer
Narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA):
“Two angels come, who are called Munkar and Nakir, and they question the believer. When he answers correctly, he is told:
( نَمْ کَنَوْمَۃِ الْعَرُوْسِ )
Meaning: Sleep like a bridegroom, whom only his beloved awakens.”
Punishment of the Grave and Deeds that Save from its Trial
➊ Guarding the Enemy’s Border (Ribat)
Narrated from Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( رِبَاطُ یَوْمٍ وَلَیْلَۃٍ خَیْرٌ مِّنْ صِیَامِ شَہْرٍ وَقِیَامِہٖ، وَإِنْ مَّاتَ جَرٰی عَلَیْہِ عَمَلُہُ الَّذِیْ کَانَ یَعْمَلُہُ، وَأُجْرِیَ عَلَیْہِ رِزْقُہُ، وَأُمِنَ الْفَتَّانَ ))
Translation:
“Guarding the enemy’s frontier for one day and one night in the way of Allah is better than fasting and praying for a whole month. If he dies in that state, his deeds continue, his provision is sustained, and he is protected from the trial of the grave.”
➋ Attaining Martyrdom
Narrated from Hazrat Miqdad bin Ma’dikarib (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لِلشَّہِیْدِ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ سِتُّ خِصَالٍ… وَیُجَارُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ))
Translation:
“Allah has six rewards for the martyr:
① Forgiveness with the first drop of blood
② Being shown a place in Paradise
③ Salvation from the torment of the grave
④ Protection from the great fear on the Day of Resurrection
⑤ A crown of dignity on his head
⑥ Marriage to seventy-two of the best houris
And his intercession is accepted for seventy of his relatives.”
This virtue is for the lawful martyr, who sacrifices his life in the battlefield for the exaltation of the Word of Allah.
➌ Reciting Surah Al-Mulk every night
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
(( إِنَّ سُوْرَۃً مِّنَ الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثُوْنَ آیَۃً شَفَعَتْ لِرَجُلٍ حَتّٰی غُفِرَ لَہُ، وَہِیَ سُوْرَۃُ تَبَارَکَ ))
Translation:
“A chapter of the Quran which has thirty verses interceded for a person until he was forgiven, and that is Surah Al-Mulk.”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) says:
Effect:
“Whoever recites Surah Al-Mulk every night, Allah protects him from the punishment of the grave.”
➍ Death from stomach disease
Hazrat Abdullah bin Yasar (RA) narrates that the Companions transmitted this saying of the Prophet (ﷺ):
(( مَنْ یَّقْتُلْہُ بَطْنُہُ فَلَنْ یُّعَذَّبَ فِیْ قَبْرِہٖ ))
Translation:
“Whoever dies from a stomach disease will not be punished in the grave.”
➎ Dying on Friday or on the night of Friday
Narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ یَّمُوْتُ یَوْمَ الْجُمُعَۃِ أَوْ لَیْلَۃَ الْجُمُعَۃِ إِلَّا وَقَاہُ اللّٰہُ فِتْنَۃَ الْقَبْرِ ))
Translation:
“Whoever dies on the day of Friday or on the night of Friday, Allah protects him from the trial of the grave.”
Conclusion
Brothers in Islam!
We all should hold ourselves accountable, repent from sins, renew our faith, and strive to excel in righteous deeds so that our graves may be illuminated, the questioning by the angels may be easy for us, and we may be saved from the torment of the grave.
We pray to Allah, the Almighty, to grant us a good ending in faith, to transform our graves into gardens of Paradise, and to protect us from the torment of the grave, the torment of Hellfire, and all kinds of trials.
آمین ثم آمین
