Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dearest Brother Burhan,

Salaam ale kum w.r.w.b

I had sent the attached 2 emails to a friend of mine regarding kabar and what happens after death and he asked me the following question?

What happens to a Hindu who is not buried but burned down to ashes as per the Hindu rituals. He is pointing out that he is not going into the kabar but directly to Heaven.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What happens to a Hindu who is not buried but cremated?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Humans have devised several ways to dispose off their dead. Some bury their dead, some cremate their dead, while others leave them on the hills to be devoured by vultures and wild animals! It does not matter how the human races disposes its dead, for it is the Promise of the Creator, that He will assemble them all on the Day of Judgement.

The Creator who gave us life when we were nothing the first time, will do so again. That is His Promise in the Holy Quran!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waaqiah verses 47-50: And they used to say "what! when we die and become dust and bones shall we then indeed be raised up again?

"(We) and our fathers of old?"

Say: "Yea, those of old and those of later times

"All will certainly be gathered together for the meeting appointed for a Day Well-known.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Yaa Seen verses 77-79: Doth not man see that it is We Who created Him from sperm? Yet behold! He (stands forth) as an open adversary!

And he makes comparisons for us and forgets his own (Origin and) Creation: He says "Who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones (at that)?"

Say "He will give them life Who created them for the first time! For He is well versed in every kind of creation!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 48-51:

48 See what similes thy strike for thee; but they have gone astray and never can they find a way.

49 They say: "What! when we are reduced to bones and dust should we really be raised up (to be) a new creation?"

50 Say: "(Nay!) be ye stones or iron

"Or created matter which in your minds is hardest (to be raised up)--(yet shall ye be raised up)!" Then will they say: "Who will cause us to return?" Say: "He Who created you first!" Then will they wag their heads towards thee and say "When will that be?" Say "Maybe it will be quite soon!

There are literally tens of aayahs where Allah states, that in whatever state you might be, be it dust, or bones, or ashes, or as hard as stones or iron… He will bring you forth to life again on the Day of Judgement! Nobody has direct access to heaven, whether he be buried or burned! The Creator will Judge each according to his deeds, and if his deeds are done according to the Will of the Creator, he will deserve His Mercy and Forgiveness. If the deeds of one are done against the Will of Creator, he will deserve His Wrath and Anger. Thus each of us will be decided according to our deeds and not according to how we have disposed our dead bodies!

May Allah guide us all to the Truth.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan