TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

3. PUNISHMENT IN THE GRAVE

FIVE TYPES OF GLAD TIDINGS.

Allah says, "As for those who say, ´Our Rabb is Allah!´ then they are steadfast, We shall send angels to them saying, ´Do not fear and do not grieve. Accept the glad tidings of the Jannah that you have been promised." [Surah Mu´min]

THESE GLAD TIDINGS ARE OF FIVE TYPES, VIZ.

1. For the average Mu´min, it will mean that they will not fear suffering eternal punishment. Although they may have to suffer for a while, they will be removed and the Ambiyaa (A.S) will intercede on their behalf.
2. For the sincere ones, it will mean that they will not have to fear that their actions will be rejected. They will not have to grieve over the loss of rewards, for these will be granted double-fold to them.
3. For those who repented, it will mean that they do not have to fear for their sins. These will be forgiven and they will not have to fear whether their sins will be forgiven after Taubah.
4. For the asceticism, it will mean that they will not have to fear accountability and will receive the glad tidings of entering Jannah without reckoning.
5. For the religious scholars who propagated good and practiced on their knowledge, it will mean that they will not have to fear the torment and terror of Qiyamah. They will not have to grieve over the loss of rewards. They and their followers will be given the tidings of entering Jannah.

The grave of the Mu´min: The grave of a Mu´min will be expanded by seventy spans and a bedding of velvet will be laid for him therein. The grave will be fragrant and illuminated with the light of Imaan and the Qur´aan. He will then be made to sleep like a bride, to be awoken by her beloved.

The grave of a kaafir: The grave of the kaafir will be so much narrowed that his ribs will penetrate each other. A snake, the thickness of a camel´s neck will continue to eat at his flesh and a deaf and dumb angel will continue to beat him with a hammer. The Fire of Jahannam will be shown to him each day and night.

EIGHT THINGS THAT WILL SAVE ONE FROM THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GRAVE.

Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi (R.A) mentioned that carrying out four things and abstaining from another four things will protect one from punishment in the grave. The four things to practice on are:-

1. Punctuality with salaah,
2. Abundant charity,
3. Recitation of the Qur´aan,
4. Abundance of dhikr.

The four that have to be avoided are:

1. Lying,
2. Misappropriation of trust,
3. Carrying tales,
4. Droppings of urine (from contaminating the body and clothes).

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that punishment in the grave is usually due to droppings of urine.

ALLAH DETESTS FOUR THINGS IN PARTICULAR.

1. Playing in salaah.
2. Futile speech while the Qur´aan is being recited.
3. Cohabitation while fasting.
4. Laughing in the graveyard.

A GOLDEN SAYING.

Standing by the side of a graveyard, the great illuminary, Hadhrat Muhammad bin Sammaak (R.A) said, "The silence and equality of the graves should not deceive you. There are many distressed and alarmed people therein, and there is a great difference between all these graves. The intelligent person is he who prepared for the grave before entering it."

A STARTLING INCIDENT.

Some people told Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (R.A) that they dug a grave to bury a companion of theirs. They found a black snake therein. When they dug the second and third graves, they saw the same snake therein. They asked him what they were to do.

He advised them to bury him in any of these graves. He told them that the snake was a consequence of one of his actions and that they would find it present even if they dug every grave in the world. After burying him, they met his wife, who told them that he used to sell grains and that daily he would take out some for eating, replacing these with stones or sticks.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE EARTH: - 5 CALLS.

Daily the earth makes five announcements:

1. Oh Man! You walk on my back and will be within my belly one day.
2. Oh Man! You eat various things on my back and will be eaten by worms and insects in by belly.
3. Oh Man! You laugh while on my back. Soon you will be crying within my belly.
4. Oh Man! You are happy on my back. Soon you will be grieved when you enter my belly.
5. Oh Man! You perpetrate sins on my back and soon will be punished in my belly.

AN ALARMING INCIDENT.

Hadhrat Amr bin Dinaar (R.A) reports that a man who lived in Madinah had a sister in the same district. He buried her after her death, but realized afterwards that he had dropped his wallet in the grave. He took someone with him to the graveyard and they found the grave which they dug.

After finding the wallet, he told the person to dig deeper so that they could see the condition of his sister. As he peeped therein he saw flames leaping from within. Startled, he had the grave filled and went to see his mother. At first his mother refused to disclose the condition of her daughter, but when the man insisted, she told him that his sister used to delay in the performance of her salaah and perform it after it´s time. She also said that the girl never performed her wudhu properly and would eavesdrop on people at night so as to relate their conversations to others.

THE SCREAMS OF THE DEAD.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) mentioned that everything besides man can hear the screams of the dead. If man heard it, he would fall unconscious. The pious deceased tells the people to hasten with his bier for, if they saw where he was heading, they would hurry thereto themselves. The evil soul pleads with the people not to hurry for, if they saw where he was going, they would never take him there. After burial, two dark, blue-eyed angels appear before the deceased. Salaah prevents them from approaching near the head side saying, "Do not approach from this direction because he used to engage in salaah during the night for fear of the grave. Obedience to parents will shield him from the side of his feet, charity from the right side, and fasting from the left.

This world is but for a few days, whereafter the everlasting journey to the Hereafter commences. There a person will not be able to recite SubhanAllah´ or Alhamdulillah´ even once.The life in this world is the only capital that a person has to invest for the Hereafter. If the capital is exhausted, a person cannot do any business. Time passes by constantly. When he decides to act it might be too late.

The angel Hadhrat Israfeel (A.S) is presently waiting with the trumpet in his mouth - waiting for Allah´s command to blow it. Once he blows the trumpet, all of creation will be overcome with a strange anxiety. When he blows it for the second time, the universe will be annihilated, except for a few angels. Thereafter Allah will ask the angel of death, "Who is still alive?" He will submit, "Jibraeel, Mika´eel, Israfeel, the angels who carry the Arsh and myself."

Allah will then command him to extract the souls of all these angels. When he will do so, Allah will again ask him who else still lives. He will reply, "Besides Yourself, it is only me." Allah will tell him, "All must perish besides Myself so you also die." Consequently, the angel of death will extract his own soul between Jannah and Jahannam. He shall give such an agonizing cry at that time that if any of the creation existed then, they would all die on account of this cry.

He will then say, "If I realized the pain of death I would have been even more gentle when extracting the souls of the Mu´mineen."

Only Allah shall live on. He will announce, "Where are the kings? Where are the princes? Where have the tyrants gone? Where are their children? Where are those who ate from My provisions? To whom does sovereignty belong today? It all belongs to Allah, The One, The Mighty."

Thereafter Allah will cause a resuscitating rain to fall from the skies, causing people to surface from their graves like sprouting plants. Thereafter Hadhrat Israfeel (A.S) will be raised, followed by Hadhrat Jibraeel and Mika´eel (A.S). Then Hadhrat Israfeel (A.S) will blow the trumpet for the third time and all of creation will be brought back to life. The first to be raised will be Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Everyone will be naked and will be gathered on a grand plain. Allah will not turn His attention to the people to pass judgement, and they will weep so much that their tears will deplete and be replaced by blood. People will perspire so much that the perspiration of some of them will reach till their mouths.

The people will then go to all the Ambiyaa (A.S), pleading with them to beseech Allah to commence the reckoning. However, all will refuse except Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). After his intercession on their behalf, Allah will begin the reckoning. All the angels will stand in rows and it will be announced, "Everyone´s actions have been recorded in their books. Those whose actions were good should thank Allah and those whose actions were evil have only themselves to blame. All creation besides man and jinn will have their revenge from each other, whereafter they will perish forever."

No monetary recompense will work there. A wrongdoer will have to repay the claimant with his good actions. When their good actions have expired, they will be laden with the evil actions of the people who claim from them. In this manner many people who initially had many good actions will end up bankrupt. The oppressor will then be doomed for Jahannam, while the oppressed person will enter Jannah. The day will be so severe that even the Ambiyaa (A.S), the high ranking angels and the martyrs will doubt their predicament. Questions will be asked about one´s life, youth, knowledge and wealth. In search of a single action, people will approach their children, parents and loved ones, but will return empty handed.

Hadhrat Anas (R.A) reports that once Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) in such a state that he was overcome with fear and his face had become pale. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had never seen him in this condition before. When Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) enquired about the reason for this condition, Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) replied that he had seen such a scene from Jahannam. On such a day when no person (who had seen the same) would rest until he was assured protection therefrom.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) then asked him to describe what he saw. He said, "When Allah created Jahannam, he stoked the fire for a thousand years until it was red. Thereafter He stoked it for another thousand years until it became white. He then kindled it for another thousand years until it became as black and dark as it is presently. The flames and coals of Jahannam never remain silent. By Allah! If even the extent of a needle´s eye of Jahannam was released to this world, the entire universe would burn to cinders."

"If the clothing of a person from Jahannam was to be suspended between the earth and the sky, the stench and heat emitting therefrom would kill the entire universe. If a single chain from the ´Salaasil´ mentioned in the Qur´aan is placed upon a mountain, it would melt and sink below the surface. If a person in the east was afflicted with the punishment of Jahannam, the people in the west would be scorched with the heat." "The heat of Jahannam is extremely intense and it is exceptionally deep. The jewellery of the person in Jahannam will be iron, his drink will be boiling puss and his clothing will be fire. Jahannam has seven doors. Every man and woman entering each door has been specified."

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked him whether the doors were like those of earthly homes. He replied, "No. They are vaster on the top and beneath. Their width is a distance of seventy years and each door is seventy times hotter than the next. The enemies of Allah will be dragged to the doors and will be received with yokes and chains. When a chain is put in their mouths it will emerge from their posteriors. Their hands will also be handcuffed."

"With each human in Jahannam there will be a shaytaan. The angels will then drag them on their faces into Jahannam, beating them with iron hammers. Whenever they will try to escape from Jahannam they will be beaten back."

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) enquired from Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) as to who will be in all these various doors. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) replied, "The lowest door (level) will be for the munafiqeen, the people of the Maa´idah and the people of Fir´oun. This level is called ´Haawiya.´ On the next level, called ´Jaheem,´ will be the Mushrikeen, while the Sabaians will occupy the third level, which is called ´Saqar.´ Iblees and his comrades will be in the fourth level called ´Lazaa,´ and the fifth level, known as ´Hutama´ is reserved for the Jews. The Christians will then be on the sixth level called ´Sa´eer."

Thereafter Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) remained silent, whereupon Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked, "Why have you remained silent? Who will occupy the seventh level?" Feeling ashamed, Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) said, "This level will be occupied by those members of your ummah who commit major sins and die without repenting." Unable to bear this Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) fell down unconscious. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) then took the head of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) upon his lap. When Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) recovered he asked Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) whether any members of his ummah will really enter Jahannam. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) replied, "Yes. Those who commit major sins and die without repenting." Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) then burst out in tears and Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) also did the same.

After this Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) only left the house for salaah and did not mix with anyone. He would begin and terminate the salaah in tears. On the third day Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) came to the house of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and requested permission to enter. When he received no reply he returned in tears.

The same happened to Hadhrat Umar (R.A). Thereafter Hadhrat Salmaan Farsi (R.A) also requested permission to enter and he was extremely perturbed when he did not receive a reply. In his anxiety he stood awhile, then sat, then returned to his home, only to go back to the house of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). He then went to the house of Hadhrat Faatima (R.A). When he related the incident to her, she immediately adorned her shawl and proceeded to the house of her father (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Arriving at the door she greeted with salaam and said that she was Faatima. At that time Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was prostrating and weeping for his ummah. He then raised his head and exclaimed, "The coolness of my eyes Faatima! What is the matter?" He then asked his wife to allow Hadhrat Faatima (R.A) in. When she noticed how pale her father had become and that exuberance from his face was missing, she began to weep most bitterly. When she asked him the reason for this condition of his, Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) replied, "Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) has informed me about the conditions in Jahannam and told me that the uppermost level will be occupied by those people of my ummah who commit major sins and die without repenting. This has caused me the grief that you see."

She enquired from Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) about the condition in which these people will be entered into Jahannam. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) replied, "The angels will drag them into Jahannam, but their faces will not be darkened, their eyes will not be blue, their mouths will not be sealed, there will be no shaytaan with them and they will not be shackled in chains and yokes." She then asked how will they be dragged into Jahannam. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) replied by saying that the men will be dragged by their beards and the women by their hair. These people, male and female, young and old, will scream and cry because of the disgrace that they suffer. When they will be brought to Jahannam, the doorkeeper (Maalik) will enquire, "Who are these people? They are unique because their faces are not darkened, their eyes are not blue, their mouths are not sealed, there are no shayateen with them, and they are not shackled in yokes and chains."

The angels will reply that they have no knowledge about the identities of these people and that they were merely commanded to present them to him. He will then address them saying, ´Oh you wretched ones! You tell me who you are." [According to another narration, they will shout, "Oh Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)! Oh Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)!" as they will be dragged. However, they will forget this when they see the doorkeeper of Jahannam].

When he asks them, they will reply, ´We are those to whom the Qur´aan was revealed and upon whom the fasts on Ramadhaan were made compulsory.´ He will say, ´But the Qur´aan was revealed to Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).´ Upon hearing this they will exclaim, ´We are from the ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).´ Maalik will tell them, "Did the Qur´aan not warn you against disobeying Allah?"

When they see the fire from the door, they will plead with him to allow them to weep over themselves. They will the weep till their tears dry up and is replaced by tears of blood. As they weep, he will tell them, ´If only this weeping had taken place in the world, then you would not have been weeping here.´ They will then be cast into Jahannam by his command.

