• INTRODUCTION
• ATHAAB IN THE QABR ON ACCOUNT OF GHEEBAH AND URINE
• PROTECTION FROM THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GRAVE
• THE SUBSTANTIATION OF ATHAAB-E-QABR
• CONCLUSION

Baraa Bin Aathib narrates from Abu Ayyoob Ansaari (radhiyallahu anhuma) that (once) Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) came out of Madinah towards its outskirts and the sun had set. He then heard a voice. This was the voice of the Angels of Athaab (punishment) or the sound of punishment being meted out or the sounds of those who were being punished in their graves. He then said:

“The Yahood are being punished in their graves.”When it is established that the Yahood are punished in their graves then to a greater extent will this apply to the Mushrikeen because their kufr is worse than the kufr of the Yahood.

Musaa Bin Uqbah Al -Asadi narrates that the daughter of Khaal i d Bin Saeed Bin al-Aasi narrated to me that verily she heard Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) seeking (Allah’s) protection from the punishment of the grave.

Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would supplicate: “0 Allah! Verily, I seek refuge with You from the Athaab of the Qabr and from the Athaab of the Fire.”

THE SECTION ON ATHAAB-E-QABRAS A RESULT OF URINE AND GHEEBAT

The Four Ashaab of the Sunnah have narrated (the Hadith of Rasulullah -sallallahu alayhi wasallam): “Abstain from (splashes of) urine, for verily, punishment in the grave is generally on account of it.”

Ibn Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) passed by two graves. He then said: “Verily both are being punished and they are not being punished for any major sin. One of the two used to commit nameemah (gossiping and speaking ill of people), and the other did not abstain from urine (i.e. he was careless when urinating. He did not take care to save himself from urine splashes).”

PRESENTATION OF THE ABODE OF THE INMATE

Imaam Maalik narrated from Naafi’ who narrated from Abdullah Bin Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radhiyallahu anhum) that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “When anyone of you dies, his abode (final destiny) is shown to him (in the grave) morning and evening. If he happens to be of the companions of the Fire, then the Fire (is shown to him). If he happens to be of the companions of the Jannat, then Jannat (is shown to him). This is a pleasure for the people of Jannat and a punishment for the people of the Fire by viewing their respective abodes and awaiting it until the Promised Day (Qiyaamah).”

Everything besides man (and jinn) hears the sound (wailing) of the mayyit except man and jinn. If man had to hear it (the screams of the punished mayyit), he would become unconcious.

Abu Abbaas Shuhaabuddeen Ahmad Bin Muhammad Qustulaani (rahmatullahi alayhi) elaborately discusses and substantiates Athhaab-e-Qabr (Punishment in the Grave) in his Commentary (Sharah) of Saheeh Bukhaari, IRSHAADUS SAARI, The aforegoing Ahaadith and comments are extracts from his discussion on Athaab-e-Qabr. The authenticity and strength of the various Ahaadith on this subject are conclusively established, leaving no scope for the conjecturing of the people of baatil who claim that there is neither Qur’aanic nor Hadith substantiation or evidence for Athaab-e-Qabr.

I`LAAH-US SUNAN

The following appears in I’laa-us Sunan:

“Ibn Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) narrated: ‘Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) passed by two graves and said: ‘Verily, both are being punished, and they are not being punished for any major sin. The one would not abstain from (splashes) of urine and the other would go about with nameemah (i.e. gossip).’ Then He (i.e. Nabi - sallallahu alayhi wasallam) took a fresh tree-branch and fixed one on each of the two graves. They (the Sahaabah) said: ‘0 Rasulullah’! Why do you do so?’ He said: ‘Perhaps their punishment will be lightened as long as the branches remain fresh.’” (Narrated by Bukhaari).

AHSANUL FATAAWA

The following appears in Ahsanul Fataawa:

“Some Ulama have the idea that the punishment in the grave will be only for the Rooh (Soul). The relationship of the Rooh is with the qabr. However, the correct view is that the punishment is meted out to both soul and body because the dead coming to life in the grave is substantiated by the Qur’aan. Narrating their statement (i.e. of the ‘dead’), Allah Ta’ala says:

“0 our Rabb! You gave us maut twice and you restored us to life twice.”

Verily, Allah Ta’ala mentions Maut twice. This cannot happen except if there be life and death in the Qabr. Thus, one death will be after the worldly life and the other death will be after the life in the grave.” (Umdatul Qaari)

The narrations pertaining to Munkar and Nakeer (the two Angels who will interrogate the dead in the grave) mention about ‘seating up the inmate of the grave’ , etc. These narrations indicate to the return of the Rooh (into its body).

Suyooti says in Sharhus Sudoor: “The punishment of the grave is the punishment in Barzakh……..Its (i.e. the punishment’s) substratum is the soul and the body in the unanimous view of the Ahlus Sunnah.”

The only difference on this question is on the nature of the punishment. While a minority says that punishment in the grave is only to the soul, the Jamhoor (the vast majority of Shar`i authority) say that the punishment is to both body and soul. The former group does not deny Athaab-e-Qabr.

KITAABUL MAJMOO`

The following are extracts from KITAABUL MAJMOO’ , Commentary of Imaam Nawawi’s Sharhul Muhath-thab.

“The Saheeh Ahaadith substantiate that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to seek protection (from Allah) from Athaab-e-Qabr and that he had ordered (the Sahaabah) to seek (such) protection.

In both Bukhaari and Muslim is the narration of Aishah (radhiyallahu anha) who said: “I always saw Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) seeking refuge (with Allah) from Athaab-e-Qabr.”

The Math-hab of the Ahl-e-Haqq (i.e. the Ahlus Sunnah) is that the punishment of the grave is substantiated (or proven) for the kuffaar and for whomever Allah wills from among the sinners (of this Ummah).’

Hadhrat Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “If it was not for the fact that you would not bury (your dead), I would have supplicated to Allah to make you hear the punishment of the grave..” Narrated by Muslim.

Abu Ayyub Ansaari (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: “We came out together with Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) after sunset. He then heard a sound. He said: ‘The Yahood are being punished in their graves.’” (Bukhaari and Muslim)

Abdullah Bin Amr Bin al-A’s (radhiyallahu anhuma) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Any Muslim who dies on Friday or Friday night, Allah will save him from the punishment of the grave.”

MIRKAAT

The following are extracts taken from MIRKAAT, the Commentary of MISHKAAT

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