The Punishment of the Grave

In the Name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) 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” [Usool-us-Sunnah (no.8) of Imaam Ahmad.)” Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) also stated, “Punishment of the Grave is a true face; and no one denies it except who is misguided and misguiding others.” [Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (1/174) of Ibn Abee Yalaa.] And many other great Ulamah from Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah have made similar statements. Let us look at some of the proofs for believing in the Punishment of the Grave found in the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

It was narrated that Haani’ the freed slave of ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan said: when ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affaan stood by a grave he would weep until his beard became wet. It was said to him, “You remember Paradise and Hell and you do not weep, but you weep because of this?” He said, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The grave is the first of the stages of the Hereafter; whoever is saved from it, whatever comes afterwards will be easier for him, but if he is not saved from it, what comes afterwards will be worse for him.’” And the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “I have never seen any scene but the grave is more frightening than it.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2308; Ibn Maajah, 4567; classed as hasan by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1684].

Allaah Azza wa Jall says in Sooratal An’am Ayah 93, "And who can be more unjust than he who invents a lie against Allâh, or says: "I have received inspiration," whereas he is not inspired in anything; and who says, "I will reveal the like of what Allâh has revealed." And if you could but see when the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong¬doers, etc.) 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 Allâh other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect!" "

Allaah tells us "And if you could but see when the Zâlimûn 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." This shows us at the time and day of death the Zâlimûn will receive a torment of degradation (i.e. the punishment of the grave).

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "When (Allaah's) slave is put in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask, 'What did you use to say about this man (i.e. Muhammad)?' The faithful Believer will say, 'I testify that he is Allah's slave and His Messenger.' Then they will say to him, 'Look at your place in the Hell Fire; Allaah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.' So he will see both his places." (Qataadah said, "We were informed that his grave would be made spacious." Then Qataadah went back to the narration of Anas who said;) Whereas a hypocrite or a non-believer will be asked, "What did you use to say about this man." He will reply, "I do not know; but I used to say what the people used to say." So they will say to him, "Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran)." Then he will be hit with iron hammers once, that he will send such a cry as everything near to him will hear, except Jinns and human beings. (Saheeh Bukhaari)

Allaah says in Soorah at-Tauba Ayah 101, "And among the Bedouins round about you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al-Madinah, they exaggerate and persist in hypocrisy, you (O Muhammad SAW) know them not, We know them. We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment."

Allaah tells us "We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment." This shows us that there will be three punishments for the Munafiqeen. The first punishment is in this dunyaa, the second is the punishment of the grave, then the third punishment is the great torment in Jahannam.

Allaah says in Sooratal Ghafir Ayat 45-46, "So Allâh saved him from the evils that they plotted (against him), while an evil torment encompassed Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people. 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!"

Allaah tells us that the people of Fir'aun will daily be exposed to the fire morning and afternoon (i.e. the punishment of the grave) then when the Day of Judgement is established they will enter the severest torment (i.e. the fire of Jahannam). In a Hadeeth narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "When anyone of you dies, he is shown his place both in the morning and in the evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise; he is shown his place in it, and if he is from the people of the Hell-Fire; he is shown his place there-in. Then it is said to him, 'This is your place till Allaah resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection." (Saheeh Bukhaari)

Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala says in Soorah at-Tur Ayat 45-47, “So leave them alone till they meet their Day, in which they will sink into a fainting (with horror). The Day when their plotting shall not avail them at all nor will they be helped (i.e. they will receive their torment in Hell). And verily, for those who do wrong, there is another punishment (i.e. the torment in this world and in their graves) before this, but most of them know not. [Tafsir At-Tabarî, Vol. 27, Page 36].”

"Leave them alone till they meet their day" meaning the Day of Resurrection, when they will receive their torment in Hell. "And verily for those who do wrong, there is another punishment before this, (i.e. once again mentioning the punishment of the grave) but most of them know not." Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) is quoted as saying: ‘There are many authentic ahaadeeth that prove the existence of the punishment and the bliss in the grave to whoever deserves them, and also the questioning of the two angels in the grave.’

Al-Tirmidhi (1071) narrated that Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu anhu) said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When the deceased – or one of you – is buried, there come to him two black and blue angels, one of whom is called al-Munkar and the other al-Nakeer. They say: ‘What did you say about this man?’ and he says what he used to say: ‘He is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ They say: ‘We knew that you would say that.’ Then his grave is made spacious for him, seventy cubits by seventy, and it is illuminated for him. Then it is said to him: ‘Sleep,’ and he says: ‘May I go back to my family and tell them?’ They say: ‘Sleep like the bridegroom who will be woken by none but the dearest of his family to him,’ until Allaah raises him from that resting-place of his.”

But if he is a hypocrite he says: ‘I heard the people saying something so I said something like what they said. I do not know.’ They say: ‘We knew that you would say that.’ Then it is said to the earth: ‘Squeeze him.’ So it squeezes him until his ribs interlock, and he will continue to be tormented therein until Allaah raises him from that resting-place of his.” [This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.]

It was narrated that al-Bara’ (radiyallaahu anhu) said: We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave”, two or three times. Then he said, “When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allaah and His pleasure.’ Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the the mouth of a waterskin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allaah, until they reach the seventh heaven. Then Allaah says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’ So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).’ They say, ‘What did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.’ Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this day.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.’ He says, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.’ But when the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with black faces, bringing sackcloth, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of Allaah and His anger.’ Then his soul disperses inside his body, then comes out cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer passing through wet wool. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is not opened.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning):

“for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle”
[al-A’raaf 7:40]

He said: “Then Allaah says, ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’ So his soul is cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“and whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place”
[al-Hajj 22:31]

He said: “Then his soul is returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’ Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses him until his ribs interlock. Then there comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul stench, who says, ‘Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which forebodes evil.’ He says, ‘I am your evil deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour come.’” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4753; Ahmad, 18063 – this version was narrated by him. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1676.]

I cant not say I have done any justice to this topic, but Inshaa’Allaah you can do further research on this subject if you still have anyone doubts about it or to go more into detail. I end with a hadeeth narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiyallaahu anhu): Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say, "O Allaah! I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and geriatric old age, and seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, and I seek refuge with You from the afflictions of life and death." (Saheeh Bukhaari)