Part 7

The numbered references in the following table refer to the hadiths in Chapter 2. The “*” references are cited later in this chapter.

Event A Believer A Disbeliever Ref. When the test Immediately after burial. * starts:

Appearance of | They are black and blue, with a 15 the two angels: | very stern appearance.

Names of the Their names are “Munkar” and 5 two angels: “Nakir”.

First thing done | They shake him and make him sit 1,6,8,

Event A Believer A Disbeliever Ref. State of He sits without | He sits in a 2,3 anticipation fear or terror. state of fear and before the test: terror.

Manner of He says what he used to say 5,* answering the (before death). The faculty of questioning: reason is returned to him.

They ask him, He replies, “My | He replies, 1,6 “Who is you Lord is Allah.” | “Alas, alas, I do

They ask him, He replies, “My | He replies, 1,2,3,

“What is your Din is Islam.1 | “Alas, alas, I do | 6 Din? What did | adhered to it, not know! I

you say about read Allah’s heard the people Islam? What did | Book, believed | say things; so I you do?” and obeyed it.” | said the same.” They ask him, He replies, “T He replies, “I 7 “What did you |} worshipped do not know.” worship?” Allah.” His response to | “He is Allah’s He cannot recall | 1,2,3, the question, ‘abd and his name. He is | 5,6,8, “Who is that Messenger told, “(His * man who was Muhammad. He | name is) sent to you?” brought clear Muhammad!”

signs from He says, “Alas,

Allah, and we alas, I do not believed him. I | know. I just testify that there | heard the people is no (true) god | say that.”

but Allah, and that Muhammad is His ‘abd and Messenger.”

Event A Believer A Disbeliever Ref. What the angels | “We expected you to say this.” 5 expected: Performance in } Allah guides He is confused 1,8,* the test: him and makes _ | and is told,

him firm in “You did not

words, so that know, or recite he knows how (Qur an)!”

to answer his questions.

They shake him | He repeats, “My | (Not 1 again, asking, Lord is Allah, applicable.) “Who is your my Din is Lord? What is Islam, and my your Din? Who_ | Prophet is

is your Muhammad.” Prophet?” Last fitnah: This is the last (Not 1,7

fitnah to which | applicable.) he is subjected.

The test’s result | “My ‘abd has “He lies! Give 1

is announced spoken the him furnishings with a call from | truth; give him | from the Fire; the heavens: furnishings from | and open for

Jannah, clothe | him a door to him from it; and } it.”

open for him a door to it.”

Related Texts QUESTIONING TIME

“Uthman () narrated that after Allah’s Messenger (4) buried a person, he (#) would stand by the grave and say:

<Ask Allah to grant to your brother forgiveness and firmness (of words), because he is being questioned at this moment. '

As death approached him, ‘Amr Bin al-‘As (4) said to his companions:

“After you bury me, stand around my grave for as long as it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, I will thus be comforted by your presence while I am considering how to respond to my Lord’s Messengers (the two angels).” ?

ALLAH GRANTS FIRMNESS OF WORDS TO THE BELIEVERS Al-Bara Bin ‘Azib () reported that Allah’s Messenger (8) said:

<When the believer is placed in the grave, he is made to sit, and is approached (by the two angels); he then testifies that there is no deity (worthy of being worshipped) but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is why Allah says:

vb tee a, a wat eee eee aes Gul youl 3B tT Lal 1k Qui aul Cup VV pall GS 5 I Recorded by Aba Dawid and al-Hakim; verified to be authentic by al-Albanf (Sahitt

ul-Jami‘ no. 945). 2 Muslim.

PRESERVING THE FACULTY OF REASON

“IT would then throw a stone into his (the angel's) mouth *.” *

3 This is an Arabic expression which means, “My answer will be so convincing that he will be dumbfound.”

4 Sahih ut-Targhibi wat-Tarhib by al-Albani Vol. 4.

CHAPTER 6 AFTER THE TEST

The test confirms what the person had already realized from the moment of his death. A believer is immediately rewarded with an opening that appears from his grave to Jannah. His good deeds materialize next to him in the form of a pleasant looking man. On the other hand, a disbeliever is severely punished, and an opening appears from his grave to Hell. His evil deeds materialize in the form of a repulsive man. These incidents are detailed in this chapter.

The numbered references in the following table refer to the hadiths in Chapter 2. The “*” references are cited later in this chapter.

