The Trials of the Grave

Until when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, So
that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks; and the behind them is
Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. ( The Noble Qur’an 23:99-100)

The barzakh is the barrier between this life and the abode of the hereafter. Allah (swt) has informed us that once the soul
is in the barzakh, there can be no return to the life of the dunyaa. Those who disbelieved in Allah will plead to be sent
back to obey His commandments but in reality, they are but empty words. The abode of the grave is a place where we all
are destined to reside. Whether this residence is one of ease and comfort or severe torment depends on our adherence to
the proper belief in Allah (swt) and the fulfillment of the orders that He has given us. For indeed, death is inescapable as
Allah (swt) has stated, “Every soul shall taste death…” (3:185). The knowledge of the journey of the soul is one of the
blessings that Allah hasfavored this Ummah with through the Qur’an and the words of the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa
sallam). We have been informed of these matters of the unseen and it is this extremely important matter that we should
make preparations for as well as warn the people about in calling them to Tawheed. In the famous hadeethnarrated by Ibn
‘Azib and recorded byBukhari, Ahmad and others, The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) describes vividly
the journey of the soul after death. He (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) mentions that the soul of the righteous believer is
gently extracted by the Angel of Death as He (the Angel) says, ‘O good, secure soul, come out to the forgiveness and
pleasure of Allah’. The soul of the believer is described coming out of the body as easily and as gently as water dripping
from a water skin. The soul then ascends to the seventh heaven accompanied by angels after being shrouded in a shroud
with the fragrance of that which smells like the finest musk in all of the Earth. Once the soul reaches the seventh heaven,
Allah (swt) will command that his servants book be registered in ‘Illiyoon and the soul is returned to the body in the
grave. As for the evil soul of the disbeliever, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) described in detail that
horrible looking angels descend upon the body and that the angel of death tears his soul out with skewers and his soul is
placed in a crude sackcloth with the foulestodor ever smelled in the dunyaaand is cursed by the angels as he ascends to the
seventh heaven. His book is then recorded in Sijjeen and the soul is flung back to his body. Abu Hurayrahand Anas (may
Allah be pleased with them both) narrated similarahaadeethfound in Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban and others.
At this point, the trial of the grave begins. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) has unquestionably told
us that the trial of the grave is true. Are we prepared for this trial? Have we reflected and pondered over the consequences
of being ill-prepared for what awaits us in the grave and the day of Qiyaamah that follows it? Yes, before the punishments
and rewards of the Day of Resurrection, know for sure that there is a trial followed by punishments and rewards in the
grave. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says inSuratut-Tawbah,’…We shall punish them murratain (twice) thumma (then)
they shall be brought back to ‘adhaabin‘adheem (a great torment)’ (9:101) Allah tabaraka wa ta’aala also brings to
our attention a second punishment in addition to the punishment of hell when He (swt) says, ‘The Day when their
plotting shall not avail them at all nor will they be helped. And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a
punishment doona dhaalik (other than that) but most of them know not. (52:46, 47)

Imam at-Tabari and others have interpreted these ayat to allude to the trial and punishment of the grave. In a
hadeethnarrated by Faatimah bint al-Mundhir and recorded by al-Bukhari, Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is
quoted as saying that the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) said,’ And no doubt it has been inspired to me that you will
be put to trial in your graves like or nearly like the trial of al-Maseeh ad-Dajjaal. The Angels will come to everyone of
you and ask, ‘What do you know about this man [The Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam)]?’ The faithful believer will
say, ‘He is Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) who came to us with clear evidences and guidance. So we
believed him, accepted his teachings and followed and trusted his teachings. Then the angels will tell him to sleep as they
have come to know him as a believer. But the munaafiq or the doubtful person will be asked what he knew about this man
[The Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam)] and he will say, ‘I do no know but I heard the people saying something
(about Him) so I said the same.’ Faatimah goes on to narrate that the hypocrite or the doubtful person will be punished
severely. Aa’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam)
said, “And as for the tribulation of the grave; with me will people be tested and about me they will be asked. A righteous
person will be made to sit in his grave and without having any fear or terror and he is asked,’ What did you used to say
about Islam?’ He also is asked,’ Who is that man who is among you?’ He will reply, ’He is the Muhammad, Messenger of
Allah, who came with clear signs from Allah and we believed in him.’ An opening then appears (from his grave) to the
Fire (of Hell); he observes its various sections crushing each other. He is told, ’Look at that from which Allah ( swt) has
saved you.’ Another opening then appears (from his grave) to Jannah. He observes its grandeur and the things in it. He
is told, ‘This will be your place in it.’ And he is told, ‘You lived with certitude about Allah upon that you died – and upon
it you will be raised-when Allah wills.’ As for an evil person, he is made to sit in his grave in a state of fear and terror. He
is asked, ‘What did you use to say?’ He replies, ‘I heard the people say things; so I said as they said.’ An opening then
appears (from his grave) to Jannah. He observes its grandeur and the things in it. He is told, ‘Look at that from which
Allah has deprived you.’ Another opening appears to the Hellfire. He observes its various sections crushing each other.
He is told, ‘This will be your abode in it. You lived in doubt (about Allah); upon that you died; and upon it will you be
raised – when Allah wills.’ He is then tortured.”

In a hadeeth recorded by at-Tirmidhi, Abu Hurayrah(r.a.) narrates that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam)
said two angels named Munkar and Nakeer come to the person in the grave and question him as to what he used to say
about him (The Prophet, sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) and that the believer answers, ‘He (Muhammad, sallallahu’alayhiwa
sallam) is the Messenger of Allah and the Servant of Allah and I testify that there is no deity except Allah and that
Muhammad is His Messenger’. The angels then expand and illuminate his grave and tell him to sleep until Allah (swt)
raises him from it. The evil ones will respond, ‘I heard people say things and I said the same; but I do not know’. The
angels will say, We expected you to say this and the Earth will be told to contract on him and it contracts on him until his
ribs break. In the narration by Ibn ‘Azib, the angels will ask the believer, ‘Who is your Lord?’ and the believer will
respond, ‘My Lord is Allah.’ Then they ask, ‘What is your deen (religion, way of life)?’ and He replies, ‘My deen is
Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is that man that was sent to you?’ and he replies, ‘He is Allah’s Messenger,’ and they then ask,
‘What did you do?’ and the believer replies, ‘I read Allah’s Book (Al-Qur’an), believed in it, and obeyed it.’ The angels
then shake him severely and ask, Who is your Lord? What is your Deen? Who is your Prophet? In explaining this, The
Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam) said, ‘This is the last fitnah to which a believer is subjected.’ He then explained, in
this regard, the meaning of verse 27 from Suratul-Ibraheem;

Allah makes firm those who believe with firm words in the life of this world and in the hereafter (14:27)

He replies, ‘My Lord is Allah. My deen is Islam and My Prophet is Muhammad (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam).’ A voice is
heard saying, ‘My servant has spoken truthfully’ and his grave is then furnished with the furnishings and fragrance of
Jannah. The evil ones, however, will respond to the questions saying, ‘Huh, Huh? I do not know.’ He will not be able to
even recall the name of the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhiwa sallam). His grave will be furnished from the fires of Hell and
someone will be appointed to strike him with a hammer.With one strike, he will turn to dust but Allah will restore him and
he is hit again. His shrieks will be such that everything but the Jinn and mankind will hear him.

PUNISHMENTS
The detailed answer is what the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam informed us about, when he spoke of the two men
whom he saw being punished while in their graves; because one of them went around tale-bearing to cause disputes
between people, and the other one was not cleaning nor purifying himself after urinating; the second one abandoned the
obligatory purification, and the first one committed what causes enmity between people by the evil use of his tongue, even
if what he was saying was true. In this there is an indication that the one who causes enmity between people by lying and
spreading false statements will receive a harsh punishment, and likewise, there is an indication that the one who abandons
prayer will receive a harsher punishment than the one who does not purify himself after urinating, because this
purification is only a precondition for praying. In another narration, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam informed us that one
of the two who were being punished, was a person who used to backbite others."

In one of the Ahaadeeth, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam informed us about a man in his grave who was lashed
once with a whip, causing his grave to become full of fire. This was because he prayed a prayer once without being in the
state of ablution, and he also once passed by an oppressed person and did not help him, although he could have done so.
(At-Tahaawi).

Imaam Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, mentioned in his book a narration by Samurah ibn Jundub, may
Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam informed about the punishment of some
people, like one who was punished because he used to lie and his lies became widespread among people; another used to
memorize the Quran yet would sleep all night without praying, and would not apply its teachings during the day; a
third group of people were those who committed adultery and fornication; another ate up the money earned from Riba
(usury and interest). The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam informed about all these types of people as he was made
able to see them being punished in their graves.

In another Hadeeth, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told us about some people whose heads are smashed with a
rock in their graves because they slept through prayers and never performed them. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also
told us about those who are forced to eat Zaqqoom (a plant in Hell) because they did not pay their Zakaah (obligatory
charity); others have to eat foul rotten meat because they used to commit adultery and fornication; others' lips are clipped
because they used to cause dispute between people during times of trials.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also told us about a man who took a garment from the war booties without
informing the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam of this, and how that resulted in the garment becoming fire which
burnt him while he was in his grave.

