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:

I would like to know what will happen to a person in a grave once he is dead. I have read your answers and understand that the theory of azab-e-kabar is true. You have aso given evidence from hadees.I want to know two things: a) Is there mention of azab-e-kabar in quran majeed and b) what is the situation of azab-e-kabar for people who are drowned or burnt or whose body are never buried due to any circumstances.c) Also from what stage of azab-e-kabar does the person proceed to burzak. 

(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:

Punishment of grave hadith

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Questions: a) Is there mention of azab-e-kabar in quran majeed and b) what is the situation of azab-e-kabar for people who are drowned or burnt or whose body are never buried

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 78:

78   Wherever ye are death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 8 Surah Anfaal verses 50-51:

50 If thou couldst see when the Angels take the souls of the unbelievers (at death) (how) they smite their faces and their backs (saying): "Taste the penalty of the blazing fire

51 Because of (the deeds) which your (own) hands sent forth: for Allah is never unjust to His servants.”

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 47 Surah Muhammad verses 27-28

27 But how (will it be) when the Angels take their souls at death and smite their faces and their backs?

28 This because they followed that which called forth the Wrath of Allah and they hated Allah's good pleasure; so He made their deeds of no effect.

In light of the guidance of the Quran and the various authentic traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) it is evident that the happenings in the grave is related to and effects one’s soul rather than one’s physical bodies. Regardless of whether one is buried, or burnt, or drowned, or eaten by wild animals, etc., their souls will be collected by the Angel of Death and this soul will be honored if the deceased was righteous and pious and tormented if evil and impious.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 40 Surah Mumin verses 45-46:

45 At last, Allah saved the believer from all those evil plots that the people devised against him, and the Companions of Pharaoh themselves were encompassed by the horrible scourge.

46 It is the Fire of Hell before which they are presented morning and evening. And when the Hour of Resurrection comes, it will be commanded: “Admit the People of Pharaoh to the severest torment.”

As is evident from the above verse of Surah Mumin, the ‘Aale-Firaun’ or Companions of the Pharaoh who were drowned in the sea by the Command of Allah, their souls are being tormented after their death by being presented to Fire of Hell morning and evening….and only on the Day of Resurrection, they will be admitted and condemned into the Hell Fire forever.

Your Question: … Also from what stage of azab-e-kabar does the person proceed to burzak. 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Muminoon verses 99-103:

99 (In Falsehood will they be) until when death comes to one of them he says: "O my Lord! send me back (to life)

100 In order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected." By no means! It is but a word he says; before them is a ‘Barzakh’ (Veil or Partition) till the Day they are raised up.

101 Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day nor will one ask after another!

102 Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy they will attain salvation:

103 But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide.

The literal meaning of the term ‘barzakh’ is something of a barrier or a veil, or something which is kept hidden. In Quranic terminology, the period between one’s death on earth and when one will be granted life again by Allah on the Day of Judgement, is known as the ‘Barzakh’. Its not as if that the happenings of the grave are a separate and distinct entity from the life of the ‘barzakh’, but whatever happens in the period between one’s death and one’s resurrection on the Day of Judgment (including what happens in one’s grave) is what is known as the ‘barzakah’.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan