Punishment of the Grave

Assalamu alaikum, today's post is the final part of my notes from Lesson 182 of the Commentary of al Tajrid al Sarih (Book of Funerals, The Abridged Saheeh al-Bukhari) which was delivered by our respected teacher Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on Friday 1st February 2008. In this lesson, we studied ahadeeth 688-693. The notes below are for hadeeth 691-693.

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691. عَنْ أَسْماءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَتْ: قامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطِيبًا, فَذَكَرَ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ الّتِي يَفْتَتِنُ فِيهَا المَرْءُ, فَلَمّا ذَكَرَ ذلِكَ ضَجّ المُسْلِمُونَ ضَجّةً. رواه البخاري: 1373

691. Narrated Asmâ' bint Abu Bakr رضى الله عنهما : Allâh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم once stood up delivering a Khutba (religious talk) and mentioned the afflictions and trials which people will face in their grave. When he mentioned that, the Muslims started crying loudly. (2:455O.B.)

This hadeeth refers to the khutbah that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave at the time of the Solar Eclipse (Hadeeth 76, Book of Knowledge). The mentioned the trial of the grave i.e. being questioned by Munkir and Nakir, which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said will be as close to or similar to the fitnah of Dajjal. There was some din and clamour from the sahahab in fright when they heard this.

All of the of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaat believe in the punishment of the grave. Even the
Mutazilah who applied excessive logic and reasoning to the words of Allah believed in the punishment of the grave. Only a very small percentage from amongst the Mutazilah rejected belief in the punishment of the grave. The Shaykh said that today we find people who call themselves Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaat but do not believe in the punishment of the grave or suggest that belief in punishment of the grave is part of the creed or doctrine of Islam.



باب: التّعَوّذُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْر

CHAPTER 44. To seek refuge with Allâh, from the punishment in the grave.

692. عَنْ أَبِي أَيّوبَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: خَرَجَ النّبِيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ وَجَبَتِ الشّمْسُ, فَسَمِعَ صَوْتًا, فَقَالَ: (يَهُودُ تُعَذّبُ في قُبُورِهَا). رواه البخاري: 1375

692. Narrated Abu Ayub رضى الله عنه: Once the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went out after sunset and heard a (dreadful) voice, and said, The Jews are being punished in their graves. (2:457O.B.)

693. عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُو: (اللّهُمّ إِنّي أَعُوذ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ, وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النّارِ, وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالمَمَاتِ, وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ المَسِيحِ الدّجّالِ). رواه البخاري: 1377

693. Narrated Abu Huraira رضى الله عنه : Allâh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to invoke (Allâh): Allâhumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhâbilqabr, wa min 'adhâbinnar, wa min fitnatilmahyâ walmamât, wa min fitnatil Masih Ad-Dajjâl. (O Allâh! I seek refuge with you from the punishment in the grave and from the punishment in the Hellfire and from the Fitnah (trial and afflictions etc.) of life and death, and the Fitnah (trial and afflictions etc.) of Al Masih Ad-Dajjâl. (2:459O.B.)

Imam Tabarani narrates the same hadeeth (692) but in more detail. Aby Ayub رضى الله عنه was alone with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and carrying water for him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went away at some distance to relieve himself and then came back. Abu Ayub رضى الله عنه had the water of wudhu and then began pouring water for him so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم could perform ablution. The Prophet asked Abu Ayub رضى الله عنه whether he heard anything but he replied in the negative. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him he heard people being punished in the grave.

Hadeeth 693 - the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would always pray to Allah seeking protection from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of the fire, fitnah of life and death and fitnah of Dajjal.

Alâhumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhâbilqabr, wa min 'adhâbinnar, wa min fitnatilmahyâ walmamât, wa min fitnatil Masih Ad-Dajjâl

This du'a (supplication) highlights that not only is death a fitnah (trial and tribulation etc) but life itself.

Dajjal and the Prophet Isa عليه السلام are called Masih as Masih means the Promised One. Their coming has been prophesised hence they are promised. It also means the Annointed One. Dajjal is annointed with evil whereas Isa is annointed with good.

The Shaykh spoke about how amazing the Arabic language is and gave the example of 'Jinn' - all the words derived from the root letters ن,ن,ج are all related to with something that is hidden e.g. Jinn, Jannah, Janoon (madness) as a barrier is erected between the person and reality, Janeen (fetus), Junnah (shield) which hides and protects a person.