Fatwa #358720 September 2001United States of America
Assalamualaikum Respected Mufti Saheb can you please tell me about the trials of the grave?Jazakallah Khair.may Allah reward you for your good work.
Answer
According to the Aqaaid (beliefs) of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah`, Adhaabul%0D%0AQabr (punishment in the grave) is Haqq (true and established). (Sharhul%0D%0AAqaaid)%0D%0A%0D%0AThat (punishment of the grave) is proven from the Qur'aan and Ahaadith.%0D%0AAllah Ta'ala discusses the punishment given to Fir'awn. He says, 'The fire%0D%0Ais given to them in the morning and evening and on the day of judgement.'%0D%0AThe fire before the day of judgment refers to the punishment in the grave.%0D%0A(Ibid)%0D%0A%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'When a person is buried and%0D%0Athe people go away, two angels approach the deceased and ask three%0D%0Aquestions, a) Who is your lord? b) What is your religion? and c) Who is he%0D%0A(Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam))?. A believer will answer all%0D%0Athree questions and he will be honoured with the clothing of Jannah. the%0D%0Awindow of Jannah will be opened for him and he will enjoy the sight of%0D%0AJannah. On the contrary, a disbeliever will express regret at not being able%0D%0Ato answer the questions. Upon that, an angel who is blind and deaf is%0D%0Aappointed to punish him. Blind so that the angel does not see the punishment%0D%0Aand feel mercy and deaf so that the punishment is not heard. The hammer used%0D%0Ato punish a disbeliever is so heavy that it can reduce a mountain to dust.%0D%0AThe disbeliever screams with pain and every creation can hear him besides%0D%0Ahuman and Jinns.' (Mishkaat)%0D%0A%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The grave is a garden of%0D%0Aparadise or a pit of hell.' (Ibid)%0D%0A%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'It has been revealed to me%0D%0Athat the trial in the grave is similar to the trial of Dajjaal.' (Tirmidhi)%0D%0A%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'If you are made to listen to%0D%0Athe punishment in the grave, you will stop burying your deceased.'%0D%0A(Tirmidhi)%0D%0A%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised, 'Seek protection from the%0D%0Apunishment of the grave.' (Ibid)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn one Hadith, two reasons have been cited for the punishment in the grave:%0D%0Aa) Not exercising precaution from the splashes of urine drops, b) Gossiping.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt was the noble habit of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to make%0D%0ADu'aa in Salaat for protection from the punishment of the grave. May Allah%0D%0ATa'ala save us, our families and the entire Ummah from the trials of the%0D%0AQabr.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A