THE NATURE OF LIFE IN THE GRAVE

THE NATURE OF LIFE IN THE GRAVE

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

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emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

TUESDAY 22nd RABI AL THANI 1439 AH – 9th JANUARY 2018 CE

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

Before understanding the articles under reference, particularly for nominal Muslims and non-Muslims, let us discuss the belief and show the six cardinal principles of Islam.

1.0 THE BASIC BELIEF – SIX CARDINAL PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM

According to Islam you have to believe in Allah, the Angels of Allah (Malaikah), the Books of Allah (Kutubullah), the messengers of Allah, (Rusulullah), the Day of Judgement (Yawmuddin), the Supremacy of the Divine Will (Al-Qadâr ) and life after death (Akhirah).

1.1 BELIEF IN ALLAH (SUBHANAHU WA TAALA)

Allah is the name of God. Some people ascribe false attributes to Allah. We Muslims have our knowledge of Allah through what He revealed in the Holy Quran or through Prophet Muhammad (Salalahu Alihi Wasallam- {SAW} - peace be upon him).

1)    “Allah, there is no god save Him, the Alive, the Eternal, Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. Into Him belongs what so ever is in the heavens and what so ever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedes with Him save by His leave? He knows that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save that He will. His Throne includes the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous” (Holy Quran Chapter 2:255).

2)    “All that is in the heavens and earth glorify Allah and He is the Mighty, the Wise. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He ordains life and death and has power over all things. He is the First and the Last and the Inward and the Outward. He has knowledge of all things” (Holy Quran Chapter 57:1-4).

3)    “Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command and unto Him you will be brought back”(Holy Quran Chapter 28:88).

4)    “The Originator of the heavens and the earth, when He will a thing He only says unto it “BE” and it is (Holy Quran Chapter 2:117)

5)    “And not an atom’s weight in the earth or in the heavens escapes your Lord’s knowledge; neither is there anything smaller than that or larger, but is recorded in a clear decree” (Holy Quran Chapter 10-61).

f. “He knows what you conceal and what you reveal and God knows well the (secrets) of (all) hearts. (Holy Quran Chapter 64:4).

g. “There is nothing like unto Him” (Holy Quran Chapter 42:11).

1.2 BELIEF IN ANGLES OF ALLAH

The angels have been created from light, they obey Allah, carryout His will and have no free will, Angel Gibril (Gabriel) for example brought revelations from Allah to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and other prophets. Other angels record our deeds or carryout other functions.

 

1.3 BELIEF IN BOOKS OF ALLAH

 

Belief in the Books implies four things:

1 – Firm belief that all of them were revealed from Allah, and that Allah spoke them in a real sense. Some of them were heard from Him from behind a veil, without there being any intermediary from among the angels. Some were conveyed by an angelic Messenger to a human Messenger. Some were written by Allah’s own Hand, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise.” [Holy Quran Chapter 42:51]

“… and to Musa Allah spoke directly.” [Holy Quran Chapter 4:164]

And Allah said concerning the Tawrat: “And We wrote for him on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation for all things.” [Holy Quran Chapter 7:145]

2 – The Books that Allah has mentioned by name, we must believe in by name. These are the Books which Allah has named in the Quran, i.e., the Quran, the Tawrat, the Injeel (Gospel), the Zaboor (Psalms), and the Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa.

Those which Allah has mentioned in general terms, we must believe in them in general terms, so we say concerning them what Allah and His Messenger have commanded us to say: “…say: “I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books…].” [Holy Quran Chapter 42:15 – interpretation of the meaning]

3 – Believing whatever is true of what they say, such as what is said in the Quran, and whatever has not been altered or distorted in the previous Books.

4 – Believing that Allah revealed the Quran as a witness over these Books and to confirm them, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures).” [Holy Quran Chapter 5:48]

The mufassirin (commentators) said that Muhaymin means trustworthy and a witness over the Books that came before it, and confirming them, i.e., confirming whatever is true in them and rejecting whatever alterations, distortions and changes have occurred in them, and ruling that the previous rulings have been abrogated – i.e., they are no longer applicable – and that new rulings and laws have been promulgated. Hence all those who were following previous books and who have not turned on their heels should submit to it, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when it is recited to them, they say: We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allah in Islam as Muslims.” [Holy Quran Chapter 28:52-53]

It is obligatory for all the ummah (followers of Muhammad) to follow the Quran both outwardly and inwardly, and to adhere to it, and give it its due, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And this is a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allah.” [Holy Quran Chapter 6:155]

What is meant by adhering to the Quran and giving it its due is: regarding what it permits as permitted, regarding what it forbids as forbidden, obeying its commands, avoiding that which it prohibits, paying heed to its lessons, learning from its stories, understanding its clear and unambiguous texts, referring the exact meaning of its ambiguous texts to Allah, not overstepping its limits and defending it, whilst memorizing it, reciting it in a proper manner, pondering the meanings of its verses, reciting it in prayer night and day, being sincere towards it in all senses, and calling others to do likewise with understanding.

This belief will bear great fruit for a person, the most important of which is:

1- Knowledge of Allah’s care for His slaves, for He has revealed to each people a Book by which they may be guided.

2- Knowledge of the wisdom of Allah in the laws which He has set out for each people, laws which are suited to their circumstances as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.” [Holy Quran Chapter 5:48].

3- Fulfilling the duty of giving thanks to Allah for this great blessing.

4- The importance of paying attention to the Quran, by reading it, pondering its meanings, understanding its meanings and acting accordingly.

Reference A’alam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah; Sharh al-Usool al-Thalathah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen.

1.4 BELIEF IN MESSENGERS OF ALLAH (PEACE BE UPON THEM)

Allah sent prophets and messengers to show people the right path there is no nation to which Allah did not send a prophet as mentioned the Holy Quran Chapter (35:24). The name of 25 prophets are mentioned in the Holy Quran. Example of these prophets are: Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (Peace be upon them). All prophets and messengers preached Islam i.e. to surrender to the Will of Allah the One who has no partners. Muhammad (SAW) is the seal of prophets (Holy Quran Chapter 33:40).

1.5 BELIEF IN AL QADAR (Al-Qadar is Allah’s predestination of measurements and sustenance of everything and everyone, according to His Knowledge and Wisdom). Allah has given man a free will. He does not force man to obey or disobey. Allah, The fact that Allah knows what we are going to do does not mean that we do not have free will, knows whether man will obey or disobey.

1.6 BELIEF IN AKHIRAH – HEREAFTER (NEXT WORLD)

Life on earth is meant to be a preparation for the akhirah (life after death) life is meaningless if people of good actions are not rewarded and people of bad conduct are not punished at the Day of Judgment. Muslim believers will be rewarded for their good actions by admitting them to Jannah (Paradise) Wrong-doers and unbelievers will be punished in Annar (Hell Fire).

We will know discuss briefly what the life after death particularly the immediate stage of next life which is ‘’Grave’’.

2.0 BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY- TORMENT AND BLESSING IN THE GRAVE AAND THE NATURE OF LIFE IN THE GRAVE

It should be noted that what is obligatory upon every believing man and woman is to believe what Allaah tells them in His Book or on the lips of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about all matters that have to do with the Hereafter, the Reckoning, Paradise and Hell, or that have to do with death, the grave and torment or blessing in the grave, and all matters of the Unseen that are mentioned in the Noble Qur’aan or in the saheeh reports of the Sunnah.

We have to believe and accept that, because we know that our Lord tells the truth in all that He says and tells us about. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and whose words can be truer than those of Allaah? (Of course, none)”[Holy Quran al-Nisaa’ 4:122]; “And who is truer in statement than Allaah?”[Holy Quran al-Nisaa’ 4:87]

We know that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the most truthful of people, and that he never spoke on the basis of his own whims and desires; it was Revelation which was revealed to him. Whatever was proven in the saheeh ahaadeeth, it is obligatory to believe in it even if we do not fully understand it. So what we have to do is to believe what has been narrated concerning the matters of the Hereafter and of Paradise and Hell, and the blessings of the people of Paradise and the torments of the people of Hell, and the fact that in the grave a person will be tormented or blessed, and that his soul will return to him. All of this is true and is stated in the texts, so we have to submit to that and believe everything that we learn from the Qur’aan or that is narrated in the saheeh Sunnah or on which the scholars of Islam reached consensus.

If Allaah blesses a believing man or woman with knowledge of the reasons for that, then it is even better, light upon light and knowledge upon knowledge. So let him praise Allaah and give thanks to Him for the knowledge and insight that He has bestowed, thus increasing his knowledge and peace of mind.

With regard to the questioning in the grave and the state of the deceased, this questioning is real. The deceased person’s soul will be restored to him; Saheeh reports to that effect have been narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The life of the deceased in the grave is different from his life in this world; it is a special kind of life in al-barzakh (the interval between his death and the Day of Resurrection) which is not like his life in this world, where he needs food and drink etc. It is a special kind of life wherein he can understand the questions and answers, so the two angels will ask him:

1) Who is your Lord?

2) What is your religion?

3) Who is your Prophet?

The believer will say, My Lord is Allaah, Islam is my religion and Muhammad is my Prophet. This will be the answer of believing men and women. Then he will be asked, What do you know about this man (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him))? He will say, He is the Messenger of Allaah. He brought us guidance and we believed in him and followed him. It will be said: we knew that you were a believer. Then a gate to Paradise will be opened for him, and he will feel its rest and provision and blessings. It will be said, This is your place until Allaah resurrects you to it. And he will be shown his place in Hell, and it will be said to him, This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in Allaah, but now Allaah has granted you refuge from it and you have ended up in Paradise.

As for the kaafir, he will be asked about his Lord and his religion and his Prophet, and he will say, Oh, oh, I don’t know, I heard the people saying something so I said the same. Then he will be beaten with an iron rod and will utter a scream that will be heard by all things apart from al-thaqalayn, i.e. jinn and men; the animals will hear it. Then a gate to Hell will be opened for him, and his grave will constrict until his ribs intermingle, and his grave will be like one of the pits of Hell. A gate to Hell will be opened for him and he will feel its heat and torment. It will be said, This is your place until Allaah resurrects you to it. Then a door to Paradise will be opened for him and he will be shown his place in Paradise, and it will be said to him, This would have been your place if Allaah had guided you.

From this we know that the grave will be either one of the gardens of Paradise or one of the pits of Hell. The torment or blessing will happen to the body as well as the soul in the grave, and also in the Hereafter, in either Paradise or Hell.

With regard to those who die by drowning or burning, or are eaten by wild animals, their souls will have their share of torment or blessing, and that will come to their bodies on land or in the sea, or in the bellies of the wild animals, as much as Allaah wills. But most of the blessing or torment will come to their souls which remain, either in a state of blessing or a state of torment. The soul of the believer will go to Paradise; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The soul of the believer is a bird which hangs from the trees of Paradise, eating their fruits; the soul of the kaafir goes to Hell.”

Every Muslim man and woman has to accept what Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have told us, and believe it as it was meant by Allaah, even though some of the meaning may be hidden from us. And Allaah has perfect wisdom, may He be glorified.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 338.

3.0 IS IT TRUE THAT ALL THE KUFFAAR, EVEN IF THEIR MORALS ARE GOOD AND THEY DO NOT HARM ANYONE, WILL ENTER HELL?

You should note that all the kaafirs who hear the message of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and do not enter Islam will go to Hell. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikoon will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures”[ Holy Quran al-Bayyinah 98:6]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, no one of this nation, Jew or Christian, hears of me then dies without having believed in that with which I was sent, but he will be one of the people of the Fire.” Narrated by Muslim, 153.

The point is not whether their morals are good, rather the point is whether they submit to Allaah and obey his commands. Do you not see the Magians [Zoroastrians] or the Buddhists, for example, who worship fire or idols instead of Allaah, and they do not worship Allaah or submit to Him alone, and the Christians who say that God has a son, and other Mushriks (those who associate others with Allaah). They are being ill-mannered towards Allaah, and insulting and reviling Him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah says, ‘The son of Adam denied Me and he had no right to do so. And he reviled Me and he had no right to do so. As for his denying Me, it is his saying: He will not remake me as He made me at first - and the initial creation [of him] is no easier for Me than remaking him. As for his reviling Me, it is his saying: Allaah has taken to Himself a son, while I am the One, the Everlasting Refuge. I begot not nor was I begotten, and there is none comparable to Me.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4974.

So how can their morals be good when they are so ill-mannered towards Allaah, even though Allaah has given them hearing and sight, and has made everything easy for them, and has sent His Messengers to them and revealed His Books to them, and bestowed His blessings upon them, so it is His right that they should thank Him and not be ungrateful to Him or disbelieve in Him. If they do not do that then they deserve His punishment and wrath. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and your Lord treats no one with injustice”[ Holy Quran al-Kahf 18:49] .

With regard to the situation of their children who die when still young, Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz was asked about that and he said:

If one who is not yet accountable dies among kaafir parents, then he comes under the same rulings as them in this world, so he should not be washed and the funeral prayer should not be offered for him, and he should not be buried in the Muslim graveyard.

But in the Hereafter his case is referred to Allaah. It was narrated in a saheeh report that when the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about the children of the mushrikeen he said: “Allaah knows best what they would have done.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1384.

Some of the scholars were of the view that Allaah’s knowledge about them will be made manifest on the Day of Resurrection, and that they will be tested, as will the people who lived during the fatrah (interval between two Prophets) and others. If they do what they are told to do then they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey then they will enter Hell. There are saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which say that the people who lived during the fatrah (interval between two Prophets) will be tested on the Day of Resurrection. These are the people whom the call of the Messengers did not reach and those who come under a similar ruling, such as the children of the mushrikeen, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)”[ Holy Quran al-Isra’ 17:15]

This is the most correct view among the various opinions concerning the people who lived during the fatrah (interval between two Prophets) and others whom the call did not reach, and it is the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and his student Ibn al-Qayyim, and a number of the earlier and later generations.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah, 3/163-164.

4.0 DOES THE TORMENT OF THE GRAVE CONTINUE UNTIL THE DAY OF RESURRECTION?

Man’s life is divided into three sections:

1 – The life of this world, which ends with death.

2 – The life in al-barzakh, which starts after death and ends when the Hour begins.

3 – The life of the Hereafter, which begins after the people are raised from their graves, and is spent either in Paradise (we ask Allaah of His Bounty) or in Hell (we seek refuge with Allaah).

So the life of al-barzakh lasts from after a person dies until he is resurrected, whether he is buried in a grave or not, whether he is burned or eaten by wild animals. The evidence that points to this life is the hadeeth narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said that after the deceased is placed in his grave, he can hear the footsteps of his family (as they walk away from the grave).

This life (in al-barzakh) will either be filled with delight, or it will be hellish, and the grave will either be one of the gardens of Paradise or one of the ditches of Hell.

What indicates that there will be either delight or torment (in al-barzakh) is the aayah in which Allaah says concerning the people of 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‘awn’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!’”[ Holy Quran Ghaafir 40:46 – interpretation of the meaning]

Ibn Mas’ood said: The souls of the people of Pharaoh and those of their ilk among the kaafirs are shown the Fire morning and evening, and they are told, this is your abode.

Ibn Katheer said: this aayah is the main basis of the Sunni’s belief in the torment of al-barzakh in the grave.(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/82)

Al-Qurtubi said: Some of the scholars quoted as evidence to prove the torment of the grave the phrase“The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon” [Ghaafir 40:46]. A similar view was expressed by Mujaahid, ‘Ikrimah, Muqaatil and Muhammad ibn Ka’b, all of whom said that this aayah is proof of the torment of the grave. Do you not see that it says concerning the torment of the Hereafter: “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!”? (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 15/319)

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘When any one of you dies, he is shown his place morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise then he is one of the people of Paradise, and if he is one of the people of Hell, then he is one of the people of Hell.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Bid’ al-Khalq, 3001; Muslim, al-Jannah wa sifat na’eemihaa, 2866).

It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that a Jewish woman entered upon her and mentioned the torment of the grave, and said to her, “May Allaah protect you from the torment of the grave!” ‘Aa’ishah asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about the torment of the grave, and he said, “Yes, the torment of the grave.” ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pray any prayer after that but he sought refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Janaa’iz, 1283; Muslim, al-Kusoof, 903).

These aayahs and ahaadeeth indicate that the torment of the grave is real and that it is ongoing in the case of some people.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him and save him from the torment of the grave) said:

If a person is a kaafir (we seek refuge with Allaah), then there is no way that the delight will ever reach him, and his torment will be continuous. If a person was a sinner but he was a believer, then his torment in the grave will be commensurate with his sin, and perhaps the punishment for his sin will take less time than the time in al-barzakh between his death and the onset of the Hour, in which case it will cease. (al-Sharh al-Mumti’, vol. 3, p. 253)

SOURCES

http://www.learnislamofficial.info/2017/12/does-torment-of-grave-continue-until.html

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http://www.learnislamofficial.info/2017/12/how-will-souls-of-disbelievers-be.html

http://www.learnislamofficial.info/2017/10/if-kaafirs-have-good-morals-will-they.html

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