The First Night In The Grave

Prepared by JIMAS

(Fathul Baaree of Ibn Hajr, 3/233): "He sufficed with affirming its existence, in contrast to
those who totally deny it from the Khawaarij and some of the Mu'tazilah such as Diraar ibn
'Amr and Bishr al Mareesee and those who agree with them. And they are opposed in that by
most of the Mu'tazilah and all of Ahlus-Sunnah and others"

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The souls of the Believers are
inside green birds in the trees of Paradise until Allaah returns them to their bodies on the Day
of Resurrection." [Saheeh: At-Tabraanee in 'al kabeer' from Ka'b ibn Maalik & Umm
Mubashshir.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Seek Allaah's protection from
the Punishment of the Grave, since punishment of the Grave is a fact/true." [Saheeh: At-
Tabraanee in 'al-Kabeer' from Umm Khaalid bint Khaalid ibn Sa'eed ibn al-'Aas.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Everyone who dies - then his
actions are sealed except for the one guarding the border in the way of Allaah - his actions
continue to increase for him until the Day of Resurrection and he is saved from the trials of
the Grave." [Saheeh: Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhee, al-Haakim: from Fadaalah ibn 'Ubaid &
Ahmad from 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Verily the grave is the first
stopping place for the Hereafter; so if he is saved therein, then what comes after is easier
than it. And if he is not saved therefrom, then that which comes after is harder." [Hasan: At-
Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, al-Haakim: from 'Uthmaan.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "When the dead person is buried
two black-blue angels come to him, one called al-Munkar and the other called an-Nakeer, and
they say to him: 'What had you used to say about this man?' So he says what he used to say:
'Allaah's slave and His Messenger, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped
except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' So they say: 'Verily we knew
that you (would) say that.' Then his grave is widened for him to the extent of seventy cubits by
seventy, then it is made light for him, then it is said: ' Sleep.' So he says: 'I should go to my
family and inform them.' So they say: 'Sleep as the newly married sleeps whom no-one
awakes except his favourite wife.' Until Allaah raises him up from that place of sleep. And if he
is a hypocrite (munaafiq), he says: 'I heard the people saying something so I said it too, I don't
know.' So they say: 'We knew that you (would) say that.' So it is said to

the earth: 'Crush him', so he is crushed until his cross over and he remains in the state of
torture until Allaah raises him up from that resting place." [Hasan: At-Tirmidhee from Abu
Hurairah.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "When a human being is laid in
his grave and his companions return and he even hears their footsteps, two angels come to
him and make him sit and ask him: What did you used to say about this man, Muhammad?
He will say: I testify that he is Allaah's slave and His Apostle. Then it will be said to him, 'Look
at your place in the Hell-Fire. Allaah has changed for you a place in Paradise instead of it.'
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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'aan).' Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his ears,
and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings
and jinns." [Saheeh: Al-Bukhaaree (2/422), Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud, an-Nasaa.ee: from
Anas.]
Al-Baraa b. 'Azib said: We went out with the Prophet of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)
accompanying the bier of a man of the Ansar. When he reached his grave, it was not yet dug.
So the Prophet of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) sat down and we also sat down
around him as if birds were over our heads. He had in his hand a stick by which he was
scratching the ground. He then raised his head and said: Seek refuge in Allaah from the
punishment of the grave. He said it twice or thrice. The version of Jarir adds here: He hears
the beat of their sandals when they go back, and at that moment he asked: O so and so! Who
is your Lord, what is your religion, and who is your Prophet? Hannad's version has: Two
angels will come to him, make him sit up, and ask him: Who is your Lord? He will reply: My
Lord is Allaah. They will ask him: What is your religion? He will reply: My religion is Islaam.
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 Apostle of Allaah. They will ask: Who made you aware of this?
He will reply: I read Allaah's Book, believed in it, and considered it true, which is verified by
Allaah's word: "Allaah establishes those who believe with the word that stands firm in this
world and the next." The agreed version goes: Then a crier will call from the heaven: My
servant has spoken the truth, so spread a bed for him from Paradise, clothe him in Paradise,
and open a door for him into Paradise. So 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. He also mentioned the death of the
infidel, saying: His spirit will be restored to his body, two angels will come to him, 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 is this man
who was sent on a mission among you? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. Then a crier
will call from the heaven: He has lied, 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 pestilential wind will come to
him, and his grave will become restricted, so his ribs will be pressed together. Jarir's version
adds: One 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 spirit will be restored to him. [Saheeh: Ahmad,
Abu Dawud (3/4735) Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Haakim, al-Baihaqee in 'Shu'ab ul-Imaan', ad-Diyaa:
from al-Baraa.]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "...the righteous man sits
in his grave and is not alarmed or afraid, then it is said to him (by angels): 'In (what
state) were you?' So he says: 'In the (state of) Islaam.' So it is said to him: 'What is this
man?' So he says: 'Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah who came to us with clear
signs from Allaah, so we believed that.' Then it is said to him: 'Have you seen Allaah?'
So he says: 'It does not behove any man that he sees Allaah.' So an opening is made
for him in the direction of the Fire, so he sees it, some parts of it smashing into others,
and it is said to him: 'Look at what Allaah, the Exalted, has saved you from.' Then an
opening is made for him in the direction of Paradise, and he looks to its brilliance and
what is therein and it is said to him: 'This is your place.' And it is said to him: 'You
were upon certain Faith and died upon it and upon it you will be raised up, if Allaah
wills.' And the wicked man sits in his grave alarmed and terrified and so it is said to
him: 'In what state were you?' So he says: 'I do not know.' So it is said to him: 'Who is
this man?' So he says: 'I heard the people saying something so I said it!' So an opening
is made for him in the direction of Paradise and he sees its brilliance and what is
therein, and it is said to him: 'Look at what Allaah has refused you.' Then an opening
is made for him in the direction of the Fire, so he sees it crashing against itself and it
is said: 'This is your place, you lived upon doubt and died upon it and you will be
raised up upon it, if it is Allaah's will." [Saheeh: Ibn Maajah from Abu Hurairah.]

The Highest Position in Paradise

Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar

The Final Day – Paradise and Hell In the Light of the Quran and Sunnah
© 1999 IIPH, Riyadh

The highest position in Paradise which will be attained by only one person is called al-
Wasiilah. It will be attained, in shaa’ Allah, by the Chosen Prophet, the best of Allah’s creation
our Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. In al-Nihayah, Ibn Kathir said:

"The highest position in Paradise was mentioned. It is al-Wasilah, which is the position of the
Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam."

This is also narrated in a hadith narrated by Bukhari from Jabir ibn `Abdullah, according to
which the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said:

"Whoever says, when he hears the call to prayer: ‘Allahumma Rabba haadhihi’d-
da`wati’t-taammah, wa’s-Salati’l-qaa’imah aati Muhammadan al-wasiilah wa’l-faDiilah,
wab`athhu maqaaman maHmoodan alladhii wa`adtah (O Allah, Rabb of this perfect
Call, and the prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad al-Wasilah [the highest position in
Paradise], and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position You have
promised),’ intercession for him will be granted on the Day of Resurrection."

Muslim reported that `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As said:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, say: ‘When you hear the
muezzin call, say what he says, then send blessings on me, for whoever sends
blessings on me, Allah will return it to him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me al-
Wasilah, for whoever asks Allah to grant me al-Wasilah, intercession will be granted for
him.’"

The Sahabah asked the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam: "What is al-Wasilah?" He
said, "It is the highest level of Paradise, which only one man will reach, and I hope that
I will be the one." This was reported by Ahmad from Abu Hurayrah; Ahmad also reported
from Abu Sa`id that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:

"Al-Wasilah is a rank above which there is no other in the sight of Allah. Ask Allah to
grant me Al-Wasilah." [See Ibn Kathir, Al-Nihayah, 2/2332]