Death & The Grave Module 1 – Circle 1

Will we all die? Or will a select few never die? “Every soul shall have taste of death; In the end to us shall ye be brought back.” (Surah Al-'Ankabut The Spider 29:57) Module 1 – Circle 1

When will we die, and how will we die?   “Nor does anyone know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does anyone know in what land he is to die. Verily with God is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things)” (Surah Luqman:-31:34) Narrated by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) saying that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "The life span of my followers are between sixty and seventy. Very few of them do exceeds this age. " Reported by: Tirmidhi Module 1 – Circle 1

Who is in control of when we die? “And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of God at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world – We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter – We will give them thereof. And We will reward the grateful.” (Surah Ali-'Imran - Family of Imran 3:145) Module 1 – Circle 1

How is our soul taken from our bodies? “Say, "The Angel of Death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord will you return.” (Surah As-Sajdah- Prostration 32:11) Module 1 – Circle 1

How are good and bad souls taken from bodies? “By those [angels] who extract the soul with violence. And [by] those [angels] who remove the soul with ease” (Surah Nazi’at – The Extractors 79:1-2) "The Angel of death says...'O you foul soul, come out to the anger and wrath of your Lord'. The soul inside the disbeliever's body is overcome by terrible fear [and does not want to deliver itself up], whereupon the Angel of death violently pulls it out like multi-pronged skewers being yanked out of wet wool - tearing with them the arteries and nerves." (hadith sahih) "The angel of death comes to the dying believer, sits at his head and says 'O you good soul, come out and receive your Lords forgiveness and pleasure'. Then the soul slows out effortlessly, just as water flows from the mouth of a water skin" (sahih) Module 1 – Circle 1

Can a person repent at this point? "But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “Indeed, I have repented now”, or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them we have prepared a painful punishment". (Surah an-Nisa – The Women 4:18) Module 1 – Circle 1

Is the grave our final destination? The grave is the third stage of human existence. The first is the womb, the second is the Earthly life, and the final stage is Jannah or Jahannam. Module 1 – Circle 1

How is the evil soul questioned in the grave? "If you could only see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, and the angels are stretching out their hands, “…Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against God other than the truth and [that] you were, towards His verses, being arrogant." (Surah al-An'am – The Grazing Livestock 6:93) Module 1 – Circle 1

How is the good soul questioned in the grave? "Who is your Lord?" "What is your religion?" "Who is this man who was sent among you?" "How did you come to know these things?" Module 1 – Circle 1

How is the evil soul treated in the grave? After the questioning, a door to Paradise is opened, and he is told to look at what his place would have been in the Garden if he had obeyed Allah. Then it is locked arid another door is opened and he is told to look at his place in the Fire. It stays open and the blast of hot air from it continues to reach him until the Day of Rising. Then the earth presses in on him and he is crushed to the point that his ribs split apart. Then various forms of punishment rain down on him according to the type of wrong actions he committed. Module 1 – Circle 1

Will evil souls be punished in the grave? The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I passed Badr and saw a man come out of the ground. Another man hit him with a stick until he vanished back into the earth. Then that happened again.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went on to say, 'That was Abu Jahl b. Hisham who will be punished in that way until the Day of Rising.‘ Module 1 – Circle 1

How is the good soul treated in the grave? After the questioning, a door onto the Fire is opened for him and he is told, "Look! This would have been your place in the Fire if you had rebelled against Allah and Allah had exchanged your place in the Garden for it." Then that door is locked and another door onto the Garden is opened and he sees his place there. This door will remain open until the Day of Rising. Some of the sweetness and fragrance of the Garden reaches him and his grave is made spacious. He sleeps in peace just as if he were in one of the meadows of the Garden. Module 1 – Circle 1

Conclusion Death is certain. We should constantly try to avoid bad actions so that our souls are gently removed at the time of death, and our questioning and time in the grave until the Day of Judgement is pleasant. We should ask Allah swt to forgive our sins, and ask Allah swt to save us from the punishment of the grave. Module 1 – Circle 1