Thu, 28th Mar, 2024 / 18 Ramadan 1445
الخميس ٢٨ , مارس , ٢٠٢٤ / 18 رَمَضَان 1445
Thu, 28th Mar, 2024 /
18 Ramadan, 1445
الخميس ٢٨ , مارس , ٢٠٢٤ / 18 رَمَضَان , 1445

Dear brothers in Islam,

Ayah 46 of Surat Ghafir means: [Hellfire will be exposed to them early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and on the Day of Judgment, Allah will make the followers of Fir^awn (Pharaoh) enter the severest torture]. Also Ayah 124 of Surat Taha means: [And Whoever turns away from the correct belief in Allah and his Messenger, shall face a harsh distressing situation].

These two verses refer to the torture of the grave for the blasphemers. As for the sinful Muslims who committed enormous sins and died before repenting, some of them will be forgiven by Allah and thus they will not be tortured in their graves while others will be tortured in their grave then the torture will stop and the rest of the punishment they deserve will be delayed for them to the Hereafter.

We must believe in the torture of the grave for some people, because this is confirmed in the Qur’an, the hadith of the Prophet, and by consensus of the Muslims. As for the Qur’an, the previous two verses are enough to confirm this matter.

As for the hadiths of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, concerning the torture of the grave, they are numerous, to a point that al-Hafidh as-Suyutiyy said, “The news of the torture of the grave is narrated by at-tawatur from the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam”. This means that a large number of companions narrated the hadiths of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, concerning the torture of the grave.

Also the whole nation agreed by consensus that the torture of the grave will take place for some people.

^Abdul Qahir Abu Mansur at-Tamimiyy said in his book ‘Al-Farqu Baynal-Firaq’, “The one who denies the torture of the grave will be tortured in his grave.” That is if he dies in this state.

When the non-believer dies, he would encounter the severe torture of Allah. The hardest situation a non-believer might encounter in this life would be nothing compared to the severe torture he receives after he dies. This is why the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said: <<This world is a prison for the pious believer and a place of enjoyment for the blasphemer>>. This is so because after dying, the pious believer will have great enjoyment while the blasphemer will encounter continuous torture.

Al-Bukhariyy, Muslim, at-Tirmidhiyy, Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’iyy narrated from ^Abdullah Ibn ^Abbas that the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, once passed by two graves and said: <<They are being tortured for committing enormous sins; One of them used to contaminate himself with urine, and the other used to practise tale-bearing>>. Then the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, asked for a green branch of a palm tree and he split it into two, then he stuck one in the first grave and the other in the second and said: <<May this lessen their torture >>.

Also it was narrated from the route of ^Abdullah Ibn ^Amr that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, mentioned the two angels who test the people in the grave. Upon hearing this, ^Umar Ibn al-Khattab said, “O Messenger of Allah, do we get our minds back?” The Prophet said: <<Yes, just as you are today>>. When ^Umar heard that, he fell silent out of shock.

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