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Ramadan: 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 (go: 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). If anyone knows anything lse about this matter, feel free to add on :) @Travis-well you shouldn't be cremated if you're Muslim, cos it's Haram. @Muslim-yes, but your soul is alive in the sense that you feel, hear and see. @ Justice-I doubt it, I think the fact that one isn't being tortured is enough, forget missing an episode of The Simpsons..:P @ Wazeer-Thank you brother for the links and your answer :)

Public Comments

1. So if you're REALLY good, do you get cable TV in the grave also?
2. There is no "life" in the rave.
3. Assalamualaikum JazakAllah, may Allah reward you for this. That was very informative and thought provoking. This is an often overlooked thought amongst most Muslims ie: we don't often think about life in the Qabr, yet with every passing day we are rapidly approaching death and a life of either goodness or punishment in our Qabr, it's actually a scary thought when you think of it and let's hope it will open our eyes to cause us to change for life in the Qabr is an inevitable reality. Here's more articles on life after death: http://www.islamawareness.net/Death/ http://arthursclassicnovels.com/arthurs/heaven/sjourney.html http://www.jannah.org/articles/souljourn.html http://www.islamreligion.com/category/59/ EDIT: You welcome dear sister
4. Jazakallaahu khayr, for more about the Life in the Grave, see: "The Hadeeth of the Grave" Checked by al-’Allaamah Hamdee ’Abdul-Majeed http://www.troid.org/ahaadeeth/points-of-benefit-and-excerpts/the-hadeeth-of-the-grave.html Summary: One of the older students of Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee. An accurate depiction of the trials one shall encounter in the grave.
5. there is NO such thing as punishment in Grace,according to Glorious Quran.Glorious Quran is over and above man made concepts !
6. salam... The Holy Prophet [SAW] is reported to have said that when the corpse is put in the bier and the people carry the dead body to the graveyard, if the deceased is a pious person, he/she requests them to carry him/her as fast as they can and if the deceased is a wrong-doer, he/she curses the wretchedness in store for him/her and asks where he/she is being led to. The Holy Prophet [SAW] is also reported to have said that except human beings everything else hears the cries of the dead body. If a person were to hear the cries of the dead body, they would faint. The interval between death and the Day of Resurrection is called Barzakh. Allah says in the Quran: 3:185. Every soul will taste of death. And you will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which you have fairly earned. Who so is removed from the Fire and is made to enter Paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion. Lets make our graves, gardens of Paradise by doing righteous deeds; and not to make our graves the pits of Hell-Fire by doing evil deeds. May Allah save us all...