Punishment of the Grave and its Blessings

Punishment of the grave and its blessings are included in faith in the Last Day. The proof is the Saying of Allah, “Allah rewards the pious. Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state saying (to them), 'Salamun Alaikum enter you Paradise because of (the good) which you used to do (in the world)." [(16): 31-32] 

The words that are proof in this verse are, "Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state saying (to them), 'Salamun Alaikum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise because of (the good) which you used to do (in the world)." 

They (the pious) will not be entering Paradise - which is as wide as the heavens and the earth – rather they will enter the grave in which is a blessing from Paradise. Allah also says, “Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat? And you at the moment are looking on. But We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not. Then why do you not, if you are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment, etc.) bring back the soul (to its body) if you are truthful? Then, if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarraboon (those brought near to Allah), (There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of delights (Paradise).” [Soorah al-Waqi'ah (56): 83-89] 

This is when the soul reaches the throat. The verse mention the blessings of the grave rather man is given the glad-tiding of the blessings before his soul departs. It is said to his soul, “Come out, O you soul al-Mutma'innah. Come out to the forgiveness and Pleasure of your Lord." So the soul is pleased and comes out swiftly. 

As for the proof from the Sunnah, the Prophet has mentioned in numerous ahadeeth that man is blessed in his grave, and we have already mentioned some of them. The punishment of the grave is also proven from the Book and the Sunnah. Allah says about the people of Fir'awn, “The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon.” This takes place before the establishment of the Hour. 

Allah further mentions in continuation of the verse, “and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels), "Cause Fir'aun's people to enter the severest torment!" [Soorah al- Ghafir (40): 46] 

Allah also says, “if you could but see when the Dhalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) are in the agonies of death while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): "Deliver your souls!” [Soorah al- An'am (6): 93] 

These (souls of the) dhalimun (disbelievers, polytheist) will defer from coming out because they will be given the tidings of punishment - we seek Allah's refuge from it. The souls hesitate and do not want to come out of the body in order to escape from what they are promised. 

"Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect!" [Soorah al-An'am (6): 93]

The words that are the proof in this verse are; “This day you shall be recompensed.” 'this (day)' in this verse means the present (day) like in the Saying of Allah, “This Day I have completed your religion for you." 

Accordingly, 'this day' is, 'the day of death' for the dhalimoon. Allah says, “But if he (the dying person) be of the deniers (of the Resurrection), the erring, then for him is entertainment with boiling water.” [Soorah al-Waqi'ah (56): 92-94] 

We say in the Salaat (prayers), “We seek Allah's refuge from the torment of Hell and from the torment of the grave.” So, the torment of the grave is proven from the Qur'an and the Sunnah and believing in it is from faith in the Last Day. 

IstheTormentinthegraveforthebodyorthesoul?

The torment in the grave is primarily for the soul but perhaps, it reaches the body too. However, it does not mean that the body is not affected by it at all. The body does certainly suffer from the torment or enjoy the blessing although it may not be visible to us. 

The torment in the grave is the opposite of the torment or blessing in the world. The torment or blessing in the world is upon the body and it also affects the soul while in the Barzakh the blessings or the torment is upon the soul and it also affects the body. 

Question: How can you say that the grave closes upon the disbeliever until his ribs interlock into each other whereas if we were to open the grave we would find that neither the grave has changed nor is the body affected?

Reply: The torment of the grave is primarily on the soul and is not something which shows upon the body. If it was obvious upon the body then it would not have been from faith in the Ghayb (unseen) and it would not reap any benefits. But faith in the torment of the grave is from the issues of the Ghayb which are related to the soul. 

A man could see in his dream that he is standing, leaving and returning, he is hitting and he is hit despite the fact that he had been asleep in his bed all the while. Man could see whilst he is asleep in his bed that he traveled for Umrah, he performed the Tawaaf and Sa'ee, he shaved his head or cut short his hair, and then returned back to his country – and all the while his body is in his bed without any movement. So, the conditions of the soul are not like the conditions of the body.