Life in the Grave

One of the dua’s that Rasoolullah (SAW) used to make quite often towards the end of his prayer was the dua: “Oh Allah, I take refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the torment of the Fire, from the trial of life and death and from the evil affliction of the Al-Maseeh Ad-Dajjal” (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).  Indeed, Rasoolullah (SAW) said “Verily there is a pressing that occurs in the grave, if anyone could be saved from it, then Sa’d ibn Mu’adh would have been.”  The trial of the grave includes the questioning of the angels in which the disbelievers, evil-doers, and hypocrites will have problems answering these questions (O Allah, save us from hypocrisy).

Indeed, there are rewards and punishments in the grave, many of which are established through mutawatirah hadith (the most authentic kind of hadith).  Examples of reward in the grave include:

• widening of the grave
• good company in the grave
• light in the grave
• having a comfortable, deep sleep
• seeing one’s potential place in the Hell-fire, but then showing one’s true abode in paradise
• telling of glad tidings

Punishment in the grave can be cruel and harsh.  All but humans and jinn can hear the sounds of the punishments in the grave since if Allah (SWT) were to expose the punishments of the grave to humans in this life, then we would all just live in fear.  Examples of the punishment in the grave include:

• a bed of fire
• being in darkness
• being shown a position in paradise which would then disappear into a picture of the Hell-fire
• having tightness to break one’s ribs
• beating hammers in the grave

What causes one to have punishment in one’s grave?  Causes of punishment in the grave include:

• kufr/shirk
• poor cleaning of oneself after using the bathroom
• gossiping, back-biting, spreading rumors
• calling to innovations
• usury/interest
• stealing from orphans
• exposing a Muslim’s mistakes
• suicide
• committing major sins in Al-Haram (i.e. Makkah)
• learning Quran and being distant from it (including one who memorizes the Quran and does not pray the tahajjud (night prayer)!!!)
• not waking up for prayers (i.e. fajr)
• ruling against the Shariah
• eating and breaking one’s fast before time
• having one’s pants below the ankles due to pride (men only!)
• being merciless to animals
• not paying one’s debts (if one can)

Subhana’Allah, this list is very scary and insha’Allah, we are amongst those people who are spared the torment of the grave.  How can we be saved from this torment?  Two ways are by reciting the dua that Rasoolullah (SAW) used to recite (click on: http://www.makedua.com/display_dua.php?sectionid=24 and it is the first dua listed) and by Surat Tabarruk (Surat 67 of the Holy Quran).

“And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the Rooh (the Spirit); Say ‘The Rooh (the Spirit): it is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord.  And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little’” (Translation of the Holy Quran, 17:85).