Crossing over to the Hereafter The First Night in the Grave

Death marks the crossing over to the hereafter. If one can make it pass the torment of the grave then he can make it pass whatever is next to come ● The Messenger of Allaah said, ● "Verily the grave is the first stopping place for the Hereafter; so if one 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.]

He then said: ● "Seek Allaah's protection from the Punishment of the Grave, since punishment of the Grave is a factual reality." ● [Saheeh: At-Tabraanee in 'al-Kabeer' from Umm Khaalid bint Khaalid ibn Sa'eed ibn al-'Aas.]

The Prophet also told us: ● "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.]

So thus you will not have to wait till the day of Judgement to reap what you have sown in this world – It begins in the grave ● Only the one who dies upon the truth free of major sin will be excluded from this: ● "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.]

So what happens when a person is first put in his grave? ● The Prophet 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 did you used to say about this man?' If he was a Believer of good standing he says; 'He was 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.' ● The angels then say: 'Verily we knew that you (would) say that.' Then his grave is widened for him to the extent of seventy cubits by seventy, and a light is made for him and he is told to ' Sleep.' ● He then says: 'I should go to my family and inform them.' The angels say: 'Sleep as the newly married sleeps..” ● And his body remains in that state until Allaah raises him up.

However, if the person was a hypocrite or an unbeliever: ● He will answer: 'I heard the people saying something so I said it too, I don't know.' ● So the angels say: 'We knew that you (would) say that.' ● And they will say to the earth: 'Crush him', ● And 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.]

Also the Prophet tells us that after the questioning the following occurs: ● If the person passes the questioning,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.' ● If he fails the questioning he will be told to see his place in hell and shown what would have been his in paradise. ● Thus - The Prophet added, ● "The dead person will see both his places.

Also the prophet has told us for those who do not pass the questioning the following will occur for every wrong question answered: ● “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.]

Also the Prophet (sa) said the person will be asked these questions as well in the grave: ● They will ask him who is your lord and what is your religion ● For the one who answers correctly a door from paradise will be opened for them. 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. ● For the one who answers wrongly a door from hell will be opened and some of its heat and wind will come to him, and his grave will become restricted, so his ribs will be crushed together. ● [Saheeh: Ahmad, Abu Dawud (3/4735) Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Haakim, al- Baihaqee in 'Shu'ab ul-Imaan', ad- Diyaa: from al-Baraa]

Also the prophet (sa) tells of how for the one who answers correctly: ● He will be made to sit up in his grave and it will be said to him: ● “ 'You were upon certain Faith and died upon it and upon it you will be raised up, if Allaah wills.”

But as for the one who died up hypocrisy or disbelief: ● He will be told: ● “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."