Torture in the grave
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
dd mmm yyyy h
dd mmm yyyy ac
Thanks be to Allah Lord
of the worlds. May peace and prayers be upon the best of all messengers.
The Imam’s talk this
week is a continuation of his last Friday’s talk about the journey of the
human been from this life to the next. Last week the Imam talked about the
moments of death; the moment when the spirit or soul exits the body. Today the
Imam will talk about life in the grave.
As the spirit leaves the
human body, the body starts to decay, spoil and rot. Those who are close and
those who used to hug and kiss this individual; now they no longer can stand
to be close to him or her. They start eagerly work to get the process of
burying on the way. Burying in the ground and covering with earth. Only earth
can take the dead body. Earth is from which the body was created and to which
it does return.
The grave is a gloomy,
narrow place which one moves into from a spacious accommodation where one may
have lived. In a grave one lies on earth and a place shared with worms and
crawlies. You shall not be allowed to bring anything with you; except may be
for the mere cloth which may cover your body. Life in the grave is NOT
permanent; it is a temporary stage between the death and the resurrection.
One night you may be
with your family, children and loved ones, chatting; playing and having fun;
and the next night one may be laying in a grave; with worms; with darkness;
and with an unknown state of well being or a state of punishment.
It is in the grave that
great temptation and the tough test start. Some people will be winners and
some people will be losers. The prophet may peace be upon him pointing at a
grave said “It is for this that you should get ready and be prepared”. He was
also reported saying “The grave is the first state of the next life. He who is
saved in it; what follows is easier. And for he who is not saved in it; what
comes next is even worst”. The grave is a pointer to what is to come.
The grave is a strange
place. In it, the individual is asked three questions. Not all can answer such
questions. Answering does not depend on how much education one has received in
this life. The grave only recognizes one currency; and that is: Good deeds;
Good deeds which were done purely for the sake of Allah; which also is in
agreement with Allah’s teachings and the prophet’s guidance. This who has this
currency will enter the grave and answers those three questions. Who does not
have such currency will not be able to answer.
The prophet’s speech
describing the stages of death we started last Friday goes on to saying: “When
the spirit of a believer is brought to the seventh heaven, Allah says: write
my slaves record into an elevated place; and return him/her back to earth. It
is from earth I created them; and back to earth I return them and from earth I
shall bring them out again. The spirit is returned into the body. Two angels
approach him/her; set him/her up and ask: Who is your Lord? He/she shall
answer: my lord is Allah. The angels ask: What is your religion? He/she says
Islam. They ask: and who is this man sent to you by Allah? He/she will answer:
He is the messenger of Allah. They ask: and what have your learnt? He/she
answers: I read the book of Allah, I believed in it and I found it truthful. A
caller calls in heavens that my slave has told the truth. Lay for him/her
beddings from paradise, dress him/her with clothes from paradise; and open for
him/her a door to paradise so he can see his future place in paradise. He/she
will then get fragrance and breeze of paradise; the grave will be as wide as
the eye can see; and a human like creature with good face and great smell will
approach and says: Good tidings with what makes you happy. This is your day
that you were promised. What we call the dead person will ask: Who are you?
You bringer of good news!. The man answers: I am your good deeds. Then dead
individual will say: God, let the hour of the resurrection happen now, I want
to go to what is mine, to my people”
The unbeliever’s soul on
the other hand as we said last Friday will be prevented from elevating into
heavens. Allah says: Write him/her down into the lowest in earth. His spirit
is thrown down and is returned into the body. The two angels approach and ask
him the same questions to which the unbeliever shall answer with “I don’t
know, I don’t know”. A caller calls in the heavens that my slave has lied. Lay
for him/her beddings from hell; and open for him/her a door to Hell fire.
He/she will then feel its heat and poisons; the grave will shrink until the
ribs are put out of place. A man with an ugly face and filthy and smelly
clothes approaches and says: There is only bad news for you. This is the day
you were promised. “Who are you” the unbeliever will ask, “You bearer of bad
news”. The man answers: “I am your bad deeds” The unbeliever says “God do not
start the day of resurrection.”.
Allah says: “Those who
believe; Allah will keep firm, with the word that stands firm in the worldly
life and in the hereafter. And Allah will cause to go astray those who are
wrong-doers, and Allah does what he wills”
Indeed there is
punishment in the grave even before the day of resurrection. Allah Says about
Ferros:” The hellfire; they are exposed to it in the mornings and evenings;
and when it is the day of resurrection; enter Ferro and his follows the
toughest of punishment”. The prophet may peace be upon him in indicating how
horrifying the punishment in the grave is; said: “if not for you may stop
burying your dead, I would’ve asked Allah to make you hear what happens in the
grave”. The prophet recommended for us to often fortify ourselves against the
torture in the grave. As often as; after each prayer; by saying: “Allah my
Lord, I fortify my self with you against the torture of hell, against the
torture in the grave, against the temptation of life, temptation of death and
bad temptation of the false Messiah.”
What may save us from
the torture of the grave are:
-
Regular prayers of
asking for protection by Allah.
-
Avoiding what
causes the grave punishment and repenting. Some of those causes are: not
performing prayers in the appropriate time, making false accusations and lying
against people, dealing with interest (Reba), adultery, a woman hurting her
husband or neighbours, not fasting a day in Ramadan with out a reason, ill
feelings and the spreading of rumours against people.
-
Reciting the
chapter (surah) “Al-Mulk”, learning it and understanding its meanings. The
prophet may peace be upon him said: “There is a chapter in the Quran of 30
Ayas, it keeps mediating for its reader until he/she is forgiven” and he read
“ÊÈÇÑß ÇáÐí ÈíÏå Çáãáß . .”.
-
Shahada, dying
while striving in the way of Allah.
-
Dying while on a
watchful eye in way of Allah. It was reported that the prophet said: “staying
up as a guard for a day and a night is better that all the fasting and praying
for a entire month. And if one dies doing that; one will be guarded just as
he/she were doing; his/her deeds will continue to add up; and he/she will be
safe guarded from the temptation of the grave”
-
Death by internal
or abdominal causes.
-
Death on the day;
or the evening of a Friday.
We do ask Allah to keep
us right by word and deed, in this life and in the life after. We ask our Lord
to protect us and you against the punishment in hell and punishment in the
grave, from the temptations in life and death and the temptation of the false
Messiah.
Notes:
-
Adhan
- The call to prayer.
-
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the
messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of
Islam.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