As they are thrown therein, they will all cry out in one voice saying, "Laa ilaaha IIIAIIaah." Upon hearing this, the fire will withdraw from them. When Maalik will enquire about this, the fire will submit, ´How could I seize them when their tongues hymn the kalimah of Tauheed?" When this will recur several times Maalik will say that they can only be burned when Allah commands.

The fire will reach till the feet of some of them, till the knees of others, till the waists of others and up to the throats of some. When the fire will approach their faces, Maalik will instruct the fire not to burn their faces and their hearts because they prostrated in salaah and observed fasts during Ramadhaan. These people will suffer for their sins and remain in Jahannam till Allah desires that they should emerge therefrom. They will constantly call out, ´Ya Hannaan! Ya Mannaan! Ya Arhamar Raahimeen!"

Eventually a day will come when Allah will instruct Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) to find out about the ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). He will hasten to Jahannam and will find Maalik on a pulpit in the centre of Jahannam. Maalik will rise to receive him and will enquire about the reason for his visit. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) will reply that he had arrived to find out about the ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).

Maalik will reply that they are in a miserable condition and in a very confined place. He will add that the fire had burnt all of their bodies except their faces and hearts. These two will still glow with the light of Imaan. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) will request to see them. When they see Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S), they will realize that he is not one of the angels of punishment. They will not have seen such a beautiful countenance before. They will be told that this is Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S), who brought revelation to Hadhrat Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Upon hearing his name, they will call out, ´Oh Jibraeel! Convey our salaams to our leader Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and tell him that our sins have separated us from him and destroyed us.´ When Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) will return to Allah and relate the incident to Him, Allah will ask him what these people requested him to do. He will say that they requested that their salaams be conveyed to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and that he be informed of their condition. Allah will command him to fulfil the request.

He will hasten to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), who will be relaxing in a palace made of pearl. It shall have four thousand entrances, each one having two doors of gold. After greeting with salaam, Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) will tell Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that he had just returned from the sinners of his ummah. He will tell Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that these people had conveyed their salaams to him and wished to inform him of their miserable plight.

Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) will immediately fall in prostration beneath Allah´s throne and praise Allah with such words that he never knew before. Allah will say, "Oh Muhammad! Raise your head. Ask and you will be granted. If you wish to intercede then do so. Your intercession will surely be accepted."

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) will submit, "Oh my Rabb! Your decision has been passed with regard to the sinful ones of my ummah and they have been punished for their sins. Please accept my intercession on their behalf." Allah will declare, "The command has been issued and your intercession is accepted. You go personally and remove from Jahannam every person who recited "Laa ilaaha IIIAIIaah." Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) will then approach the doorkeeper of Jahannam. Upon seeing him, Maalik will rise in reverence. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) will say, "Oh Maalik! How are the sinners of my ummah?" Maalik will reply by saying that their condition is miserable inaction. When the door of Jahannam will be opened, the sinful Muslims in Jahannam will cry out, "Oh Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)! The fire has burnt our skins and livers."

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) will remove them all from Jahannam and they will appear as black as charcoals. He will then bath them in the river of Ridhwaan, which is one of the rivers at the entrance of Jannah. After being bathed, they will emerge as resplendent youths with their faces shining like the full moon. On their foreheads will be emblazoned, "This is a person from Jahannam whom Allah has emancipated."

They will then all be admitted into Jannah, whereupon the other inmates of Jahannam will wish that they had also been Muslims so that they could be removed from Jahannam. Allah says in the Qur´aan, "Many a time the disbelievers wish that they were Muslims."

It will be then that death shall be presented as a sheep and slaughtered before the people of Jannah and the people of Jahannam. They will then be told, "Now none shall ever die. Each person will remain forever where he is." [May Allah save us all from Jahannam. Aameen.]

The reality of Jannah: Hadhrat Abu Huraira (R.A) narrates that the Sahabah (R.A) once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) what Jannah was made of. He replied, "From water." Thereupon they asked, "We wish to know about the buildings of Jannah." Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "One brick is of gold, another of silver, and the mortar is musk. The sand is Saffron and the pebbles are pearls and rubies. Whoever will enter Jannah will not be deprived of any bounty, and will abide therein forever. They will never die therein, their clothing will never wear out and their youth shall never terminate."

Thereafter Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) continued to say, "The du´aas of three people are never rejected.
They are:

1. A just ruler,
2. the fasting person when he terminates his fast, and
3. the oppressed person. Their du´aas are lifted above the clouds and Allah responds by saying, I shall definitely assist you even though it may be after some time."