Punishment of the Grave
It is essential for individuals to believe in the existence of both the punishment and the bliss of the grave, as these concepts are firmly established in the texts of the Quran and Sunnah. Notably, it is recognized by the consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah that the punishment and bliss encompass both the soul and the body. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah stated in his collection of fatwas: “Indeed, punishment and bliss affect both the soul and the body together, as agreed upon by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.” The term ‘barzakh’ refers to the same concept as the punishment of the grave.
Hadiths Pertaining to the Punishment of the Grave
Numerous prophetic traditions regarding the punishment of the grave have been narrated, including:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When one of you dies, his place will be shown to him in the morning and evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, he will see his place in Paradise, and if he is from the people of Hellfire, he will see his place in Hellfire. It will be said: This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Judgment.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “It has been revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves.”
- A Jewish woman visited Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and said: “May Allah protect you from the punishment of the grave.” Aisha then asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the punishment of the grave, to which he replied: “Yes, punishment in the grave.” Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned that she never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) complete a prayer without seeking refuge from the punishment of the grave.
- When the Prophet (peace be upon him) completed the burial of the deceased, he would say: “Seek forgiveness for your brother and ask Allah to grant him firmness, for he is now being questioned.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “The grave is the first station of the Hereafter. If one succeeds there, what comes after it is easier, but if he does not succeed there, what comes after it is more severe. I have never seen anything more horrific than the grave.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by two graves and said: “Indeed, these two are being punished, but they are not being punished for something serious. One of them used to walk around spreading gossip, and the other did not cleanse himself after urinating.” He then asked for a fresh branch, split it into two, and planted one on each grave, saying: “May it lighten their punishment as long as they do not dry out.” In another narration, it was noted that the other person did not protect himself from urine.”
- In his prayers, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would say: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of the Antichrist, and from the trials of life and death. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.” Someone remarked on how often he sought refuge from debt, to which he replied: “When a man is in debt, he lies and breaks promises.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “I have seen you tested in your graves as the trial of the Antichrist.”
Supplications for Protection from the Punishment of the Grave
Among the most effective supplications that a servant can recite to seek protection from the punishment of the grave are:
- O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the punishment of the Fire, from the trials of life and death, and from the trials of the Antichrist.
- I ask Allah, the Most High, the Mighty, to make our graves a garden from the gardens of Paradise and not a pit from the pits of Hell, O Allah, amen.
- O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, and Azrael, protect me from the trials of this world and guide me to what pleases You. Grant me firmness in speech in this life and the Hereafter, and do not lead me astray after You have guided me. Be my ally and support, protector and helper.
- O Allah, cover my faults, accept my misdeeds, and protect me from in front of me and behind me, to my right and left, from above and below me, and do not make me among the heedless.
- O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the best of those who purify; You are its guardian and protector, O Lord of the worlds.
- O Allah, I submit to You, I believe in You, I rely upon You, I dispute in Your name, and I refer to You; forgive me for what I have forwarded and what I have delayed, what I have concealed and what I have revealed, and You are the One who brings forth and the One who delays; there is no deity but You, the First and the Last, the Apparent and the Hidden; in You I place my trust, and You are the Lord of the mighty throne.
- O Allah, I ask You for sincere faith, a humble heart, beneficial knowledge, true certainty, a sound religion, and immunity from all calamity. I ask You for complete health and lasting wellness, and I seek Your help in expressing gratitude for Your blessings and independence from others.
- O Allah, I seek refuge in You from laziness and old age, from sin and debt, from the trials of the grave and its punishment, from the trials of the Fire and its torment, from the evil of wealth, and I seek refuge in You from the trial of poverty and the trials of the Antichrist. O Allah, wash away my sins with ice and cold water, and purify my heart from sins just as You have cleansed a white garment from dirt, and distance me from my sins as far as You have distanced the East from the West.