Azaab-E-Khabar
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Albint_Almuslima
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Asalam Alakum,
Welcome to TTI,
Insha Allah u benifit from us as we from u!
Now regarding ur question on Azaab-E-Khabar
1) The Qur’an speaks of the punishment of the grave in a most distinct fashion. “A fire to which they are exposed morning and evening. And the Day the Final Hour will occur, (it will be proclaimed): "Admit the Pharaohnites in the severest of torments.” (Surah Mu’min, verse 46)
In this Ayah, Allah specifies the manner in which Fir’oun and his people will be dealt with in their graves. They will be tormented in this way even before the day of Qiyamah, as understood from the Ayah. Allamah Ibne Katheer, while commenting on this very same verse explains that it is entirely in support of the view held by the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah that ‘Athab-ul-Qabar is an undeniable fact. This punishment will be unleashed upon the disbelievers and sinful believers in the second stage of life known as ‘Aalam-ul-Barzagh.
Ayesha (R.A.) reports that once a Jewish lady informed her that “We (the Jews) seek protection from the punishment of the grave.” On learning this Ayesha (R.A.) questioned the Nabi of Allah (S.A.W.) with regards to ‘Athab-ul-Qabar. Nabi (S.A.W.) firmly responded: “Yes, ‘Athab-ul-Qabar is true.” Ayesha (R.A.) says that thereafter Nabi (S.A.W.) always sought protection from the punishment of the grave on completing his prayers. (Mishkat, Page 25 with reference to Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim)
On one occasion the prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) passed by two graves. He thereafter remarked: “The inmates of these graves are subjected to punishment and they are being punished for acts which are not regarded as major. As for the first, he never used to purify himself after urinating. The second is being punished for engaging in gossip.”
(Sharhul Aqaaidin Nasafiyyah, Page 99-100, Sharhu ‘Aqeedatit Tahawiyah, Vol. 2, Page 132)
Question:
What are the sins for which people will be punished in the grave?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
In the answer to question no. 45325 , we have mentioned some of these reasons. Here we will list some of these sins, along with evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
Shirk (associating others with Allaah) and kufr (disbelieving in Him)
Allaah says concerning the people of Pharaoh (interpretation of the meaning):
“The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): ‘Cause Fir‘awn’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!’”
[Ghaafir 40:46]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if you could but see when the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): ‘Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allaah other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect!’”
[al-An’aam 6:93]
When death approaches the kaafir, the angels tell him of what is awaiting of him of punishment, chains and fire, and the wrath of Allaah; his soul disperses in his body and refuses to leave his body, and the angels beat him until his soul comes out of his body, saying,
“Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation” [al-An’aam 6:93].
Evidence that shirk is one of the causes of punishment in the grave is to be found in the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in a garden belonging to Banu’l-Najjaar on a mule of his and we were with him, it stumbled and nearly threw him. There he saw some graves, six or five or four. He said: “Who knows the occupants of these graves?” A man said: I do.” He said: “When did these people die?” He said: “They died in shirk.” He said: “This ummah will be punished in their graves. Were it not that you would not bury one another, I would pray to Allaah to make you hear what I hear of the torment in the grave.” Then he turned to us and said: “Seek refuge with Allaah from the punishment of Hellfire…” Narrated by Muslim 2867.
The words in this hadeeth, “They died in shirk,” indicate that shirk is a cause of the punishment in the grave.
Hypocrisy is one of the causes of the punishment in the grave
The hypocrites are those who most deserve to be punished in the grave. How can it be otherwise when they are the ones who will occupy the lowest level of Hell?
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And among the bedouins around you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al‑Madinah who persist in hypocrisy; you (O Muhammad) know them not, We know them. We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment”
[al-Tawbah 9:101]
Qataadah and al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said concerning the phrase “We shall punish them twice”: once in this world, and the second is the punishment in the grave.
In the hadeeth about the questioning of the two angels and the torment of the grave, the word hypocrite (munaafiq), or skeptic (murtaab) in many reports, is clearly mentioned, as in the report narrated by al-Bukhaari (1374) from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “… as for the kaafir and the hypocrite, it will be said to him…”. And in al-Saheehayn it is narrated from Asma’ (may Allaah be pleased with her): “As for the hypocrite or the skeptic…”
Changing the religion of Allaah, by forbidding that which Allaah has permitted or permitting that which He has forbidden
The evidence that this changing of the religion of Allaah is one of the causes of punishment in the grave is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “I saw ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuzaa’i dragging his intestines in Hell. He was the first one to introduce the institution of al-saa’ibah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4623.
The saa’ibah was a she-camel, cow or sheep which they would leave to graze for the sake of the false gods, and it would not be ridden, eaten or used for carrying burdens. Some of them would make vows to make part of their wealth a saa’ibah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The Arabs, from among the sons of Ismaa’eel and others, who lived in the environs of the Ancient House that had been built by Ibraaheem and Ismaa’eel, were haneefs (monotheists) who followed the religion of Ibraaheem, until one of the leaders of Khuzaa’ah, namely ‘Amr ibn Luhayy, changed his religion. He was the first one to change the religion of Ibraaheem to shirk and forbid things that Allaah had not forbidden. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I saw ‘Amr ibn Luhayy dragging his intestines.”
Daqaa’iq al-Tafseer, 2/71
Not taking care to avoid getting urine on oneself, and spreading malicious gossip among people
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading nameemah (malicious gossip) and the other used not to take care to avoid getting urine on himself.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (218) and Muslim (292).
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Most of the torment of the grave is because of urine, so be careful to avoid it.” Narrated by al-Daaraqutni and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1/152).
Gheebah (backbiting)
Based on that, al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) included a chapter in Kitaab al-Janaa’iz (the Book of Funerals) called: “Punishment of the grave because of backbiting and urine.” Then he narrated therein the hadeeth about the two graves quoted above, except that the version of al-Bukhaari does not mention backbiting, rather it speaks of nameemah (malicious gossip), but as was his wont, he referred to what was narrated in some versions of the hadeeth: “As for the other, he is being punished for backbiting.”
Narrated by Ahmad (5/35); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb (1/66)
Lying
According to the hadeeth of Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“… We came to a man who was lying flat on his back, with another man standing over him, holding an iron hook. He put the hook in the man's mouth and tore off that side of his face to the back (of his neck), and he tore his nose and his eye from front to back in a similar manner. Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did likewise. No sooner had he finished the second side but the first side was restored to its former state, then he went back and did the same thing again. I said to my two companions, ‘Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?’
At the end of the hadeeth, he said concerning this one who was being punished: “is the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that is so serious that it spreads all over the world”. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7074).
Forsaking the Qur’aan after having learned it, sleeping and missing an obligatory prayer
In the hadeeth of Samurah ibn Jundub he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “… we came across a man who was lying down, with another man standing over him, holding a big rock. He threw the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away, and the one who had thrown it followed it, and picked it up. By the time he came back to the man, his head had been restored to its former state. Then he (the one who had thrown the rock) did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, ‘Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?’ … ‘The one whom you saw with his head being smashed with the rock, is the man who studies the Qur’aan then he neither recites it nor acts upon it, and he goes to sleep, neglecting the obligatory prayers.’
