Part 4

“Who is your Lord? What is your Din? Who is your Prophet?” And this is the last fitnah (trial) to which a believer is subjected. In this regard, Allah (8%) says:

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He repeats, “My Lord is Allah, my Din is Islam, t and my Prophet is Muhammad (&).” A caller then as calls from the heavens, “My servant has spoken the uO truth; so provide him with furnishings from Jannah; clothe him from Jannah; and open for him a door to Jannah.” Thus he receives provision and perfume from it; and his grave is spread to the extent of his a eyesight.

Before him appears a man with a pleasant face, nice garments, and a good smell. He says to him, “I am to give you glad tidings that will piease you: tidings of Allah’s acceptance, and gardens with everlasting bliss. This is the day that you have been promised.” He responds, “Glad tidings from Allah be to you too. Who are you? Your face is one that brings goodness.” He says, “I am your good deeds. By Allah, I only knew you quick in obeying Allah, and slow in disobeying Him. May Allah reward you with good,”

A door is opened for him to Jannah and another one to the Fire; and he is told, “This (the Fire) would have been your dwelling had you disobeyed Allah. But Allah has substituted it for you with this (Jannah).”” When he sees what is awaiting him in

Life in Al-Barzakh 11 Texts Describing al-Barzakh

Jannah (of pleasures), he says, “O my Lord, speed up the arrival of the Hour (of Resurrection), so that I may rejoin my family and property.” He is told, “Calm down.”

And verily when a disbelieving (or disobedient) ‘abd is at the point of departure from the worldly life, and is about to enter the hereafter, strong hulking angels with dark faces descend to him from the heavens. They bring with them tough fabrics from the Fire. They sit away from him at the limit of his eyesight. The Ange! of Death (388)) arrives, sits by his head, and says, “O malicious soul, depart to a wrath and anger from Allah.” (On hearing this) it becomes terrified, and clings to the body; but he extracts it (by force), like a skewer is pulled from wet wool, causing the veins and nerves to burst.

Every angel between the heavens and the earth, and every angel in the heavens, curses him. The gates of the heavens are shut; the guardians of every gate implore Allah that this soul does not ascend in their direction.

When the Angel of Death takes the soul, they (the other angels) do not leave it in his hand for as little as the blinking of an eye. They put it in the fabric that they have (from the Fire); and from it emanates the most repugnant odor of a decaying cadaver that ever existed on the surface of the earth.

The angels then ascend with it. As they pass by gatherings of angels, they ask them, “What is this malicious soul?” The angels holding it respond, “He is so and so, son of so and so,” using the worst names with which he had been addressed in the first life. When they reach the lowest heaven, they ask for permission to enter; but the gates are not opened for him. (Here the Messenger (2%) recited:)

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Allah (88) then says, “Write his record in Sijjin * in the lowest earth.” And they are told, “Take him back to the earth, because I promised them that from it I create them, into it I return them, and from it I resurrect them once again. *” His soul is then cast down from the heavens without regard; and it falls into his body. (Here Allah’s Messenger (4%) recited:)

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His soul is restored to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companions’ shoes as they walk away from his grave.

Two angels of severe reprimand come to him and shake him. They make him sit up, and ask him, “Who is your Lord?” He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!” They ask him, “What is your Din?” He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!” They ask him,

A place most low; a place of Imprisonment.

Life in Al-Barzakh 13 Texts Describing al-Barzakh

“Who is that man who was sent to you?” He cannot recall his name, and he is told, “(His name is) Muhammad!” He says, “Alas, alas, I do not know. I just heard the people say that.” He is then told, “You did not know; and you did not recite (the Qur'an)” A caller calls from the heaven, “He lies! So spread for him furnishings from the Fire; and open for him a door to the Fire.” Thus its heat and fierce hot wind reach him; and his grave is tightened around him, causing his ribs to break.

Before him appears a man with ugly face, repulsive clothes, and a foul smell; he says, “I am to give you evil tidings that will displease you. This is the day that you have been promised.” He responds, “Evil tidings from Allah be to you too! Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil.” He says, “I am your malicious deeds. By Allah, I only knew you slow in obeying Allah, and quick in disobeying Him.” May Allah repay you with evil.”

A blind, deaf, and dumb person is appointed for him. He carries in his hand a sledgehammer that, if it hits a mountain, would turn it to dust. He hits him — (with it) once; and he becomes dust. Allah then restores him as he was; and the person hits him again; he sounds a shriek that is heard by everything except men and jinns.

A door is opened for him to the Fire; and he is given the furnishings from the Fire. He then says, “O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour.”> '

1 Recorded by Ahmad, Abii Dawiid and others; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami ‘no. 1676).

As for an evil man, he (the Angel of Death) says, “Depart, O malicious soul that inhabited a malicious body; depart in a condemned state; and receive evil tidings of boiling fluids and dirty wound discharges (to drink), and other types of suffering of similar ature — all paired together.” This continues to be said until it leaves the body. It is then taken up to the (first) heaven, where permission is sought for it to be admitted. It is said, “Who is this?” He (an angel) replies, “So and so.” It is then said, “Unwelcome, malicious soul that inhabited a malicious body; return in a condemned state, because the gates to the heavens will not open for you.” Thus it is sent down from the heaven, and it enters the grave.

The pious person sits in his grave without fear or terror. He is asked, “What did you do?” He replies, “J adhered to Islam.” He is then asked, “Who is that man?” He replies: “Muhammad, Allah’s

Life in Al-Barzakh 15 Texts Describing al-Barzakh

Messenger (8%). He brought to us clear signs from Allah; and we believed him.” He is then asked, “Did you see Allah?” He replies, “It is not possible for anyone to see Allah (in the first life).”

An opening is made (from his grave) to the Fire, so that he sees its various sections crushing each other. He is told, “Look at that from which Allah (8%) has saved you.” Another opening is then made (from his grave) in the direction of Jannah; and he views its grandeur and the things (bounties) in it. He is then told, “This will be your position. You lived with certitude (about Allah’s promises); upon it you died; and upon it you will be raised — when Allah (38) wills.”

The evil person is made to sit in his grave in a state of fear and terror. He is asked, “What did you do?” He replies, “I do not know.” He is asked, “Who is that man?” He replies, “I heard the people say things; and I said the same.”

An opening then appears (from his grave) in the direction of Jannah; and he views its grandeur and the things (bounties) in it. He is told, “Look at that from which Allah (8%) has deprived you.” Another opening appears (from his grave) to the Fire; and he observes its various sections crushing each other. He is told, “This will be your abode; in doubt you lived; upon it you died; and upon it you will be raised — when Allah wills.”> |

1 Recorded by Ibn Majah; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami‘

(tribulation) of the Dajjal' and the fitnah of the grave's torture.” ‘Aishah (sw) deliberately delayed the woman until Allah’s Messenger (##) arrived. Then she said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what does this Jewish woman mean?” He said: <What did she say?> She replied, “She said, ‘Feed me; may Allah protect you from the fitnah of the Dajjal and that of the grave's torture.’” Immediately Allah’s Messenger (8%) stood up, raised and extended his hands, and asked Allah to shelter him from the fitmah of the Dajjal and that of the grave's torture. Then he (4) said: