The Punishment of the grave

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Punishment of the grave

‘Abdullah bin Hamoud al-Furaih

The Grave

The Punishment of the grave; its comfort is confirmed by the book, the Sunnah and the consensus.

From the book: His words Almighty:
{وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ * النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوّاً وَعَشِيّاً وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ }
“And the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment. The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.” [Ghafir: 45-46]
Ibn Katheer (may Allah be please with him) said in his Tafseer: “this verse is a major primary proof for the people of Sunnah for the punishment in the Barzakh in the grave.”
From the Sunnah: there are many Hadiths. Among them the Hadith of Al Baraa (may Allah be pleased with him), which was mentioned earlier. In that:
A. The Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When a human being is laid in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their foot steps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask him: What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad ? He will say: I testify that he is Allah's slave and His Apostle. Then it will be said to him, 'Look at your place in the Hell-Fire. Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.' "The Prophet (peace be upon him) added, "The dead person will see both his places. But a non-believer or a hypocrite will say to the angels, 'I do not know, but I used to say what the people used to say! It will be said to him, 'Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Qur'an).' Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings and Jinns.”[1]


B. The Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in the two sahih that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her: “The torment of the grave is real”[2]. The Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was previously mentioned with At-Tirmidhy and the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), which is agreed upon that the Prophet (peace be upon him) seeked refuge from the punishment of the grave. The Hadiths in this regard are many.
-The pious predecessors (may Allah be pleased with them) have agreed on the confirmation of the punishment of the grave. All the Muslims say in their prayer:

" اللهم إنا نعوذ بك من عذاب القبر ومن عذاب جهنم ... "

“Oh Allah we seek your refuge from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of Hell…”

(This is) even if what they say in prayer is not agreed upon.


[1] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (1338). Narrated by Muslim number (2870)

[2] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (1372). Narrated by Muslim number (584). Narrated by An-Nasa'y number (1309)