Grave- Journey of the Souls. ( Part 1 )

"Everyone will test death and only on the day of Judgement will we be paid our wages in full. Whoever is moved away from the fire and admitted to Paradise, he is indeed the successful."

Allah loves us so very much then why would He want to burn us in hell fire? Why did He create hell at all? A mother can never burn her child, so how could Allah who is said to love us more than a mother want to burn us in the fires of hell?

So in order to answer the above questions i have a question inturn for us all. 

Have any of you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where people aren't punished for the crimes they commit?  

Imagine your mother or father saying that they would punish you if you dont behave properly and even when you behaved very badly they still dont go through with their word? 

And what about justice? Should the people who caused disruption in our lives, be ignored, without even a trial?

Allah loves us more than a mother and therefore He has every right to punish us for our sins.

A mistake is something that Allah will over look insha Allah ( if He wills) because when people make a mistake they almost immediately repent and they feel ashamed and sorry, and we all know that Allah is the Ar-Rehmaan and Ar-Raheem which means the most Merciful and the most Compassionate, so He will insha Allah ( if He wills) would forgive us.  

But when people commit a sin then, thats a different story because they knew that it was wrong and they shouldn't have done it yet they still did, they down right disobeyed Allah and so for the sinners there will be a punishment, but then again as long as they repent and never do it again, Allah the most Merciful and the most Compassionate one will forgive them insha Allah.

Actions speak louder than words. We can apologize over and over, but if our actions do not change, then our words become meaningless. 

But He will forever be true to His words. The believers will get to spend an eternity in heaven and the sinners will pay for their sins in hell along side the non believers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran (400 years ago)  

Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verses 12-16: 

12 Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay); 

13 Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest firmly fixed; 

14 Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature: so blessed be Allah the Best to create! 

15 After that at length ye will die.

The journey to heaven and hell or rewards and punishments begins with death. 

The Prophet Mohammad pbuh has said about the souls of the people who believe in Allah and His Oneness that,  

"When the believer is dying, the angels come down from heaven with a kaffan (the cloth to be wrapped on a dead body) and they descend and sit infront of that person and then the angel of death descends and tells the believer to be happy and pleased with the promise of Allah for him of Paradise. And he then calls the soul to come out. 

And the soul comes out as easily as removing a hair from butter or like a drop of water flowing down from a jug ( that is how easily it would slide out of the body). 

All the other angels would want to take the honour of holding that soul and wrapping it in the kaffan. And then they would carry it to heaven.  

And whenever they pass by a group of angels, those angels would smell a beautiful scent coming from that kaffan and ask whose soul is this and the angels carrying the soul would say, this is the soul of so and so person and call him with his best names. 

On reaching the lowest heaven the gates of that heaven would open and the angels of that heaven would accompany the soul and then the angels of the heaven above it would accompany too and so on and so forth till it reaches to Allah subhaan wata'ala. 

And then Allah will deliver the promise of heaven to that soul and then He would tell the angels to take the soul back to earth because that is where He created us from and that is where we shall return and that is where we would be resurrected from. So then the soul would descend down with the honour of Allah subhaan wata'ala."

And then the Prophet Mohammad pbuh has said about the non believers and hypocrites souls that,  

" When the non believer is dying, then angels will come and stand near him with a kaffan brought from hell fire and then the angel of death will come and give the news of hell to that person and call the soul to come out but the soul would disperse around the body and try to cling to every nerve and muscle ( it does not want to leave). 

So the angel of death then starts pulling the soul out. 

The pain of that soul is like pulling out a wet cloth of wool from a thorny bush. ( it is tearing apart the nerves and muscles of that person). 

As soon as the soul is out, it is wrapped in the kaffan ( cloth to wrap the deceased body) brought from hell and taken to heaven. It has a stinking smell and whenever the soul passes next to an angel, he would curse at it and ask whose soul it is and to that the other angels would reply by calling the person with his worst names.

The doors of heaven would not be opened up for the soul. And then Allah will say ' throw that soul into the lowest earth' and so that soul would be thrown down with a disgrace from Allah subhaanahu wata'ala."

The people during the time of the Prophet Mohammad pbuh had soft hearts, unlike us whose hearts light up with a temporary light of faith. We hear, we fear, we obey ( atleast for a while) and then we forget.

Fear the punishments of the grave and obey and be the best persons and the best believers that you can be, because 

[Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 132] 

the Prophet pbuh has said that " the grave is the first step towards the day of Judgement. If you make it through it, then whatever comes after it will be easier and if you cannot make it through the grave, then whatever will come after it will be worse." 

He also said " everything horrific that i have seen, the grave is the most horrific. Nothing in my life, is as worse as what i have seen in the grave."

Allah just wants us to  

-> pray 5 times a day,  

-> give charity ( atleast during Ramadan, He is the one who blessed us with money so why not help out the people in need? Allah will no doubt give us more, lets just learn to share),  

-> fast during the month of Ramadan ( its just 30 days of fasting thats it, shame on us if we cant even control our hunger for a few hours each day for just a month, it not only cleanses our body but also cleanses our soul), 

-> go for pilgrimage ( Haj, that is if you can afford it, because its said that by doing Haj all our previous sins will be forgiven and our soul will be as pure as a new born babies)  

-> and of course the biggest thing, to have faith in the Oneness of Allah and to have faith in His angels, Prophets, heaven, hell, day of Judgement and His books  

( Tawraat Holy book of Moses pbuh, 

Injeel/Bible Holy book of Jesus pbuh,  

Zabur Holy book of David pbuh and Qur'an Holy book of Mohammed pbuh). 

The act which is absolutely forbidden in islam is  

* having relations with the person of the same gender (gays or bisexuals etc) 

-> oh and to stay away from the kabeerah (major) sins which are  

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.28, 8.8 

* murdering or killing a human intentionally without just cause 

* doing black magic 

* engaging in fornication/zina ( sex before marraige) and adultery 

* to be undutiful or unkind to one's parents 

* unjust eating of orphans property 

* to give back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting 

* to accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers."

Allah isnt telling us to do anything which is complicated or complex, these are just basic things that humans should do, to make, not only their life but also their after life better.

In todays world we have made halaal (lawful) things hard and haraam (unlawful) things easy, like marraige and fornication for example. People find it hard to marry these days while sex before marraige is easier for them.  

Weddings have become so expensive unlike the weddings which used to happen during the time of the Prophets, and even finding a good groom or bride has become difficult because these days instead of looking for pious and good mannered boy or girl, people are looking for a handsome or extremely beautiful or rich or highly educated person, who by the way, is very very hard to find. 

Beauty comes and goes so does money, but characters and good manners are here to stay.  

For some people their pious spouse become the key to heaven for them because their spouse help them in their religion and so in the end marrying a pious, good natured person over a handsome, rich dude who might not even be pious is totally worth it.

Remember 

" The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception."

Trails and Tribulations of the grave:

Once the person is buried the earth greets him by hugging him, since he was part of the earth and to the earth he has returned. But the hug is nowhere near to gentle, its more like a painful squeeze.

The Prophet pbuh has said that, 

One of the leaders of the city of Medinah named Saad bin Umaaz was honoured by Allah in such a way that 70,000 angels accompany his soul to heaven, doors of which opened up for him but still the grave squeeze him too and then release him.  

He was one of the men who had opened the city of Medinah for the Prophet Mohammad pbuh, who had hosted him and was the best host and who defended him until his death. And Allah showered honours at him but even he was squeezed in his grave.

The Prophet pbuh also said that if we knew the trials and tribulations of the grave, we wouldnt be able to bury our dead.

[Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5352] 

Narrated by Abu Sa'id 

The Prophet (saws) said: "A day does not come to the grave without its saying, 'I am the house of exile, I am the house of solitude, I am the house of dust, I am the house of worms.' When a believer dies the grave says to him, 'Welcome and greeting; you are indeed the dearest to me of those who walk upon me. I have been given charge of you today. You have come to me, and you will see how I shall treat you (with dignity and honor).' It will then expand for him as far as the eye can see and a door to Paradise will be opened for him. But when the disbeliever is buried the grave says to him, 'No welcome and no greeting to you. You are the most hateful to me of those who walk upon me. I have been given charge of you today. You have come to me, and you will see how I shall treat you.' Seventy dragons will be put in charge of him, of such a nature, that if one of them were to breathe on the earth, it would produce no crops as long as the world lasted, and they will bite and scratch him till he is brought to the Day of Reckoning.

After the person is buried two angels named Munkeer/Munkar and Nakeer descend upon him 

These angels would scream, shock and surprise that person, so basically conversation with these two angels wont really be polite. And they are very tough and strong and would want a direct and immediate answer to their questions. 

Believer or not, they will approach everyone in the same way and ask four questions. The answers to these questions will either win us an eternity in Paradise or an eternity in Hell. 

The questions would be 

1Q. Who is your Lord? 

2Q. What is your religion? 

3Q. Who is your Prophet? 

4Q. What is your Holy book? 

One wrong answer and you've lost heaven.

The believer would say,  

1A. My Lord is ALLAH. 

2A. My religion is ISLAM. 

3A. My Prophet is MOHAMMED pbuh. 

4A. My Holy book is QURA'AN. 

Munkeer and Nakeer would then hear a sound from above saying that my servant is saying the truth. 

So basically they ask the questions and the All Knowing Lord, the most beloved Allah would Himself verify the answers.

[Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4735] Narrated by Al-Bara' ibn Azib 

The Prophet (saws) said: "When a believer is buried in the grave two angels will come to him (Munkar and Nakir, both have dark faces and blue eyes), make him sit up, and ask : 'Who is your Lord?' He will reply: 'My Lord is Allah.' They will ask him: 'What is your religion?' He will reply: 'My religion is Islam.' They will ask him: 'What is your opinion about the man who was sent on a mission among you?' He will reply: 'He is the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).' They will ask: ' Who made you aware of this?' He will reply: 'I read Allah's Book, believed in it, and considered it true.' Then a crier will call from Heaven: 'My servant has spoken the truth. So spread a bed for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him into Paradise.' Then some of its air and perfume will come to him, and a space will be made for him as far as the eye can see. At the death of the unbeliever his soul will be restored to his body in the grave. Then two angels ( Munkeer and Nakeer) will come to him. They will make him sit up and ask him: 'Who is your Lord?' He will reply: 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' They will ask him: 'What is your religion?' He will reply: 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' They will ask: 'Who was the man who was sent on a mission among you?' He will reply: 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' Then a crier will call from Heaven: 'He has lied, ( as in he is a non believer or hypocrite) so spread a bed for him from Hell, clothe him from Hell, and open for him a door into Hell. Then some of its heat and burning hot wind will come to him, and his grave will be compressed, such that his ribs will be crushed together. An angel who is blind and dumb will then be placed in charge of him, having a sledge-hammer, such that, if a mountain were struck with it, it would become dust. He will give him a blow with it, which will be heard by everything between the east and the west except by men and jinn, and he will become dust. Then his soul will be restored to him (again).

Just the belief in One God alone isnt sufficient, you need to believe in all His messengers too, His representatives on earth. Like Mohammed pbuh, Jesus pbuh, Abraham pbuh, Noah pbuh, David pbuh and Moses pbuh and the others and you need to believe in the Holy books and Day of Judgement and heaven and hell.

This will be the last test for the believers, after answering these questions the believers wouldn't have to go through any more trials. 

But the punishments of the non believers and hypocrites from here are eternal.

Rewards and punishments of the grave:

Once the believer gives the right answers, a voice calls from heaven and says 

" my servant is telling the truth, so furnish his grave from Heaven and provide him clothes from Heaven and open for him a gate to Heaven."

A very handsome person then would walk in the grave, he has a very pleasant face, and he would say that he is your good deeds ( Salaah and Qur'an) and that he has come to spend time with you and be with you until the day of Judgement.

[Sahih Muslim Hadith 1757] Narrated by Abu Umamah 

Abu Umamah said that he heard Allah's Messenger (saws) say: 'Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it.' 

[Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1963] Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr 

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for man (on the Day of Judgment). Fasting says, 'O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.' The Qur'an says, 'I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.' Then their intercession is accepted." 

In another famous narration the Messenger of Allah (saws) has declared '(On the Day of Judgment) the Quran will be a 'hujja' (argument) either for you or against you!'

The Almighty Allah is so great that he will provide us a companion and protecter even in our grave, we would have someone with us, down there to be with us. Subhaan Allah ( Allah is the greatest).

No one, beloved to us, our friends, our relatives, our children, our parents, our spouses, our money, our car, you name it, nothing would come and be with us in our grave but our good deeds. 

The only thing we can take to our grave are good deeds so let us have a lot of them, lets not waste our time on bad deeds when good ones can help us out with Allah.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.521] Narrated by Anas bin Malik 

Allah's Apostle said, "When carried to his grave, a dead person is followed by three, two of which return (after his burial) and one remains with him: his relative, his property, and his deeds follow him; relatives and his property go back while his deeds remain with him."

For the believers, a window showing Heaven and a window showing hell fire will be shown and he is told that this is where you could have been were you NOT a believer, which is in hell fire, and this is what you've got because of your faith. ( which is Paradise) 

This person will then say " O Allah start the Day of Judgement."

As for the non believers, corrupt persons and hypocrites, the Prophet Mohammad pbuh has said that  

" after his questioning, a voice will be heard from heaven saying 'he is a liar. Furnish his grave from hell fire, give him clothes from hell fire and open for him a gate from hell fire.' Then an evil, ugly and scary looking person will come to his grave and he would say that he is that mans evil deeds. He will stay with him till the day of Judgement and he has a stinking and rotten smell, that will be with him till the day of Judgement. 

Two windows will be opened for him, one to heaven and the other to hell fire. And he would be told this is where you could have been IF you were a believer. 

And he would say " O Allah dont let the Day of Judgement start."

Along with this physical punishment there will also be a spiritual or mental punishment, which is that, in the grave the non believers will be shown what would have been his place in Paradise if he had obeyed his Lord; this will increase his regret and pain when he realizes the greatness of the blessing that he has missed out on.

So i end this by saying 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah bless us all and keep us away from being amongst the ignorant and liars. May we follow Islam in the best way we can. And may Allah guide us to pray 5 times a day without feeling lazy or missing  a prayer. Ameen.