Read on Twitter
Interrogation in the Grave
Asalam Alaikum
Like death, the questioning of the grave is unavoidable. Everyone who has passed away is actually alive in the grave but the true nature of this life is beyond the realm of human comprehension. https://twitter.com/CoveredInWords/status/1254645072206888960
Asalam Alaikum
Like death, the questioning of the grave is unavoidable. Everyone who has passed away is actually alive in the grave but the true nature of this life is beyond the realm of human comprehension. https://twitter.com/CoveredInWords/status/1254645072206888960
And while in that grave, each and every person will be interrogated about his faith.
No one will be able to abscond. For the transgressor and the disbeliever, it will be a testing, traumatic experience.
No one will be able to abscond. For the transgressor and the disbeliever, it will be a testing, traumatic experience.
The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said,
“It has been revealed to me that you will be tried in the grave; in severity, it will resemble the trial of al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl.”
Bukhārī #86-7087 and Muslim #905 from Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr.
“It has been revealed to me that you will be tried in the grave; in severity, it will resemble the trial of al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl.”
Bukhārī #86-7087 and Muslim #905 from Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr.
The interrogation of the grave is something terrifying to behold.
“[In this world], I have not seen a sight more harrowing than the grave”, said our Messenger who was so apprehensive of it and what comes after that one time,...
“[In this world], I have not seen a sight more harrowing than the grave”, said our Messenger who was so apprehensive of it and what comes after that one time,...
...he stood by the side of a grave as a burial was happening, weeping and counselled his Companions,
“My brothers! Prepare yourself for this day!”
“My brothers! Prepare yourself for this day!”
After burying the deceased, he would say, “Ask for forgiveness and firmness for your brother, because he is now being questioned.”
Ibn Mājah #4267 from ʿUthmān
Ibn Mājah #4195 on the authority of al-Barāʾā
Abū Dāwūd #3221, Bazzār #445 from ʿUthmān
Ibn Mājah #4267 from ʿUthmān
Ibn Mājah #4195 on the authority of al-Barāʾā
Abū Dāwūd #3221, Bazzār #445 from ʿUthmān
“The grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. If a person succeeds there, what comes after will be easier; but if he fails, what comes after will be much harder.”
Ibn Mājah #4267 from ʿUthmān
Ibn Mājah #4267 from ʿUthmān
Success and failure will be determined entirely by the faith of a person and what they did during their life. In order for us to know how to pass this most important of tests, we first need to know what questions will be asked.
Once we know what they are, we can determine what steps need to be taken, what preparation needs to done, in order to succeed.
Our narrative begins at the point when the soul is returned to the body in the grave and the deceased hears the footsteps of the mourners as they leave.
Our narrative begins at the point when the soul is returned to the body in the grave and the deceased hears the footsteps of the mourners as they leave.
Some people will be visited by two angels; stern, dark skinned with blue eyes, voices like thunder and eyes like lightning-bolts: Munkar and Nakīr.
Others will be visited by just one of them.
Abū Dāwūd #3212-4753, ibn Mājah #4269 on the authority of al-Barāʾā.
Others will be visited by just one of them.
Abū Dāwūd #3212-4753, ibn Mājah #4269 on the authority of al-Barāʾā.
They will make him sit up and sit up he will, rubbing his eyes. The sun will appear in front of him, red and dim as if just setting.
Tirmidhī #1071, Ibn Ḥibbān #780 from Abū Hurayrah
ʿAbdu’l-Razzāq #6738
Ibn Ḥibbān #3113 from Abū Hurayrah
Tirmidhī #1071, Ibn Ḥibbān #780 from Abū Hurayrah
ʿAbdu’l-Razzāq #6738
Ibn Ḥibbān #3113 from Abū Hurayrah
If he was a true believer, his prayers will be positioned at his head, his zakāh on his right side, his fasting on his left and the remainder of his good deeds, specifically charity, joining ties of kinship, good treatment of other people, by his legs.
Punishment will approach him from each of these directions and each of those deeds will state, “You have no means of access here.”
The angels will begin to question him but he will say, “Give me some time to pray.” They will say, “You can do so later, first answer.”
The angels will begin to question him but he will say, “Give me some time to pray.” They will say, “You can do so later, first answer.”
Despite their alarming appearance, the believer will neither be terrified nor overwhelmed.
The angels will ask different people different sets of questions, but all will revolve around belief in the Messenger and following him.
The angels will ask different people different sets of questions, but all will revolve around belief in the Messenger and following him.
"It is about me that you will be tested and about me that you will be interrogated.”
Aḥmad 6:140 from ʿĀʾishah
Aḥmad 6:140 from ʿĀʾishah
“What did you say about this man, Muḥammad?”
The believer will reply, “I bear witness that he is Allāh’s servant and Messenger.”
The believer will reply, “I bear witness that he is Allāh’s servant and Messenger.”
"What do you know of this man?” The believer will reply, “Muḥammad, Allāh’s Messenger, he came to us with guidance and clear proofs. We answered him, believed in him and followed him.”
What did you say about this man?” He will reply, “Allāh’s servant and Messenger, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allāh and Muḥammad is his servant and Messenger.”
"What were you on?” He will reply, “Islām.”
“Who is your Lord?” He will reply, “My Lord is Allāh, my Prophet is Muḥammad.”
“What did you worship?” If Allāh guided him, he will reply, “I worshipped Allāh.”
“Who is your Lord?” He will reply, “My Lord is Allāh, my Prophet is Muḥammad.”
“What did you worship?” If Allāh guided him, he will reply, “I worshipped Allāh.”
He will be asked, “What did you say about this man?” He will reply, “He is Allāh’s servant and Messenger.”
They will ask, “What is your religion?” He will reply, “My religion is Islām.”
They will ask, “What is your religion?” He will reply, “My religion is Islām.”
They will ask, “Who is this man that was sent to you?” He will reply, “He is Allāh’s Messenger.”
They will ask, “How do you know?”
He will reply, “I read Allāh’s Book, had faith in it and believed it.”
They will ask, “How do you know?”
He will reply, “I read Allāh’s Book, had faith in it and believed it.”
Once the believer has responded, the angels will say, ‘We knew you would say this,’ and a voice will then proclaim,
“My servant has spoken truthfully, prepare his bed from Paradise, open a door to Paradise for him, clothe him in the garments of Paradise.”
Abū Dāwūd #3212-4753
“My servant has spoken truthfully, prepare his bed from Paradise, open a door to Paradise for him, clothe him in the garments of Paradise.”
Abū Dāwūd #3212-4753
Through that opening, he will look on at its beauty and splendour. A gateway to the Fire will also open before him and he will see it, one part consuming the other and will be told, “Look at what Allāh saved you from, this would have been your abode had you disobeyed Him.”
His grave will expand, stretching out as far as he can see, becoming a green, fertile garden, and it will be lit up like on a night when the moon is full.
He will ask permission to go to his family to tell them the great news, but will be told to rest and given the glad tidings.
He will ask permission to go to his family to tell them the great news, but will be told to rest and given the glad tidings.
You spent your days in certainty, you died in a state of certainty, and in a state of certainty will you be resurrected by Allāh’s permission.”
Aḥmad 6:140, 6:353 and ibn Mājah #4268
Aḥmad 6:140, 6:353 and ibn Mājah #4268
A man with a comely face, nice garments and a pleasant odour will come to him and say,
“Rejoice, you have tidings that will delight you: rejoice in good pleasure from Allāh and gardens of eternal bliss. This is your day which you have been promised.”
“Rejoice, you have tidings that will delight you: rejoice in good pleasure from Allāh and gardens of eternal bliss. This is your day which you have been promised.”
He will ask, “Who are you, your face is beautiful?” He will reply, “I am your good deeds, by Allāh I always knew you to be quick to do good deeds, slow to do bad deeds, may Allāh give you the best reward.” He will then supplicate,
“My Lord, quicken on the last hour!”
“My Lord, quicken on the last hour!”
The two Angels will also come to the disbeliever and make him sit up, and sit up he will, terrified and overwhelmed.
They will ask him, ‘“Who is your Lord?” He will reply, “Ah! Ah! I don’t know.” They will ask, “What is your religion?” He will reply, “Ah! Ah! I don’t know.”
They will ask him, ‘“Who is your Lord?” He will reply, “Ah! Ah! I don’t know.” They will ask, “What is your religion?” He will reply, “Ah! Ah! I don’t know.”
They will ask, “Who is this man that was sent to you?” He will be unable to recall his name and will be told that his name is Muḥammad, and he will reply, “Ah! Ah! I don’t know.”
He will be told, “You did not know, neither did you follow those who did.”
He will be told, “You did not know, neither did you follow those who did.”
The same will be asked of the hypocrite, the person beset with doubt.
However, in answer to the questions, he will say, “I don’t know, I just said what other people were saying.”
However, in answer to the questions, he will say, “I don’t know, I just said what other people were saying.”
They will say, ‘We knew you would say this,’ and he will be told, “You did not know, neither did you follow those who did.”
He will then be warned,
“In doubt did you spend your days, in doubt did you die, and upon doubt will you be resurrected by Allāh’s will."
Aḥmad 6:140 and ibn Mājah #4268
“In doubt did you spend your days, in doubt did you die, and upon doubt will you be resurrected by Allāh’s will."
Aḥmad 6:140 and ibn Mājah #4268
His grave will constrict and compress around him so much that his ribs interlock, and a man with an ugly face, coarse garments and an offensive odour will come to him and say, “I have news that will distress you for this is your day which you have been promised.”
He will ask, “Who are you, your face is revolting and forebodes evil?’ He will reply,
“I am your evil deeds, by Allāh, I always found you slow to do good deeds and quick to do evil deeds, may Allāh reward you with evil.”
“I am your evil deeds, by Allāh, I always found you slow to do good deeds and quick to do evil deeds, may Allāh reward you with evil.”
A blind and deaf person will come to him carrying an iron hammer; were he to hit a mountain with it, he would pulverise it.
All of mankind, together would be unable to carry it, let alone prevent it striking its target.
All of mankind, together would be unable to carry it, let alone prevent it striking its target.
He will strike the disbeliever with that rod, crushing him and turning him to dust and everything between the east and the west will hear it strike, except for man and jinn.
He will be set upon by seventy serpents, each having seven heads which will proceed to maul him, then he will be rendered deaf, dumb and blind.
Both the disbeliever and the hypocrite will be punished until Allāh resurrects them.
Both the disbeliever and the hypocrite will be punished until Allāh resurrects them.
Points of Benefit
Everyone will be interrogated in the grave about their faith.
The importance of prayer which is positioned by the head.
The importance of zakāh and fasting
Everyone will be interrogated in the grave about their faith.
The importance of prayer which is positioned by the head.
The importance of zakāh and fasting
Good deeds in general cannot be ignored, specifically charity, joining ties of kinship and good treatment of other people.
The importance of helping other people.
The importance of not just doing good deeds, but hastening to do them.
The importance of helping other people.
The importance of not just doing good deeds, but hastening to do them.
The danger of being slow, lazy and procrastinating
The observant believer is so concerned about his prayer that as soon as he is woken by the angels, that is the first thing that comes to his mind
Allāh protects the observant believer from experiencing the terror of the grave.
The observant believer is so concerned about his prayer that as soon as he is woken by the angels, that is the first thing that comes to his mind
Allāh protects the observant believer from experiencing the terror of the grave.
May Allah have mercy on us and make us inhabitants of Al-Jannah.