The punishment in the grave is the result of the sins committed by the heart, the eyes, the ears, the mouth, the tongue, the
stomach, the private parts, the hands, the feet, and the body as a whole. The following are some sins which bring about
punishment in the grave:
 Tale-bearing, backbiting, and slandering.
 Giving false testimony.
 Causing disputes between people.
 Innovating in matters of religion.
 Talking on behalf of Allaah and His Messenger without knowledge.
 Consuming Riba (interest and usury).
 Devouring the wealth of orphans without due right.
 Dealing with bribery.
 Consuming the money of fellow Muslims, or one with whom a person has an agreement, without due right.
 Consuming intoxicants.
 Fornication, adultery, and homosexuality.
 Theft and murder.
 Deception, betrayal, and fraud.
 Usage of deception to change what is Islamically unlawful to lawful, or to prevent the performance of Islamic
obligations and encourage committing of prohibitions.
 Harming Muslims and hunting for their mistakes.
 Ruling with other than what Allaah legislated, or passing Islamic rulings which differ from what Allaah
prescribed and legislated.
 Assisting oppressors and evil doers.
 Incapacitating the meaning of the Names and Attributes of Allaah or disbelieving in them.
 Giving precedence to one's own opinions, tastes or politics over the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam, or slandering our Salaf (pious predecessors).
 Being a woman who is hired by the family of a deceased person to cry loudly upon his death, or being one of
those who listen to her.
 Singing, being a musician, or being one who listens to them.
 Building mosques over graves.
 Giving less in measure to others when one is weighing, but taking more for oneself when being weighed for.
 Tyranny, arrogance, boasting, and aiding those who have such characteristics in these qualities.
 Indifference to being reminded of Allaah, but refraining from what one is doing when threatened by mere
humans.
 Going to fortunetellers and magicians, and believing them.
 Not paying attention or giving importance to the words of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but listening
and adhering to admonition from a regular human being
 Reciting the Quran, but not being affected by it, and even becoming preoccupied by something else during it; but
when listening to music, which is an introduction to adultery and the substance for hypocrisy, rejoicing and
becoming excited, and even wishing that the music would never stop.
 Giving false oaths when swearing by Allaah, but being truthful when swearing by the name of one's Shaykh,
father, leader or anyone else whom one loves dearly.
 Openly bragging about one's sins.
 Being untrustworthy with regards to people's wealth or honor.
 Having a licentious tongue, which causes others to avoid one for fear of his evil.
 Delaying prayer to the end of its prescribed time, then praying it hurriedly.
 Paying Zakaah resentfully and only due to coercion.
 Not performing Hajj despite being physically and financially capable.
 Not fulfilling people’s due rights despite being capable of doing so.
  Not fearing Allaah in one's means of earning provisions.
 Severing ties of kinship.
 Showing no mercy to the needy, widows and orphans.
 Showing no mercy to animals.

All of the above mentioned categories of people, and others like them, will be punished in their graves on account of their
crimes, each according to how much he committed. He will be punished accordingly unless he repents to Allaah and
Allaah forgives him due to his repentance, or due to His general mercy upon the Muslims.

How to avoid it
Imaam ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "In general, refraining from what causes punishment in
the grave is the best way to avoid being punished. One needs to sit for a while before he goes to bed and hold himself
accountable for what he gained during that day and what he lost, then renew his sincere repentance to Allaah and sleep
after having repented, and when he wakes up, be determined not to commit the same sins again. He should do this every
night; if he dies that night he would die after having repented, and if he would wake up, he would wake up happy because
he was delayed and given a chance to strive hard in good deeds to make up for what he missed out on.

There is nothing better or more beneficial than such a way of going to sleep, especially if he follows this accountability
with mentioning Allaah and follows the recommendations of Sunnah in how to go to sleep and supplicate until he falls
asleep. The one whom Allaah wills good for, He will guide him to doing so."

In detail, we remind people with the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam which inform us about some
ways which will rescue us from punishment in the grave:

Salmaan Al-Faarisi, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Ribaat (guarding the front lines of the Muslim army) for one day is better (in reward) than fasting for a full month and
praying during its nights; and the one who dies while in that position will have the reward of the deeds he was doing to
continue (until The Day of Resurrection) and he will be saved from the punishment of the grave." (Muslim).

One of the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: "How come all people are tried in their graves except for the martyrs?" He sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “The flashing of the swords over their heads is enough of a trial” (An-Nasaa’i).

Al-Miqdaad ibn Ma'd Yakrib, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
said: “The martyr has seven qualities which Allaah grants him: he will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood, he will
see his seat in Paradise, he will be rescued from the punishment of the grave, he will be rescued from the Great Horror (on
the Day of Resurrection), he will wear a (special) garment of faith, he will marry seventy two women of Paradise, and he
will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family.” (Ibn Maajah). In another
narration he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The crown of dignity will be placed on his (i.e., the martyr's) head, each
corundum (of which) is better than this world and all what it contains; he will have seventy two wives from the ladies of
Paradise, and he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family.” (At-Tirmithi).

Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “There is a
chapter in the Quran (Al-Mulk) that has thirty verses; it will intercede for the one who continuously recites it, until he is
forgiven.” (An-Nasaa’i & Ibn Maajah). This Hadeeth, and others which carry the same meaning, prove that those who
regularly recite chapter Al-Mulk and apply what is in it, will be rescued from the punishment in the grave.
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The one who dies as a result of a stomach sickness will not be punished
in his grave.” (At-Tirmithi). This reward will be for those who do not despair upon their sickness, but rather persevere
through it and hope for the reward from Allaah.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah will protect from the trials in the grave, any Muslim who dies on a
Friday - day or night.” (Ahmad).

Fulfilling piety, Allaah says what means: “Verily, those who say: Our Lord is (only) Allaah, and thereafter stand firm (on
the Islamic Faith of Monotheism), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Al-Ahqaaf: 13).