Source: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Volume 09
According to the narration of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) regarding a Jewish woman, the Noble Prophet ﷺ said that people were weeping over her while she was being punished in her grave. This suggests that the punishment of the grave begins even before burial in the earthly grave. Does this mean that the term “grave” here refers to the Barzakhī grave? Furthermore, the narration of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) describes adulterous men and women being gathered in a furnace and punished, even though their graves in this world are in different places. What is the meaning of them being gathered in this furnace?
In the narration mentioned by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها), the Prophet ﷺ passed by a Jewish woman whose family was mourning for her. He ﷺ said that while they weep for her, she is being punished in her grave. This ḥadīth is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī under "Kitāb al-Janaʾiz":
"إِنَّهُمْ لَيَبْكُونَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنَّهَا لَتُعَذَّبُ فِي قَبْرِهَا"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz)
This ḥadīth proves that the punishment of the grave can begin even before physical burial. Thus, the "grave" referred to here is the Barzakhī grave, not the earthly grave. The realm of Barzakh begins immediately after death, and it is within this realm that the soul experiences various forms of comfort or torment.
In a narration by Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ recounts a dream where he saw adulterous men and women in a furnace-like pit, unclothed, suffering the punishment of fire:
"فَإِذَا فِي نَقْبٍ مِثْلِ التَّنُّورِ... وَفِيهِ رِجَالٌ وَنِسَاءٌ عُرَاةٌ..."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz)
This furnace symbolizes a Barzakhī punishment experienced by those sinners. It must be understood as a metaphorical vision in a dream, not a literal gathering of their physical graves in one place. The punishment occurs in the realm of Barzakh where souls are punished according to their deeds. Hence, this narration should be interpreted within the context of Barzakh, not in the literal physical world.
① The term "grave" here refers to the Barzakhī grave, where the soul experiences reward or punishment after death.
② The narration of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) depicting sinners gathered in a furnace illustrates the Barzakhī punishment of souls, not a physical reality involving their worldly graves.
③ These descriptions are part of the unseen and must be understood within the metaphysical context of Barzakh, as conveyed through revelation.
❖ Question
According to the narration of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) regarding a Jewish woman, the Noble Prophet ﷺ said that people were weeping over her while she was being punished in her grave. This suggests that the punishment of the grave begins even before burial in the earthly grave. Does this mean that the term “grave” here refers to the Barzakhī grave? Furthermore, the narration of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) describes adulterous men and women being gathered in a furnace and punished, even though their graves in this world are in different places. What is the meaning of them being gathered in this furnace?
❖ Answer
✿ Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها)
In the narration mentioned by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها), the Prophet ﷺ passed by a Jewish woman whose family was mourning for her. He ﷺ said that while they weep for her, she is being punished in her grave. This ḥadīth is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī under "Kitāb al-Janaʾiz":
"إِنَّهُمْ لَيَبْكُونَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنَّهَا لَتُعَذَّبُ فِي قَبْرِهَا"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz)
This ḥadīth proves that the punishment of the grave can begin even before physical burial. Thus, the "grave" referred to here is the Barzakhī grave, not the earthly grave. The realm of Barzakh begins immediately after death, and it is within this realm that the soul experiences various forms of comfort or torment.
❖ Ḥadīth of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه)
In a narration by Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ recounts a dream where he saw adulterous men and women in a furnace-like pit, unclothed, suffering the punishment of fire:
"فَإِذَا فِي نَقْبٍ مِثْلِ التَّنُّورِ... وَفِيهِ رِجَالٌ وَنِسَاءٌ عُرَاةٌ..."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz)
This furnace symbolizes a Barzakhī punishment experienced by those sinners. It must be understood as a metaphorical vision in a dream, not a literal gathering of their physical graves in one place. The punishment occurs in the realm of Barzakh where souls are punished according to their deeds. Hence, this narration should be interpreted within the context of Barzakh, not in the literal physical world.
Summary
① The term "grave" here refers to the Barzakhī grave, where the soul experiences reward or punishment after death.
② The narration of Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) depicting sinners gathered in a furnace illustrates the Barzakhī punishment of souls, not a physical reality involving their worldly graves.
③ These descriptions are part of the unseen and must be understood within the metaphysical context of Barzakh, as conveyed through revelation.
