Explaining that People are Tested in the Grave

Explaining that People are Tested in the Grave

118 - Explaining that people are tested in the grave

  Q: When a human being dies and is buried, will they be punished during the period between death and the Day of Resurrection if they are wrong-doers, or they will be punished for a period of time according to their evil deeds? We would be grateful if you could elaborate on this point, may Allah bless you!  .

  A: All praise be to Allah! The Sahih (authentic) Hadiths reported about Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) stress that when one is buried in their grave, two angels come to them and ask them about their lord, their Deen and their messenger. If they answer these questions firmly, Allah will open for them a gate to Paradise from which blessings and the fragrance of Paradise come to them.

Also, a gate to Hellfire is opened for them to see the abode of Hellfire from which Allah has saved them and given them an abode in Paradise instead. As for disbelievers, they will experience the opposite as a gate to Hellfire is open for them from which torture, foul odors and a fierce hot wind of Hellfire come to them. A gate to Paradise is open for them to see their abode in Paradise which they would have been given if they had done good, but since they disbelieved in Allah, Allah will deprive them of an abode in Paradise. The literal meanings of the Sunnah and the Holy Qur'an stress that the righteous will enjoy blessings, whereas the disbelievers will experience punishment in the grave. However, it is not known how they will be punished and how long such punishment will continue!

(Part No. 4; Page No. 317)

  The entire matter is referred to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). The same applies to the righteous and how they will enjoy pleasure in the grave. A believer has to do nothing but to believe in what is mentioned in the Prophetic Hadiths. As for the way the righteous enjoy blessings and the way the disbelievers experience punishment in the grave and whether such blessings or punishment will continue or not, the entire matter is referred to Allah (Exalted be He). Allah (Glorified be He) informs us regarding Fir`aun (Pharaoh) : 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‘aun’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!"

This Ayah indicates that they are exposed to Hellfire, morning and afternoon, not continuously. Thus, punishment or pleasure is determined by Allah with regard to the details and the way of punishment or pleasure. However, we know that a believer enjoys blessings in the grave, whereas a disbeliever experiences punishment in the grave, but the manner of pleasure or punishment belongs to Allah (Exalted be He). We have nothing to say about this point except for what is mentioned in the Sunnah that a gate to Paradise is open for the believer, from which blessings and fragrances of Paradise come to him and a gate to Hellfire is open for the disbeliever, may Allah save us!

  It is related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (by Al-Bukhari and Muslim), As narrated by Ibn `Abbas, Once the Prophet, while passing through one of the graveyards of Medina or Mecca, heard the voices of two persons who were being tortured in their graves. The Prophet said, "These two persons are being tortured not for a major sin (to avoid)." The Prophet then added, "Yes! (they are being tortured for a major sin). Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with calumnies (to make enmity between friends)." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that those two persons were being tortured for two sins, but he did not explain how they were being tortured. As for the sinful, nothing in the Prophetic Sunnah or the Noble Qur'an indicates

(Part No. 4; Page No. 318)

  how they enjoy blessings or how they undergo punishment in the grave. Whoever die while committing a sin from which they have not repented such as adultery, drinking alcohol or being ungrateful to parents may be exposed to the danger of punishment, but none knows anything about this matter except for Allah (may He be Exalted and Glorified). However, sinful persons are neither treated like disbelievers nor like the believers, as they will be in a rank between the two parties. In the Hereafter, the sinful may be punished or pardoned by Allah and admitted into Paradise.

They may be entered into Hellfire, but they will not remain there forever. They will be punished according to their sins and they will be then taken out of Hellfire to be admitted into Paradise. Sinful persons are no more than wrong doers, as they are neither believers nor disbelievers, but Paradise will be their final abode.

  Q: Will those experiencing pleasure in their graves enjoy continuous blessings until being admitted into Paradise in the Hereafter, or may they later be punished on the Day of Resurrection?

  A: There are authentic Hadiths reported about Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) that indicate that a dead person is tested in his grave where they will be asked about their lord, their Deen and their prophet. If they give correct answers to these questions, a gate to Paradise is open for them from which blessings, the fragrance of Paradise comes to them and their grave become a garden of the gardens of Paradise. Such blessings will remain till the Day of Resurrection when they will be taken from their grave to Paradise. If one fails this test saying, "Aa, Aa, I do not know, as I heard people say such and such thing, so I followed them," they will be punished in the grave, may Allah forbid! Then, they will be subject

(Part No. 4; Page No. 319)

  Allah's Will. If they are sinful, they will be under Allah's Will, but if they are disbelievers, they are taken from their graves to Hellfire, may Allah forbid, as Allah (Glorified be He) says: Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills

Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb

Browse by Volume Number > Volume 4 > Chapter on belief in the Last Day > Explaining that people are tested in the grave