Belief in the Last Day Part One: The Barzakh

Belief in the Last DayPart One: The Barzakh Abu AbdirRahman Muhammad Humble

The Moment of Death • Why do we study the moment of death as part of our belief in the Last Day, when the person is still alive? • The moment of death is like an introduction to what is to come • In it, several signs appear of what the person will experience after death • Allah makes it easy for whoever He wills and hard for whoever He wills, but generally it is a very hard time

The Moment of Death in the Qu’raan • “And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties]. * Then they His servants are returned to Allah , their true Lord. Unquestionably, His is the judgement, and He is the swiftest of accountants.” [Al-An’aam 6:60-61] • “Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat * And you are at that time looking on - * And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see - * Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed, * Bring it back, if you should be truthful? * And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah, * Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure. * And if he was of the companions of the right, * Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right." * But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, * Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water * And burning in Hellfire * Indeed, this is the true certainty, * So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.” [Al-Waaqi’ah 56:83-96] • “And the stupor of death will come in truth: "This is what you have been avoiding!”” [Qaaf 50:19]

The Moment of Death in the Sunnah • The Prophet (peace be upon him) said at the time of his death: “laailaahailla-Allah, indeed death has its pains” • Allah can remove the pain from whoever He wills • From those who will not feel the pain of death are the shuhadaa’: “A martyr only feels from the effect of being killed that which one would when being bitten by a mosquito” [At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’ee, Ad-Daarimee]

The State of a Believer – from the Qur’aan • “Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. * We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] * As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful.”” [FuSSilat 41:30:32] • This descending of the angels, happens three times: • The moment of death • The time of resurrection • When entering Jannah

The State of a Disbeliever – from the Qur’aan • “And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.” [Al-Anfaal 8:50] • “...And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.”” [Al-An’aam 6:93] • “Then how [will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs? * That is because they followed what angered Allah and disliked [what earns] His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds.” [Muhammad 47:27-28]

The State of a Believer and Disbeliever – from the Sunnah • The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him” [Bukhari] • The long hadith of Al-Baraa’ bin ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) will come later inshaa Allah

Issues Related to the Moment of Death (1) • What is death? • Death is the separation of the soul from the body • What is the soul? • Allah has only given us a very limited amount of knowledge: “And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.”” [Al-Israa’ 17:83] • What we know is that the soul is something created, which exists in reality, and is able to exist independently of the body, and has various attributes which are mentioned in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah

Issues Related to the Moment of Death (2) • Does the soul die? • It depends what you mean • If you mean that the person experiences death, and the soul separates from the body, then yes • If you mean that the soul ceases to exist, then no, the soul does not die • How do we reconcile this principle with Allah’s statement: “Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. * And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever”? • Allah is the One who remains forever Himself, without any need of others • Allah may choose to allow something else to remain forever, but it only remains forever because Allah allows it to do so, and it cannot remain forever without His permission

The End of the Moment of Death • The moment of death ends when the soul leaves the body

The Trial of the Grave • This is the questioning of the dead person in his grave, about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet (peace be upon him) • Allah says: “Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.” [Ibrahim 14:27] • The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained that this aayah refers to the questioning in the grave [Bukhari] • From the hadith of Asmaa’ (may Allah be pleased with her) as narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It has been revealed to me that you will be tried in your graves, equal – or near to – the trial of the Maseeh Ad-Dajaal”

The Hadith of Al-Baraa’ bin ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) • It was narrated that al-Bara’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave”, two or three times. Then he said, “When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allaah and His pleasure.’

Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the mouth of a waterskin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allaah, until they reach the seventh heaven. Then Allaah says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’

So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).’ They say, ‘What did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.’ Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this day.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.’ He says, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.’

But when the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with black faces, bringing sackcloth, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of Allaah and His anger.’ Then his soul disperses inside his body, then comes out cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer passing through wet wool. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is not opened.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning): “for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle” [al-A’raaf 7:40] .

He said: “Then Allaah says, ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’ So his soul is cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “and whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place” [al-Hajj 22:31]. He said: “Then his soul is returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’ Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses him until his ribs interlock. Then there comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul stench, who says, ‘Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which forebodes evil.’ He says, ‘I am your evil deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour come.’”

Issues Relating to the Trial of the Grave (1) • Is this trial for every ummah, or only for our ummah? • The correct opinion is that it is for every ummah, not only the ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) • There are some who will be exempt from the questioning: • The Prophets (peace be upon them), for two reasons; Firstly, there is a text that the martyrs will not be questioned, and the Prophets are better than them. Secondly, the ummah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) will be asked about who he is, so how can it be that he will be asked? • The martyrs. A man said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Why is it that the believers are tried in their graves except the shaheed?” He replied (peace be upon him): “the shining of swords over his head is enough of a trial”[Sunan An-Nasaa’ee – Al-Albaanee declared it authentic] • The soldier who dies guarding Muslim territory for the sake of Allah, as is found in the hadith of Salmaan (may Allah be pleased with him): “[guarding territory] for a day and a night is better than fasting and praying for a month, and if he dies, and his deeds that he used to do continue...and he is saved from the trial” [Muslim] • Whoever dies on the day of Jumu’ah or the night before. “There is no Muslim who dies on the day of Jumu’ah or the night of Jumu’ah except that Allah saves him from the fitnah of the qabr” [Tirmidhi and the chain of narrators is disconnected, Shaykh Al-Albaani declared it hasan or saheeh because of the various chains which support it] • Those who are not required to follow the rulings of the shari’ah, such as the young and the insane. This is because the fitnah is a part of what Allah has obligated upon us, and these people are not under this obligation in the first place

Issues Relating to the Trial of the Grave (2) • Is the disbeliever tried in his grave? • The majority of the scholars held the opinion that they are tried in their graves. • Some scholars, including Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr and As-Suyootee, held the opinion that the munaafiq is tried, but not the disbeliever • Their proof for this were certain wordings of the hadith which included: “kaafir or munaafiq” • The correct opinion is that of the majority and the correct wording is “kaafir and munaafiq” • Are the two angels called Munkar and Nakeer or is it a description of them? • This is something which the scholars disagree about. Allah knows best. However, we do know from their descriptions that they are harsh and hard upon those who they question

The Connection of the Soul with the Body • IbnulQayyim mentions five different phases, as follows: • The connection of the soul with the body when the person is a baby in their mother’s womb • The connection of the soul with the body when the person is born into this world • The connection of the soul with the body when the person is asleep • The connection of the soul with the body when the person is in the life of the barzakh • The connection of the soul with the body on the Last Day, and this is the most complete form

The Punishment of the Grave • Why is the punishment referred to as being “of the grave”- what about the person who is cremated for example? • Al HaafiDhIbnHajar said: “The reason that the punishment is referred to as being “of the grave” is because most punishment happens there, and because most of the dead are buried in graves. However, the kaafir, and whoever Allah wills to be punished from the disobedient Muslims, will be punished after their death, even if they are not buried, however this is hidden from Allah’s creation except who Allah wills”

Is the Punishment of the Grave Mentioned in the Qur’aan? (1) • “So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment - * The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And on the Day when the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.”” [Ghaafir 40:45-46] • “...And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.”” [Al-An’aam 6:93] • “And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.” [Al-Anfaal 8:50] • “We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment.” [At-Tawbah 9:101]

Is the Punishment of the Grave Mentioned in the Qur’aan? (2) • “And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a life of hardship, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” [Taa-Haa 21:124] • “Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat * And you are at that time looking on - * And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see - * Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed, * Bring it back, if you should be truthful? * And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah, * Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure. * And if he was of the companions of the right, * Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right." * But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, * Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water * And burning in Hellfire * Indeed, this is the true certainty, * So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.” [Al-Waaqi’ah 56:83-96] • Homework: What is the connection of this aayah to the punishment of the grave?

The Punishment of the Grave in the Sunnah (1) • Abu Ayyuub (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) went out when the sun had risen, when he heard a noise and said: ‘Jews being punished in their graves’” [Agreed Upon] • Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “law laa an laatudaafinoo I would have asked Allah to let you hear some of the punishment of the grave” [Muslim] • The first sentence has several meanings: • If it were not for my fear that you would not bury your dead because you feared their punishment in the grave (weak) • If it were not for my fear that you would not bury your dead because you feared to come near the graves, due to the sounds that you heard • If it were not for my fear that you would die from the horror of what you heard

The Punishment of the Grave in the Sunnah (2) • ‘Aa’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that a Jewish woman came to her and mentioned the punishment of the grave, and said to her: “I seek Allah’s refuge from your being punished in the grave”, so ‘Aa’isha asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the punishment of the grave, and he said: “Yes, the punishment of the grave is true.” ‘Aa’isha said: “I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) pray a prayer after that except that he sought refuge from the punishment of the grave” [Bukhari]

The Bliss of the Grave • Just as the disbeliever is punished in the grave, the believer is rewarded with bounty and pleasure from Allah • There are several reports of this in the sunnah. From them is the hadith of Ka’b bin Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “the soul of a believer is a bird which feeds from the trees of paradise until Allah returns it to its body on the Day of Resurrection” [IbnHibbaan, Maalik, & Others, Al-Albaanee declared it authentic] • We already heard the long hadith of Al-Baraa’

Some Issues Relating to the Punishment of the Grave • Does the punishment affect the soul or the body or both? • ShaykhulIslaamIbnTaymiyyah said: “Rather the punishment and bliss happen to the soul and the body together by agreement of Ahl-us-Sunnahwal-Jamaa’ah. The soul experiences the bliss and the punishment independantly, just as it experiences it with the body, so the bliss and punishment happen to them both together, just as they happen to the soul on its own” • Does the punishment of the grave stop? • There is no doubt that the punishment of a disbeliever is constant • As for the disobedient Muslim, it can be constant, and it can stop for several reasons, including the du’aa of someone for them, or because of a good deed that they have done

Why can’t we see the Punishment of the Grave? • Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned: • The hadith “If it were not that...” which has preceded • The sins of the dead person are concealed • There would be a great burden on the person’s family • The people would speak ill of the person’s family and taunt them • We could die as a result of hearing or seeing the punishment because of its severity • The test of our imaan would not be so great, because it would be something obvious that everyone would believe in

Causes of Punishment • The fundamental cause is sin and disobedience • The following causes have been mentioned in the authentic texts besides the general cause: • Spreading tales to cause emnity • Not keeping one’s self clean from urine • Stealing from the war booty • Letting the clothes fall below the ankle (men only) • Lying a lie which reaches the horizon • Learning the Qur’aan, then sleeping (and not reading) at night and not acting upon it by day • Fornication • Usury

Causes of Being Saved • In general: all good deeds • Some of the points which are mentioned in the authentic texts: • Being martyred for the sake of Allah • Dying from a disease of the stomach • Reading Surah Tabaarak every night • Constantly seeking refuge from the punishment of the grave

Belief in the Last Day Part One: The Barzakh