Where the Souls Really Are

It is important to note that some texts indicate that the believers’ souls turn into birds in Jannah. Other texts indicate that the souls are sometimes attached to the bodies that are in the grave. There is no contradiction between the two situations, because this is a matter of ghayb that cannot be subjected to the reasoning deriving from our worldly experience. A good example to facilitate understanding this is the dreams that take place during our sleep, where our souls seem to make trips to worlds beyond human perception.

Ibn ul-Qayyim has a very detailed discussion regarding this and related issues in his book ar-Rah (the Soul). We quote from it the following:

“The soul’s attachment to the body has five different

a) Its attachment to it while it is still an embryo in the mother’s womb.

b) Its attachment to it after it emerges to the surface of the earth.

c) Its attachment to it during sleep. In that case, it is attached to it in one respect, and detached in another respect.

d) Its attachment to it in al-Barzakh. Even though it departs and becomes detached from it, its detachment is not complete so as to have absolutely no connection with it.

e) Its attachment to it on the Day of Reckoning, which is the most complete and inseparable attachment ...”

Event A Believer A Disbeliever | Ref. Furnishings and | He is given He is given | clothing: furnishings and | furnishings from

clothes from the Fire.

Jannah. Openings from | Two openings appear in it: 1,2,3 the grave to One to Jannah; and he views its future abodes: grandeur and bounties. The other

to the Fire; and he sees its various sections crushing each other.

Seeing, from his | Pointing to the | Pointing to 1,2,3, grave, the place | Fire, the angels | Jannah, the 7,8 that he evaded: | tell him, “This angels tell him, could have been | “Look at that your place, had | from which you disobeyed Allah has Allah; but Allah | deprived you.” has saved you

Event A Believer A Disbeliever Ref. Seeing, from his | He sees his He sees his 1,2,3, grave, his final future place in future place in 6,7,8 destination: Jannah, tastes the Fire, tastes

its provision its heat and

and perfume, fierce hot wind,

and is told, and is told,

“Allah has “This will be

granted you this | your abode in

place in it.” it.” Between doubt | He is told, He is told, “In 2,3 and certitude: “You lived with | doubt you lived;

certitude; upon | upon it you it you died; and | died; and upon upon it you will | it you will be

be raised — raised — when

when Allah Allah wills.”

wills.” Extent of the It is spread to The earth is 1,5,6, grave: the extent of his | told, “Contract 8

eyesight — on him.” And it

seventy cubits contracts until

by seventy. his ribs break. Light in the It is illuminated | Darkness 5,* grave: for him because | engulfs him.

of the Prophet’s supplication.

Greenery in the | It is filled with | (Not 8 grave: greenery until applicable.) the Day of

Event A Believer A Disbeliever Ref.

Companion in His good deeds | His bad deeds 1 the grave: take the form of | take the form of a good looking, | an ugly looking, nicely dressed, | hideously

and pleasantly dressed, and smelling person. | foully smelling

Tidings carried | “I am to give “Tam to give 1 by the you glad tidings | you evil tidings. companion: of Allah’s This is the day

acceptance, and | that you have

gardens with been promised.”

bliss. This is the

promised.” Response of the | “Glad tidings “Evil tidings 1

dead person to | from Allah be from Allah be the companion: | to you too. Who | to you too! are you? Your | Who are you? face is one that | Your face is

brings one that brings goodness.” evil.” Explanation by | “I am your “Tam your 1

the companion: | good deeds. By | malicious deeds. Allah, I only By Allah, I only knew you quick | knew you slow in obeying in obeying Allah, and slow | Allah, and

in disobeying quick in

Him. May He disobeying Him. reward you with | May He repay good.” you with evil.”

Executor in the | (Not A blind, deaf, 1 grave: applicable.) and dumb person is

appointed for him. He has an iron hammer that can turn mountains to

dust. grave: applicable.) between his

ears, once and again, each time turning to dust, and getting restored as he was.

Uncanny shrieks | (Not His shrieks are 1,7,8, of agony: applicable.) heard by * everything (even animals) except the human beings and the jinns.

Wish of the “My Lord, “My Lord! Do | 1,5,7 dead regarding | speed up the not establish the resurrection, Resurrection, so | Hour.”

when they see that I may

what awaits rejoin my

Event yA Believer A Disbeliever Ref. | Wish to return: | “Allow me to (Not 5,7 | go give this applicable.) good news to my family.” Response of the | “Calm down; (Not 1,5,7 two angels to sleep as does a | applicable.) the wish: newlywed