Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Is the punishment of the grave reduced for a sinful believer?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Yes — the punishment of the grave for a sinful believer can be reduced, as is evident from an action of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ once passed by two graves and said:
«إِنَّهُمَا لَيُعَذَّبَانِ وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِی كَبِيرٍ بَلَىٰ إِنَّهُ كَبِيرٌ، أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَانَ لَا يَسْتَبْرِئُ أَوْ قَالَ: لَا يَسْتَتِرُ مِنَ الْبَوْلِ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَكَانَ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ جَرِيدَةً رَطْبَةً فَشَقَّهَا نِصْفَيْنِ، فَغَرَزَ فِي كُلِّ قَبْرٍ وَاحِدَةً، وَقَالَ: لَعَلَّهُ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَيْبَسَا»
(Sahih al-Bukhārī, al-Jana’iz, Bāb ʿAdhāb al-Qabr min al-Ghībah wa-l-Bawl, ḥadīth no. 1378)
(Sahih Muslim, al-Ṭahārah, Bāb al-Dalīl ʿalā Najāsat al-Bawl wa-Wujūb al-Istibrā’, ḥadīth no. 292)
Translation:
“Indeed, these two are being punished, and they are not being punished for something that the people think is great, but in reality, it is great. One of them did not protect himself from urine (or did not guard his private parts), and the other used to spread namīmah (malicious gossip). Then the Prophet ﷺ took a fresh date-palm branch, split it into two, and placed one on each grave, and said: ‘Perhaps their punishment will be lightened for them so long as these do not dry.’”
This ḥadīth is a clear proof that a reduction in the punishment of the grave is possible. The question is — what was the connection between the fresh branches and the reduction of punishment?
◈ Some scholars said that the branches would glorify (make tasbīḥ of) Allah until they dried, and this tasbīḥ would be a cause for the reduction of the deceased’s punishment.
Criticism of this View:
◈ This view is considered weak because:
﴿تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ﴾
(Sūrat al-Isrā’, 44)
Translation:
“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is in them glorify Him. There is nothing except that it glorifies His praise, but you do not understand their glorification.”
◈ The Prophet ﷺ, out of hope and supplication to Allah, asked that the punishment be reduced for them until the branches dried.
◈ This reduction was temporary, meant to alert the ummah to the severity of these sins.
◈ It does not mean that the Prophet ﷺ refrained from making permanent intercession for them.
◈ One did not protect himself from urine splashes — possibly praying while in a state of impurity.
◈ The other engaged in tale-bearing, causing discord, enmity, and hatred among people.
Some scholars argued that this ḥadīth proves placing fresh branches or plants on graves is Sunnah to reduce punishment.
However, this deduction is incorrect, for several reasons:
➊ We do not know whether the deceased is being punished or not — the Prophet ﷺ was informed of this by revelation in that specific incident.
➋ Doing so implies a bad assumption about the deceased — assuming they are under punishment — when it is possible that:
➌ This practice is not reported from the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn (Companions), who were more knowledgeable of the religion than us.
➍ Allah has guided us to a better action:
When the Prophet ﷺ finished burying someone, he would say:
«اِسْتَغْفِرُوا لِأَخِيكُمْ وَاسْأَلُوا لَهُ التَّثْبِيتَ، فَإِنَّهُ الْآنَ يُسْأَلُ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, al-Jana’iz, Bāb al-Istighfār ʿinda al-Qabr li-l-Mayyit fī Waqt al-Inṣirāf, ḥadīth no. 3221)
Translation:
“Seek forgiveness for your brother, and ask for steadfastness for him, for he is now being questioned.”
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
Is the punishment of the grave reduced for a sinful believer?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Yes — the punishment of the grave for a sinful believer can be reduced, as is evident from an action of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Action of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ once passed by two graves and said:
«إِنَّهُمَا لَيُعَذَّبَانِ وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِی كَبِيرٍ بَلَىٰ إِنَّهُ كَبِيرٌ، أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَانَ لَا يَسْتَبْرِئُ أَوْ قَالَ: لَا يَسْتَتِرُ مِنَ الْبَوْلِ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَكَانَ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ جَرِيدَةً رَطْبَةً فَشَقَّهَا نِصْفَيْنِ، فَغَرَزَ فِي كُلِّ قَبْرٍ وَاحِدَةً، وَقَالَ: لَعَلَّهُ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَيْبَسَا»
(Sahih al-Bukhārī, al-Jana’iz, Bāb ʿAdhāb al-Qabr min al-Ghībah wa-l-Bawl, ḥadīth no. 1378)
(Sahih Muslim, al-Ṭahārah, Bāb al-Dalīl ʿalā Najāsat al-Bawl wa-Wujūb al-Istibrā’, ḥadīth no. 292)
Translation:
“Indeed, these two are being punished, and they are not being punished for something that the people think is great, but in reality, it is great. One of them did not protect himself from urine (or did not guard his private parts), and the other used to spread namīmah (malicious gossip). Then the Prophet ﷺ took a fresh date-palm branch, split it into two, and placed one on each grave, and said: ‘Perhaps their punishment will be lightened for them so long as these do not dry.’”
Explanation of the Ḥadīth
This ḥadīth is a clear proof that a reduction in the punishment of the grave is possible. The question is — what was the connection between the fresh branches and the reduction of punishment?
First View:
◈ Some scholars said that the branches would glorify (make tasbīḥ of) Allah until they dried, and this tasbīḥ would be a cause for the reduction of the deceased’s punishment.
Criticism of this View:
◈ This view is considered weak because:
- Everything glorifies Allah, whether moist or dry, as mentioned in the Qur’an:
﴿تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ﴾
(Sūrat al-Isrā’, 44)
Translation:
“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is in them glorify Him. There is nothing except that it glorifies His praise, but you do not understand their glorification.”
- Pebbles glorified Allah in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, even though they were dry. Hence, saying that only fresh branches glorify Allah is incorrect.
Correct View:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ, out of hope and supplication to Allah, asked that the punishment be reduced for them until the branches dried.
◈ This reduction was temporary, meant to alert the ummah to the severity of these sins.
◈ It does not mean that the Prophet ﷺ refrained from making permanent intercession for them.
The Nature of Their Sins
◈ One did not protect himself from urine splashes — possibly praying while in a state of impurity.
◈ The other engaged in tale-bearing, causing discord, enmity, and hatred among people.
An Incorrect Deduction from the Ḥadīth
Some scholars argued that this ḥadīth proves placing fresh branches or plants on graves is Sunnah to reduce punishment.
However, this deduction is incorrect, for several reasons:
➊ We do not know whether the deceased is being punished or not — the Prophet ﷺ was informed of this by revelation in that specific incident.
➋ Doing so implies a bad assumption about the deceased — assuming they are under punishment — when it is possible that:
- They are enjoying the blessings of Paradise.
- Allah has forgiven their sins.
- They were never deserving of punishment in the first place.
➌ This practice is not reported from the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn (Companions), who were more knowledgeable of the religion than us.
➍ Allah has guided us to a better action:
When the Prophet ﷺ finished burying someone, he would say:
«اِسْتَغْفِرُوا لِأَخِيكُمْ وَاسْأَلُوا لَهُ التَّثْبِيتَ، فَإِنَّهُ الْآنَ يُسْأَلُ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, al-Jana’iz, Bāb al-Istighfār ʿinda al-Qabr li-l-Mayyit fī Waqt al-Inṣirāf, ḥadīth no. 3221)
Translation:
“Seek forgiveness for your brother, and ask for steadfastness for him, for he is now being questioned.”
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