According to another version: “As for the man whom you saw with his head being crushed by a rock, he is a man who learned the Qur’aan then abandoned it and he slept and missed the obligatory prayer.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7076).
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that this report is clearer than the first one. The apparent meaning of the first one is that he is being punished for not reading Qur’aan at night, whereas the second report indicates that he is punished for sleeping and missing the obligatory prayer. He said: It may be that the punishment is for both, not reading and not acting upon it.
Ibn Hajar said: Ibn Hubayrah said: Abandoning the Qur’aan after learning it is a serious crime, because it may imply that he has seen in it something that made him abandon it, and because he has abandoned the noblest of things, namely the Qur’aan, he should be punished in the noblest part of his body, which is the head. Fath al-Baari, 3/251
Consuming riba
In the hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says:
“… So we went on and came to a river – I think he said, red like blood. – In the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had gathered many stones. Whilst the swimmer was swimming, the man who had gathered the stones approached him. The swimmer opened his mouth and the man on the bank threw a stone into it, then the swimmer carried on swimming. Each time he came back, he opened his mouth again, and the man on the bank threw another stone into his mouth. … The man you saw swimming in the river with rocks being thrown into his mouth is the one who consumed riba (usury).”
Zina (adultery, unlawful sexual relationships)
In the hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says:
“So we went on, and came to something like a tannoor (a kind of oven, lined with clay, usually used for baking bread). – I think the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, in that oven there was much noise and voices. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added:
- We looked into it and saw naked men and women. A flame of fire was reaching them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried out loudly. I asked them, ‘Who are these?’ … The naked men and women whom you saw in a structure that resembled an oven are the adulterers and adulteresses.”
Enjoining righteousness upon others and forgetting oneself
It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra’), I saw men whose lips were being cut off with scissors of fire. I said: ‘Who are these, O Jibreel?’ He said: ‘These are the khateebs from among your ummah who used to enjoin righteousness on the people and forget themselves, and they used to recite the Book but they did not understand.’” Narrated by Ahmad, 3/120; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah (291).
According to al-Bayhaqi: “On the night on which I was taken on the night Journey, I came to some people whose lips were being cut off with scissors of fire. Every time they were cut off, they were restored. I said: ‘O Jibreel who are these?’ He said: ‘The khateebs of your ummah who said what they did not do, and they recited the Book of Allaah but they did not act upon it.’” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (128).
Breaking the fast in Ramadaan with no excuse
It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whilst I was sleeping, two men came to me and took me by the arms, and they brought me to a mountain and said: ‘Climb up.’ I said: ‘I cannot.’ They said: ‘We will make it easy for you.’ So I climbed up until, when I was at the top of the mountain, I heard loud voices. I said: ‘What are these voices?’ He said: ‘These are the cries of the people of Hell.’ Then they took me on, and I saw some people hanging by their heels, with the sides of their mouths torn, and the sides of their mouths were flowing with blood. I said: ‘Who are these?’ He said: ‘They are the ones who broke the fast before it was permissible for them to do so.’” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim (1/210, 290); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah (3951).
Stealing from the war booty
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) about the man who stole a garment from the war booty, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the garment that he took from the booty on the day of Khaybar when it had not yet been shared out is burning him with fire.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4234) and Muslim (115).
Dragging one’s garment out of pride
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whilst a man was dragging his garment out of pride, he was swallowed up by the earth and he will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3485) and Muslim (2088).
Stealing from the pilgrims
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) about the eclipse prayer, in which it says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hell was brought and that is when you saw me moving backwards for fear that its flames might touch me. I saw therein the owner of the curved staff, dragging his intestines in the Fire; he used to steal from the pilgrims with his curved staff, and if he was discovered he would say, ‘It got caught on my curved staff,’ but if he was not noticed then he would take it.” Narrated by Muslim (904).
Detaining animals and tormenting them and not being compassionate towards them
According to the hadeeth of Jaabir about the eclipse prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “And I saw therein the woman who had a cat which she tied up and did not feed, and she did not let it eat from the vermin of the earth, until it died of starvation.” Narrated by Muslim (904).
Al- Bayhaqi said in his book Ithbaat ‘Adhaab al-Qabr (p. 97):
When he offered the eclipse prayer, he saw the one who was dragging his intestines in Hell, and the one who was being punished for stealing, and the women who was being punished for a cat. They had become decayed bones in their graves as far as the people of his time were concerned, but those who were praying with him did not see what he saw. End quote.
Debt
One of the things that harm the deceased in his grave is debt that he owes. It was narrated that Sa’d ibn al-Atwal said: My brother died and left behind three hundred dinars, and he left behind young children. I wanted to spend on them, but the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me: “Your brother is being detained by his debt, so go and pay it off.” So I went and paid it off, then I came and said: O Messenger of Allaah, I have paid it off for him, and there is nothing left but a woman who is claiming two dinars, but she does not have any proof. He said: “Give it to her, for she is telling the truth.” Narrated by Ahmad (16776) and Ibn Maajah (2/82); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (1550).
Welcome to TTI,
Insha Allah u benifit from us as we from u!
Now regarding ur question on Azaab-E-Khabar
1) The Qur’an speaks of the punishment of the grave in a most distinct fashion. “A fire to which they are exposed morning and evening. And the Day the Final Hour will occur, (it will be proclaimed): "Admit the Pharaohnites in the severest of torments.” (Surah Mu’min, verse 46)
In this Ayah, Allah specifies the manner in which Fir’oun and his people will be dealt with in their graves. They will be tormented in this way even before the day of Qiyamah, as understood from the Ayah. Allamah Ibne Katheer, while commenting on this very same verse explains that it is entirely in support of the view held by the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah that ‘Athab-ul-Qabar is an undeniable fact. This punishment will be unleashed upon the disbelievers and sinful believers in the second stage of life known as ‘Aalam-ul-Barzagh.
Ayesha (R.A.) reports that once a Jewish lady informed her that “We (the Jews) seek protection from the punishment of the grave.” On learning this Ayesha (R.A.) questioned the Nabi of Allah (S.A.W.) with regards to ‘Athab-ul-Qabar. Nabi (S.A.W.) firmly responded: “Yes, ‘Athab-ul-Qabar is true.” Ayesha (R.A.) says that thereafter Nabi (S.A.W.) always sought protection from the punishment of the grave on completing his prayers. (Mishkat, Page 25 with reference to Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim)
On one occasion the prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) passed by two graves. He thereafter remarked: “The inmates of these graves are subjected to punishment and they are being punished for acts which are not regarded as major. As for the first, he never used to purify himself after urinating. The second is being punished for engaging in gossip.”
(Sharhul Aqaaidin Nasafiyyah, Page 99-100, Sharhu ‘Aqeedatit Tahawiyah, Vol. 2, Page 132)
Question:
What are the sins for which people will be punished in the grave?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
In the answer to question no. 45325 , we have mentioned some of these reasons. Here we will list some of these sins, along with evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
Shirk (associating others with Allaah) and kufr (disbelieving in Him)
Allaah says concerning the people of Pharaoh (interpretation of the meaning):
“The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): ‘Cause Fir‘awn’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!’”
[Ghaafir 40:46]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if you could but see when the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): ‘Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allaah other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect!’”
[al-An’aam 6:93]
When death approaches the kaafir, the angels tell him of what is awaiting of him of punishment, chains and fire, and the wrath of Allaah; his soul disperses in his body and refuses to leave his body, and the angels beat him until his soul comes out of his body, saying,
“Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation” [al-An’aam 6:93].
Evidence that shirk is one of the causes of punishment in the grave is to be found in the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in a garden belonging to Banu’l-Najjaar on a mule of his and we were with him, it stumbled and nearly threw him. There he saw some graves, six or five or four. He said: “Who knows the occupants of these graves?” A man said: I do.” He said: “When did these people die?” He said: “They died in shirk.” He said: “This ummah will be punished in their graves. Were it not that you would not bury one another, I would pray to Allaah to make you hear what I hear of the torment in the grave.” Then he turned to us and said: “Seek refuge with Allaah from the punishment of Hellfire…” Narrated by Muslim 2867.
The words in this hadeeth, “They died in shirk,” indicate that shirk is a cause of the punishment in the grave.
Hypocrisy is one of the causes of the punishment in the grave
The hypocrites are those who most deserve to be punished in the grave. How can it be otherwise when they are the ones who will occupy the lowest level of Hell?
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And among the bedouins around you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al‑Madinah who persist in hypocrisy; you (O Muhammad) know them not, We know them. We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment”
[al-Tawbah 9:101]
Qataadah and al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said concerning the phrase “We shall punish them twice”: once in this world, and the second is the punishment in the grave.
In the hadeeth about the questioning of the two angels and the torment of the grave, the word hypocrite (munaafiq), or skeptic (murtaab) in many reports, is clearly mentioned, as in the report narrated by al-Bukhaari (1374) from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “… as for the kaafir and the hypocrite, it will be said to him…”. And in al-Saheehayn it is narrated from Asma’ (may Allaah be pleased with her): “As for the hypocrite or the skeptic…”
Changing the religion of Allaah, by forbidding that which Allaah has permitted or permitting that which He has forbidden
The evidence that this changing of the religion of Allaah is one of the causes of punishment in the grave is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “I saw ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuzaa’i dragging his intestines in Hell. He was the first one to introduce the institution of al-saa’ibah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4623.
The saa’ibah was a she-camel, cow or sheep which they would leave to graze for the sake of the false gods, and it would not be ridden, eaten or used for carrying burdens. Some of them would make vows to make part of their wealth a saa’ibah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The Arabs, from among the sons of Ismaa’eel and others, who lived in the environs of the Ancient House that had been built by Ibraaheem and Ismaa’eel, were haneefs (monotheists) who followed the religion of Ibraaheem, until one of the leaders of Khuzaa’ah, namely ‘Amr ibn Luhayy, changed his religion. He was the first one to change the religion of Ibraaheem to shirk and forbid things that Allaah had not forbidden. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I saw ‘Amr ibn Luhayy dragging his intestines.”
Daqaa’iq al-Tafseer, 2/71
Not taking care to avoid getting urine on oneself, and spreading malicious gossip among people
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading nameemah (malicious gossip) and the other used not to take care to avoid getting urine on himself.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (218) and Muslim (292).
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Most of the torment of the grave is because of urine, so be careful to avoid it.” Narrated by al-Daaraqutni and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1/152).
Gheebah (backbiting)
Based on that, al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) included a chapter in Kitaab al-Janaa’iz (the Book of Funerals) called: “Punishment of the grave because of backbiting and urine.” Then he narrated therein the hadeeth about the two graves quoted above, except that the version of al-Bukhaari does not mention backbiting, rather it speaks of nameemah (malicious gossip), but as was his wont, he referred to what was narrated in some versions of the hadeeth: “As for the other, he is being punished for backbiting.”
Narrated by Ahmad (5/35); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb (1/66)
Lying
According to the hadeeth of Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“… We came to a man who was lying flat on his back, with another man standing over him, holding an iron hook. He put the hook in the man's mouth and tore off that side of his face to the back (of his neck), and he tore his nose and his eye from front to back in a similar manner. Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did likewise. No sooner had he finished the second side but the first side was restored to its former state, then he went back and did the same thing again. I said to my two companions, ‘Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?’
At the end of the hadeeth, he said concerning this one who was being punished: “is the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that is so serious that it spreads all over the world”. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7074).
Forsaking the Qur’aan after having learned it, sleeping and missing an obligatory prayer
In the hadeeth of Samurah ibn Jundub he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “… we came across a man who was lying down, with another man standing over him, holding a big rock. He threw the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away, and the one who had thrown it followed it, and picked it up. By the time he came back to the man, his head had been restored to its former state. Then he (the one who had thrown the rock) did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, ‘Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?’ … ‘The one whom you saw with his head being smashed with the rock, is the man who studies the Qur’aan then he neither recites it nor acts upon it, and he goes to sleep, neglecting the obligatory prayers.’
According to another version: “As for the man whom you saw with his head being crushed by a rock, he is a man who learned the Qur’aan then abandoned it and he slept and missed the obligatory prayer.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7076).
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that this report is clearer than the first one. The apparent meaning of the first one is that he is being punished for not reading Qur’aan at night, whereas the second report indicates that he is punished for sleeping and missing the obligatory prayer. He said: It may be that the punishment is for both, not reading and not acting upon it.
Ibn Hajar said: Ibn Hubayrah said: Abandoning the Qur’aan after learning it is a serious crime, because it may imply that he has seen in it something that made him abandon it, and because he has abandoned the noblest of things, namely the Qur’aan, he should be punished in the noblest part of his body, which is the head. Fath al-Baari, 3/251
Consuming riba
In the hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says:
“… So we went on and came to a river – I think he said, red like blood. – In the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had gathered many stones. Whilst the swimmer was swimming, the man who had gathered the stones approached him. The swimmer opened his mouth and the man on the bank threw a stone into it, then the swimmer carried on swimming. Each time he came back, he opened his mouth again, and the man on the bank threw another stone into his mouth. … The man you saw swimming in the river with rocks being thrown into his mouth is the one who consumed riba (usury).”
Zina (adultery, unlawful sexual relationships)
In the hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says:
“So we went on, and came to something like a tannoor (a kind of oven, lined with clay, usually used for baking bread). – I think the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, in that oven there was much noise and voices. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added:
- We looked into it and saw naked men and women. A flame of fire was reaching them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried out loudly. I asked them, ‘Who are these?’ … The naked men and women whom you saw in a structure that resembled an oven are the adulterers and adulteresses.”
Enjoining righteousness upon others and forgetting oneself
It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra’), I saw men whose lips were being cut off with scissors of fire. I said: ‘Who are these, O Jibreel?’ He said: ‘These are the khateebs from among your ummah who used to enjoin righteousness on the people and forget themselves, and they used to recite the Book but they did not understand.’” Narrated by Ahmad, 3/120; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah (291).
According to al-Bayhaqi: “On the night on which I was taken on the night Journey, I came to some people whose lips were being cut off with scissors of fire. Every time they were cut off, they were restored. I said: ‘O Jibreel who are these?’ He said: ‘The khateebs of your ummah who said what they did not do, and they recited the Book of Allaah but they did not act upon it.’” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (128).
Breaking the fast in Ramadaan with no excuse
It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whilst I was sleeping, two men came to me and took me by the arms, and they brought me to a mountain and said: ‘Climb up.’ I said: ‘I cannot.’ They said: ‘We will make it easy for you.’ So I climbed up until, when I was at the top of the mountain, I heard loud voices. I said: ‘What are these voices?’ He said: ‘These are the cries of the people of Hell.’ Then they took me on, and I saw some people hanging by their heels, with the sides of their mouths torn, and the sides of their mouths were flowing with blood. I said: ‘Who are these?’ He said: ‘They are the ones who broke the fast before it was permissible for them to do so.’” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim (1/210, 290); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah (3951).
Stealing from the war booty
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) about the man who stole a garment from the war booty, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the garment that he took from the booty on the day of Khaybar when it had not yet been shared out is burning him with fire.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4234) and Muslim (115).
Dragging one’s garment out of pride
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whilst a man was dragging his garment out of pride, he was swallowed up by the earth and he will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3485) and Muslim (2088).
Stealing from the pilgrims
This is indicated by the hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) about the eclipse prayer, in which it says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hell was brought and that is when you saw me moving backwards for fear that its flames might touch me. I saw therein the owner of the curved staff, dragging his intestines in the Fire; he used to steal from the pilgrims with his curved staff, and if he was discovered he would say, ‘It got caught on my curved staff,’ but if he was not noticed then he would take it.” Narrated by Muslim (904).
Detaining animals and tormenting them and not being compassionate towards them
According to the hadeeth of Jaabir about the eclipse prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “And I saw therein the woman who had a cat which she tied up and did not feed, and she did not let it eat from the vermin of the earth, until it died of starvation.” Narrated by Muslim (904).
Al- Bayhaqi said in his book Ithbaat ‘Adhaab al-Qabr (p. 97):
When he offered the eclipse prayer, he saw the one who was dragging his intestines in Hell, and the one who was being punished for stealing, and the women who was being punished for a cat. They had become decayed bones in their graves as far as the people of his time were concerned, but those who were praying with him did not see what he saw. End quote.
Debt
One of the things that harm the deceased in his grave is debt that he owes. It was narrated that Sa’d ibn al-Atwal said: My brother died and left behind three hundred dinars, and he left behind young children. I wanted to spend on them, but the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me: “Your brother is being detained by his debt, so go and pay it off.” So I went and paid it off, then I came and said: O Messenger of Allaah, I have paid it off for him, and there is nothing left but a woman who is claiming two dinars, but she does not have any proof. He said: “Give it to her, for she is telling the truth.” Narrated by Ahmad (16776) and Ibn Maajah (2/82); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (1550).
Jazaakillaah khayran for an excellent post. Here are some statements of the early scholars on the punishment of the grave.
This is the famous lengthy Bukhari hadeeth on the topic,
This is the famous lengthy Bukhari hadeeth on the topic,
Upon the authority of al-Bara' ibn `Aazib who said: We went out with the the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to a burial of a man from the Ansar (original inhabitants of Madina) until we arrived at the grave, and he still had not been placed in the slot of the grave.
Then the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) sat down and we sat around him. You would have thought that birds were upon our heads from our silence, and in the hand of the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was a stick which he was poking the ground with. [Then he started looking at the sky and looking at the earth and looking up down three times]. Then he said to us: "Ask Allah for refuge from the torment of the grave", he repeated this command two or three times. [Then he said O Allah I seek refuge in you from the torment of the grave][three times]. Then he said: "Verily, the believing servant, when leaving this life and journeying to the hereafter angels will descend upon him, their faces will be white as if they were suns, they will have with them a shroud (kafan) from the shroud of Paradise), and an embalmment (HanouT) from the embalmments of heaven. Then, they will sit within eye-shot of him.
Then the angel of death (peace be upon him) will come and sit at his head and will say "O you virtuous soul; come out to a forgiveness and a pleasure from your Lord ". So it will come out as a drop comes out of the mouth of a jug (with ease), then he will take it, not leaving it in his hand for longer that a blink of an eye until they (he and the other angels) have placed it in that shroud and that embalmment. And there will emanate from it a smell like that of the most sweet smelling musk on the face of the earth. Then they shall ascend with it, and they shall not pass with it by any group of angels but they will say: What is this good and sweet-smelling soul?. Then they shall say to them (he is) "such" the son of "such" choosing the best of the names he used to be called in this life. Until they reach the lowest sky, then they shall ask permission to enter, and they shall be granted entry, until they end at the seventh heaven sky, then Allah, exalted and high, shall say: "write the book of my servant in `illiyeen (1) [And what will expalin to you what Illiyeen is `illiyeen, there is a register fully inscribed to which bear witness those nearest to Allah (see 83:18)], and his book will be written in `illiyeen, and the shall be said "return him to the earth, for [I promised them] I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall extract (resurrect) them a second time (20:55)". So [he is returned to earth and] his soul is returned to his body [he said and he will hear the footsteps of his friends who buried him when they leave him].
Then two [severe] angels shall come and [terrify him and] sit him up next to them and shall ask him: "Who is your Lord?". He shall reply "My Lord is Allah". Then they shall ask him: "What is your religion?". He shall answer them: "My religion is Islam". Then they shall ask him "Who is this man who was sent among you?". He will reply "He is the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) peace be upon him". Then they shall ask him "What have you done?". He shall reply: "I read the book of Allah, then I believed in it and accepted it". [The angel will terrify him and ask him "who is your Lord?", "what is your religion?" "who is your prophet?", and this will be the last trial on earth for the believer, it is then when Allah says : "Allah will establish in strength those who believe with the word that stands firm in this world", so he will answer my Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Mohammad salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam. Then a caller will call from the sky: "My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out for him from the heaven, and clothe him from the heaven, and open a door for him from the heaven (within his grave)", so it's goodness and its smell will come unto him, then his grave will be expanded for him as far as he can see.
Then a man will come to him. His face will be handsome, and his clothes will be handsome, and his smell will be sweet. Then he shall say unto him: I bring you glade tidings of that which will make you happy [Rejoice with a pleasure of Allah and delights that endure]. This is the day that you were promised (46:16). Then he will say [and may Allah give you glad tiding] "who are you?, for your face is the face of someone who comes with good news". He shall reply: "I am your good deeds, [by Allah, I did not know of you but that you were quick to the obedience of Allah and slow to His desoobedience, so may Allah reward you good]". Then he shall say: "My Lord bring the hour so that I might return to my family and my wealth" [it will be said to him "be tranquil"].
He (Mohammed, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: { And the disbelieving [transgressor/wicked] servant}, if he is leaving this life and journeying to the hereafter then angels will descend upon him, their faces will be black, they have with them a coarse woolen fabric (sackcloth)[ made of fire]. Then they will sit within eye-shot of him. Then the angel of death will come and sit at his head and will say "O you wicked soul; come out to a anger from your Lord and a fury (from Him)". So it will be distributed (spread out) throughout his body, then it will be ripped away as a skewer/spit is ripped out of damp cotton [and in its way out it will tear and cut the nerves and blood vessels] [and then he will be cursed by all the angels between the earth and the sky and by all the angels in the sky, and the gates of heaven are closed. There is no gate in the heaven but its people supplicate that the wicked soul shall not be ascended to their side], then he will take it (the soul), not leaving it in his hand for longer than a blink of an eye until they have placed it in that sackcloth. And there will emanate from it a stench like that of the most evil smelling corpse on the face of the earth. Then they shall ascend with it, and they shall not pass with it by a group of angels but they will say: What is this wicked soul?. Then they shall say to them (he is) "such" the son of "such" choosing the most hated of the names he used to be called in this life. Until they reach the lowest heaven(sky), then they shall ask permission to enter, and they shall not be granted entry. Then the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) recited "The doors of the sky are not opened to them, nor shall they enter heaven until the camel passes through the eye of the needle" (7:40).
Then Allah, exalted and high, shall say: "write the book of my servant in Sijjeen (2)(83:7) in the lowest earth". [Then will be said "return my slave to the earth, for I promised them I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall extract (resurrect) them a second time (20:55)"]. Then his soul shall be taken away [from the sky] with a mighty hurl [until it is cast into his body]. Then he (the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) read: "and those who associate partners with Allah, They are as one who falls from the sky then is snatched by the birds or is cast by the wind into a very low place (22:31)". Then his soul will be returned into his body, [he (the prophet) said : verily he will hear the footsteps of his friends who buried him when they leave him]. Then two harsh severe and fearsome angels shall come and [terrify him and] sit him up and shall ask him: "Who is your Lord?". He shall reply "Huh?, Huh (this is an expression of sorrow), I don't know". Then they shall ask him: "What is your religion?". He shall answer them: "Huh?, Huh?, I don't know". Then they shall ask him "Who is this man who was sent among you?". He will reply "Huh?, Huh?, I don't know [I heard people saying that!]". He (the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said "And then will be said to him don't ever know and don't ever recite!"].
Then a caller will call from the sky: "My slave has spoken falsely, so spread out for him from the hell fire, and open a door for him from the hell fire (within his grave)", so its heat and hot wind will come unto him, then his grave will be contracted upon him until his limbs are caught up among one another. Then a man will come to him. His face will be ugly, and his clothes will be ugly, and his smell will be vile. Then he shall say unto him: I bring you tidings of that which will harm you. This is the day that you were promised (70:44). Then he will say [and you, may Allah give you bad tiding] "who are you?, for your face is the face of someone who comes with evil". He shall reply: "I am your evil deeds [by Allah, I did not know of you but that you were quick to the disobedience of Allah and slow to His obedience, so may Allah reward you bad, and then will be assigned to him a blind, deaf and mute person who holds in his hand a hammer, if a mountain is hit with it, it would disintegrate, and he will beat him with it until he becomes dust, and then Allah will render him to his initial form, and he will beat him again, and he (the wicked) will cry of sorrow and pain a cry that will be heard by all creatures except humans and jinn, and a door of hell will be opened unto him within his grave and will spread out for him sheets of hell fire]". Then he shall say: "My Lord do not bring the hour".
This hadith is narrated by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim. This text is the text of Ahmad, all text between brackets is from the other narrators and other narrations of Ahmad.
Notes
(1) `illiyin: comes from the root word of `uluww which means highness. It is a place in the (highest) seventh sky where the souls of the believers are gathered (Ibn `Abbas), it also carries the meaning of a very high and wide place (Ibn Kathir).
(2) Sijjin: comes from the root word of sijn which means narrowness. It is a place in the (lowest) seventh earth where the souls of the unbelievers are gathered (Ibn `Abbas), it also carries the meaning of a very low and narrow (Ibn Kathir).
Reading the previous hadith one may think that the punishment of the grave is reserved only for those who did not believe in Allah or associated with him someone else in worship, lordship, creation or in his names and attributes. It is not the case! the following authentic hadith tells us more! so let us read it carefully : Ibn Abbas (Radiya Allahu `anhuma) says that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, once, while passing by two graves, remarked : The inmates of these two graves are being tortured not for any serious sins, but in fact they are serious sins. One of them used to carry tales [gosseping] (nameemah) and the other used not to yastatir (1) when urinating. [Bukhari and Muslim]
(1) yastatir means both not covering or hiding himself from the sights of others as well as not cleaning himself after urinating.
Then the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) sat down and we sat around him. You would have thought that birds were upon our heads from our silence, and in the hand of the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was a stick which he was poking the ground with. [Then he started looking at the sky and looking at the earth and looking up down three times]. Then he said to us: "Ask Allah for refuge from the torment of the grave", he repeated this command two or three times. [Then he said O Allah I seek refuge in you from the torment of the grave][three times]. Then he said: "Verily, the believing servant, when leaving this life and journeying to the hereafter angels will descend upon him, their faces will be white as if they were suns, they will have with them a shroud (kafan) from the shroud of Paradise), and an embalmment (HanouT) from the embalmments of heaven. Then, they will sit within eye-shot of him.
Then the angel of death (peace be upon him) will come and sit at his head and will say "O you virtuous soul; come out to a forgiveness and a pleasure from your Lord ". So it will come out as a drop comes out of the mouth of a jug (with ease), then he will take it, not leaving it in his hand for longer that a blink of an eye until they (he and the other angels) have placed it in that shroud and that embalmment. And there will emanate from it a smell like that of the most sweet smelling musk on the face of the earth. Then they shall ascend with it, and they shall not pass with it by any group of angels but they will say: What is this good and sweet-smelling soul?. Then they shall say to them (he is) "such" the son of "such" choosing the best of the names he used to be called in this life. Until they reach the lowest sky, then they shall ask permission to enter, and they shall be granted entry, until they end at the seventh heaven sky, then Allah, exalted and high, shall say: "write the book of my servant in `illiyeen (1) [And what will expalin to you what Illiyeen is `illiyeen, there is a register fully inscribed to which bear witness those nearest to Allah (see 83:18)], and his book will be written in `illiyeen, and the shall be said "return him to the earth, for [I promised them] I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall extract (resurrect) them a second time (20:55)". So [he is returned to earth and] his soul is returned to his body [he said and he will hear the footsteps of his friends who buried him when they leave him].
Then two [severe] angels shall come and [terrify him and] sit him up next to them and shall ask him: "Who is your Lord?". He shall reply "My Lord is Allah". Then they shall ask him: "What is your religion?". He shall answer them: "My religion is Islam". Then they shall ask him "Who is this man who was sent among you?". He will reply "He is the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) peace be upon him". Then they shall ask him "What have you done?". He shall reply: "I read the book of Allah, then I believed in it and accepted it". [The angel will terrify him and ask him "who is your Lord?", "what is your religion?" "who is your prophet?", and this will be the last trial on earth for the believer, it is then when Allah says : "Allah will establish in strength those who believe with the word that stands firm in this world", so he will answer my Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Mohammad salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam. Then a caller will call from the sky: "My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out for him from the heaven, and clothe him from the heaven, and open a door for him from the heaven (within his grave)", so it's goodness and its smell will come unto him, then his grave will be expanded for him as far as he can see.
Then a man will come to him. His face will be handsome, and his clothes will be handsome, and his smell will be sweet. Then he shall say unto him: I bring you glade tidings of that which will make you happy [Rejoice with a pleasure of Allah and delights that endure]. This is the day that you were promised (46:16). Then he will say [and may Allah give you glad tiding] "who are you?, for your face is the face of someone who comes with good news". He shall reply: "I am your good deeds, [by Allah, I did not know of you but that you were quick to the obedience of Allah and slow to His desoobedience, so may Allah reward you good]". Then he shall say: "My Lord bring the hour so that I might return to my family and my wealth" [it will be said to him "be tranquil"].
He (Mohammed, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: { And the disbelieving [transgressor/wicked] servant}, if he is leaving this life and journeying to the hereafter then angels will descend upon him, their faces will be black, they have with them a coarse woolen fabric (sackcloth)[ made of fire]. Then they will sit within eye-shot of him. Then the angel of death will come and sit at his head and will say "O you wicked soul; come out to a anger from your Lord and a fury (from Him)". So it will be distributed (spread out) throughout his body, then it will be ripped away as a skewer/spit is ripped out of damp cotton [and in its way out it will tear and cut the nerves and blood vessels] [and then he will be cursed by all the angels between the earth and the sky and by all the angels in the sky, and the gates of heaven are closed. There is no gate in the heaven but its people supplicate that the wicked soul shall not be ascended to their side], then he will take it (the soul), not leaving it in his hand for longer than a blink of an eye until they have placed it in that sackcloth. And there will emanate from it a stench like that of the most evil smelling corpse on the face of the earth. Then they shall ascend with it, and they shall not pass with it by a group of angels but they will say: What is this wicked soul?. Then they shall say to them (he is) "such" the son of "such" choosing the most hated of the names he used to be called in this life. Until they reach the lowest heaven(sky), then they shall ask permission to enter, and they shall not be granted entry. Then the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) recited "The doors of the sky are not opened to them, nor shall they enter heaven until the camel passes through the eye of the needle" (7:40).
Then Allah, exalted and high, shall say: "write the book of my servant in Sijjeen (2)(83:7) in the lowest earth". [Then will be said "return my slave to the earth, for I promised them I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall extract (resurrect) them a second time (20:55)"]. Then his soul shall be taken away [from the sky] with a mighty hurl [until it is cast into his body]. Then he (the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) read: "and those who associate partners with Allah, They are as one who falls from the sky then is snatched by the birds or is cast by the wind into a very low place (22:31)". Then his soul will be returned into his body, [he (the prophet) said : verily he will hear the footsteps of his friends who buried him when they leave him]. Then two harsh severe and fearsome angels shall come and [terrify him and] sit him up and shall ask him: "Who is your Lord?". He shall reply "Huh?, Huh (this is an expression of sorrow), I don't know". Then they shall ask him: "What is your religion?". He shall answer them: "Huh?, Huh?, I don't know". Then they shall ask him "Who is this man who was sent among you?". He will reply "Huh?, Huh?, I don't know [I heard people saying that!]". He (the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said "And then will be said to him don't ever know and don't ever recite!"].
Then a caller will call from the sky: "My slave has spoken falsely, so spread out for him from the hell fire, and open a door for him from the hell fire (within his grave)", so its heat and hot wind will come unto him, then his grave will be contracted upon him until his limbs are caught up among one another. Then a man will come to him. His face will be ugly, and his clothes will be ugly, and his smell will be vile. Then he shall say unto him: I bring you tidings of that which will harm you. This is the day that you were promised (70:44). Then he will say [and you, may Allah give you bad tiding] "who are you?, for your face is the face of someone who comes with evil". He shall reply: "I am your evil deeds [by Allah, I did not know of you but that you were quick to the disobedience of Allah and slow to His obedience, so may Allah reward you bad, and then will be assigned to him a blind, deaf and mute person who holds in his hand a hammer, if a mountain is hit with it, it would disintegrate, and he will beat him with it until he becomes dust, and then Allah will render him to his initial form, and he will beat him again, and he (the wicked) will cry of sorrow and pain a cry that will be heard by all creatures except humans and jinn, and a door of hell will be opened unto him within his grave and will spread out for him sheets of hell fire]". Then he shall say: "My Lord do not bring the hour".
This hadith is narrated by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim. This text is the text of Ahmad, all text between brackets is from the other narrators and other narrations of Ahmad.
Notes
(1) `illiyin: comes from the root word of `uluww which means highness. It is a place in the (highest) seventh sky where the souls of the believers are gathered (Ibn `Abbas), it also carries the meaning of a very high and wide place (Ibn Kathir).
(2) Sijjin: comes from the root word of sijn which means narrowness. It is a place in the (lowest) seventh earth where the souls of the unbelievers are gathered (Ibn `Abbas), it also carries the meaning of a very low and narrow (Ibn Kathir).
Reading the previous hadith one may think that the punishment of the grave is reserved only for those who did not believe in Allah or associated with him someone else in worship, lordship, creation or in his names and attributes. It is not the case! the following authentic hadith tells us more! so let us read it carefully : Ibn Abbas (Radiya Allahu `anhuma) says that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, once, while passing by two graves, remarked : The inmates of these two graves are being tortured not for any serious sins, but in fact they are serious sins. One of them used to carry tales [gosseping] (nameemah) and the other used not to yastatir (1) when urinating. [Bukhari and Muslim]
(1) yastatir means both not covering or hiding himself from the sights of others as well as not cleaning himself after urinating.
Baarakallaah feekum.
It is well known that some of the people of innovation deny the punishment of the grave. Well, here's what some of the `Ullema of the past have said in this regard!
The Sayings of the Salaf in Affirmation of the Punishment of the Grave
1)Sufyan ibn 'Uyainah(d.197H)(rh) said: "The Sunnah is ten. Whosoever accepts them has completed the Sunnah and whoever abandons anything from them has abandoned the Sunnah; affirming al-Qadr (predestination ),giving precedence to AbuBakr and Umar, the Pond in Paradise, Shafaa (Intercession), the Scales, the Bridge over Hellfire, Emaan is statement and action, the Qur'ân is the speech of Allaah, Punishment in the Grave, being raised up on the day of Judgement and not testifying that any Muslim will definitely be in Paradise or Hell" (Sharh Usool Itiqaah Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah(no.312) of al-Laalikaee.)
2)Imaaam ash-Shafiee(d.204H)(rh) said: "Indeed al-Qadr (predestination): both the good and evil consequences are from Allaah -the Mighty and Majestic. Indeed Punishment of the Grave is a true fact, the questioning of those in the graves is a true fact, the Resurrection is a true fact, the Accountability is a true fact, Paradise and Hellfire are true facts. Whatever else is related in the Sunnah and so mentioned by the scholars and their followers throughout the lands of the Muslims is also true" (Manaaqibush-Shafiee(1/415) of al-Bayhaqee)
3)Imaaam Ahmad (d.241H)(rh) said: "From the essential Sunnah ,which if a person leaves anyone of its points-not accepting it and not having eemaan in it-then he will not be from its people are: (he then mentions ) eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave"(Usoolus-Sunnah(no.8) of Imaam Ahmad.) He also said: "Punishment of the Grave is a true fact. The servant will be questioned about his Religion and his Lord. Munkir and Nakeer and Paradise and Hellfire are also true facts" (Risaalatus-Sunnah(p.72) of Imaam Ahmad.)
4)Abu Dawood (d.275H)(rh) said: "Chapter: Questioning in the Grave and the Punishment of the Grave"(Kitaabus-Sunnah(p.900) part of Sunan Abee Dawood.)
5)Ibn Qutaybah(d.278H)(rh) said: "Ashaabul-Hadeeth are united upon the fact that whatever Allaah wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen ;that He is the creator of good and evil; that the Quraan is the speech of Allaah, uncreated, that Allaah will be seen on the Day of Judgement, giving precedence to Abu Bakr and 'Umar, upon eemaan in the punishment of the Grave. They do not differ in these fundamentals. Whosoever opposes them in any of these matters then they reject, hate and declare such a one an innovator and cut themselves off from him" (Taweel Mukhtaaliful-Hadeeth(p.18)
6)Imaam at-Tahaawee(d.321H)(rh) said: "This is an explanation of the 'Aqeedah' of Ahlus-Sunnaj wal-Jamaah upon the way of scholars of this religion; Abu Haneefah an-Nauman ibn Thaabit al-Kofee, Abu Yousuf Yaqoob ibn Ibraheem al-Ansaree and Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Hasanash ash-Shaybanee-may Allaah be pleased with them all-and the beliefs they held concerning the fundamentals of of the deen and their Aqeedah in the Lord of the worlds. "Up until when he said: "We have eemaan in the Angel of Death who is charged with taking the souls of all the worlds; and in the 'Punishment of the Grave for those who deserve it "('Aqeedatut-Taahaawiyah(nos 79-80)
7)Abdul-Hasan al-Asharee(d.324H)(rh) said: "The Mutazilah denied Punishment in the grave. It has been related from the Prophet (saw) by many ways and by his Companions (rta). Nothing has been related from a single one of them denying or negating this, to the point when there is ijmaa (comcensus) from the Companions of the Prophet (saw) "(Al-Ibaanah'an Usoolid-Diyaamah(p.201)He also said: "There is consensus that the Punishment of the grave is a true fact, and that people will be tested and questioned in their graves. So may Allaah, establish us with what He loves'( Risaalah ilaa Ahlith-Thaghr (p.279) of Abul-hasan al-Asharee.)
8)Imaam al-Aajuree(d.360H)(rh) said: "Chapter: tasdeeq (affirmation) and eemaan in the punishment of the Grave "In which he brings many of the ahaadeeth related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim and ends the chapter by saying: "So what is the condition of those who deny these ahaadeeth except that they have deviated very far and are in a huge loss"(Ash-Shareaah(pp.358-364) of al-Aajuree.)
9)Ibn Abee Haatim (d.327H)(rh) said: "Our chosen way is to follow the Messenger of Allah (saw), the sahaabah, the Tabieen and all those who followed them in goodness, along with abandoning looking into the innovated matters, to hold fast to the way of the Ahlul-Athar (People of narrations), such as Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem, Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal,Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem ,Abu 'Ubayd al-Qaasim ibn Salaam and ash-Shafiee, to hold fast to the Book, the Sunnah and the way of the Imaams who follow the narrations of the Salaf ,adopting what was adopted by Ahlus-sunnah from the various cities" Up until his saying: "Faith increases and decreases and we have eemaan in the Punishment of the grave "(Ahlus-Sunnah waI'tiqaadud-Deen (no.14)
10)Imaam al-Barbaharee(d.329H)(rh) said: "Eemaan in the punishment of the grave and Munkir and Nakeer" (Sharhus-Sunnah(no.18)
11)Al-Ismaeelee(d.371H)(rh) said: "Know -may Allaah have mercy upon us and you-that the way of Ahlul-Hadeeth ,Ahlus-sunnah wal-Jamaah is to affirm belief in Allaah, His angels, His messengers and to accept whatever is recorded in the Book of Allaah-the Most high-and what is authentically related from the Messenger of Allaah (saw) until he said: "Punishment in the Grave is a true fact" (Itiqaad A'immatul-Hadeeth(no.22)
12)Al-Qayrawaanee(d.386H)(rh) said: Under the chapter: "What is related in the Sunnah about the Aqeedah of the heart from the obligatory matters of the Deen. From this is: Eemaan in the heart and pronouncing with the tongue that Allaah is the only deity worthy of worship, none has the right to be worshipped except Him" Up until his saying: "And punishment in the Grave is a true fact and the Believers will be tested in their graves" (Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ijtimaa 'ul-Juyooshil-Islmaayihah(p.152)
13)Ibn Abee Aamneen(d.399H)(rh) said: "Ahlus-Sunnah have eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave, may Allaah protect us and you from this"(Usoolus-Sunnah(Q.7)
14)Imaam al-Laalikaaee(d.418H)(rh) said: "Chapter: a report of what is related from the Prophet(saw) with regards to the fact that when the Muslims are lowered into their graves,they will be questioned by Munkar and Nakeer, and that Punishment in the grave is a true fact and eemaan in it is obligatory" (Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah (6/1127) of al-Laaliaaee.)
15)Imaam al-Bayhaqee(d.458H)(rh) said: "Chapter:eemaan in the punishment of the Grave"(Al-Itiqaad(p.107) of al-Bayhaqee.)
From al-Ibaanah Magazine
1)Sufyan ibn 'Uyainah(d.197H)(rh) said: "The Sunnah is ten. Whosoever accepts them has completed the Sunnah and whoever abandons anything from them has abandoned the Sunnah; affirming al-Qadr (predestination ),giving precedence to AbuBakr and Umar, the Pond in Paradise, Shafaa (Intercession), the Scales, the Bridge over Hellfire, Emaan is statement and action, the Qur'ân is the speech of Allaah, Punishment in the Grave, being raised up on the day of Judgement and not testifying that any Muslim will definitely be in Paradise or Hell" (Sharh Usool Itiqaah Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah(no.312) of al-Laalikaee.)
2)Imaaam ash-Shafiee(d.204H)(rh) said: "Indeed al-Qadr (predestination): both the good and evil consequences are from Allaah -the Mighty and Majestic. Indeed Punishment of the Grave is a true fact, the questioning of those in the graves is a true fact, the Resurrection is a true fact, the Accountability is a true fact, Paradise and Hellfire are true facts. Whatever else is related in the Sunnah and so mentioned by the scholars and their followers throughout the lands of the Muslims is also true" (Manaaqibush-Shafiee(1/415) of al-Bayhaqee)
3)Imaaam Ahmad (d.241H)(rh) said: "From the essential Sunnah ,which if a person leaves anyone of its points-not accepting it and not having eemaan in it-then he will not be from its people are: (he then mentions ) eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave"(Usoolus-Sunnah(no.8) of Imaam Ahmad.) He also said: "Punishment of the Grave is a true fact. The servant will be questioned about his Religion and his Lord. Munkir and Nakeer and Paradise and Hellfire are also true facts" (Risaalatus-Sunnah(p.72) of Imaam Ahmad.)
4)Abu Dawood (d.275H)(rh) said: "Chapter: Questioning in the Grave and the Punishment of the Grave"(Kitaabus-Sunnah(p.900) part of Sunan Abee Dawood.)
5)Ibn Qutaybah(d.278H)(rh) said: "Ashaabul-Hadeeth are united upon the fact that whatever Allaah wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen ;that He is the creator of good and evil; that the Quraan is the speech of Allaah, uncreated, that Allaah will be seen on the Day of Judgement, giving precedence to Abu Bakr and 'Umar, upon eemaan in the punishment of the Grave. They do not differ in these fundamentals. Whosoever opposes them in any of these matters then they reject, hate and declare such a one an innovator and cut themselves off from him" (Taweel Mukhtaaliful-Hadeeth(p.18)
6)Imaam at-Tahaawee(d.321H)(rh) said: "This is an explanation of the 'Aqeedah' of Ahlus-Sunnaj wal-Jamaah upon the way of scholars of this religion; Abu Haneefah an-Nauman ibn Thaabit al-Kofee, Abu Yousuf Yaqoob ibn Ibraheem al-Ansaree and Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Hasanash ash-Shaybanee-may Allaah be pleased with them all-and the beliefs they held concerning the fundamentals of of the deen and their Aqeedah in the Lord of the worlds. "Up until when he said: "We have eemaan in the Angel of Death who is charged with taking the souls of all the worlds; and in the 'Punishment of the Grave for those who deserve it "('Aqeedatut-Taahaawiyah(nos 79-80)
7)Abdul-Hasan al-Asharee(d.324H)(rh) said: "The Mutazilah denied Punishment in the grave. It has been related from the Prophet (saw) by many ways and by his Companions (rta). Nothing has been related from a single one of them denying or negating this, to the point when there is ijmaa (comcensus) from the Companions of the Prophet (saw) "(Al-Ibaanah'an Usoolid-Diyaamah(p.201)He also said: "There is consensus that the Punishment of the grave is a true fact, and that people will be tested and questioned in their graves. So may Allaah, establish us with what He loves'( Risaalah ilaa Ahlith-Thaghr (p.279) of Abul-hasan al-Asharee.)
8)Imaam al-Aajuree(d.360H)(rh) said: "Chapter: tasdeeq (affirmation) and eemaan in the punishment of the Grave "In which he brings many of the ahaadeeth related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim and ends the chapter by saying: "So what is the condition of those who deny these ahaadeeth except that they have deviated very far and are in a huge loss"(Ash-Shareaah(pp.358-364) of al-Aajuree.)
9)Ibn Abee Haatim (d.327H)(rh) said: "Our chosen way is to follow the Messenger of Allah (saw), the sahaabah, the Tabieen and all those who followed them in goodness, along with abandoning looking into the innovated matters, to hold fast to the way of the Ahlul-Athar (People of narrations), such as Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem, Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal,Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem ,Abu 'Ubayd al-Qaasim ibn Salaam and ash-Shafiee, to hold fast to the Book, the Sunnah and the way of the Imaams who follow the narrations of the Salaf ,adopting what was adopted by Ahlus-sunnah from the various cities" Up until his saying: "Faith increases and decreases and we have eemaan in the Punishment of the grave "(Ahlus-Sunnah waI'tiqaadud-Deen (no.14)
10)Imaam al-Barbaharee(d.329H)(rh) said: "Eemaan in the punishment of the grave and Munkir and Nakeer" (Sharhus-Sunnah(no.18)
11)Al-Ismaeelee(d.371H)(rh) said: "Know -may Allaah have mercy upon us and you-that the way of Ahlul-Hadeeth ,Ahlus-sunnah wal-Jamaah is to affirm belief in Allaah, His angels, His messengers and to accept whatever is recorded in the Book of Allaah-the Most high-and what is authentically related from the Messenger of Allaah (saw) until he said: "Punishment in the Grave is a true fact" (Itiqaad A'immatul-Hadeeth(no.22)
12)Al-Qayrawaanee(d.386H)(rh) said: Under the chapter: "What is related in the Sunnah about the Aqeedah of the heart from the obligatory matters of the Deen. From this is: Eemaan in the heart and pronouncing with the tongue that Allaah is the only deity worthy of worship, none has the right to be worshipped except Him" Up until his saying: "And punishment in the Grave is a true fact and the Believers will be tested in their graves" (Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ijtimaa 'ul-Juyooshil-Islmaayihah(p.152)
13)Ibn Abee Aamneen(d.399H)(rh) said: "Ahlus-Sunnah have eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave, may Allaah protect us and you from this"(Usoolus-Sunnah(Q.7)
14)Imaam al-Laalikaaee(d.418H)(rh) said: "Chapter: a report of what is related from the Prophet(saw) with regards to the fact that when the Muslims are lowered into their graves,they will be questioned by Munkar and Nakeer, and that Punishment in the grave is a true fact and eemaan in it is obligatory" (Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah (6/1127) of al-Laaliaaee.)
15)Imaam al-Bayhaqee(d.458H)(rh) said: "Chapter:eemaan in the punishment of the Grave"(Al-Itiqaad(p.107) of al-Bayhaqee.)
From al-Ibaanah Magazine
Rahima Ali
Junior Member
I AGREE, AMIIN :tti_sister: