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Hane', the servant of Uthman, Radi Allahu Anhu, recalls,
"Whenever Uthman (RAA) would stand over a grave he used to cry, his beard
would moisten from the tears. Some would ask him, 'When Heaven and Hell are
mentioned you do not cry, but when the grave is mentioned you collapse
crying, how come?' He (RAA) would say: I hear the Prophet (SAAS) say, 'the
grave is the first stage of the Hereafter, whoever passes it will be at ease
after it, and if he does not pass it he will be in the most horrific of
conditions.' I also heard him say, 'Never have I seen a sight more
horrifying than the graveyard.'
In the hadith of Jibraeel, when he came to the Prophet (SAAS) and asked him
about Islam, Eeman, and Ihsan, the Prophet (SAAS) said about Eeman, "Eeman
is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His books, His Messengers, the Final
Day, and divine decree, the good
and the bad thereof." Today we shall talk about the Final Day. It has been
asked, "when shall the Final Day be?" Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Final
Day begins when you die. And that shall be our topic for today: What happens
after death.
In the battle of Uhud, the Shuhada', after seeing their reward and honor
with Allah Ta'ala, longed to tell their brothers that had not yet met
martrydom of the blessing that they had recieved. The Prophet (SAAS) said,
"When your brothers were martyred at Uhud, Allah placed their souls inside
green birds which drink from the rivers of Paradise, eat of it's fruits and
seek shelter in lamps of gold which are suspended in the shade of the Arsh
(the throne) When they saw how beautiful their food, drink, and abode was,
they pleaded, "Who will tell our brothers about us, that we are alive in
Paradise and being amply provided for, so that they will not turn away from
Jihad or abandon the battlefields. Allah ta'ala said: "I shall tell them!"
The verse was then sent down:
[Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead, Nay, they
are alive with their Lord, provided for/ They rejoice in what Allah has
bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have
not yet joined them (i.e. not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come,
nor shall they grieve.] - Aali Imran 3/169-170
Let us sit and listen to a lesson given by the Prophet (SAAS) himself, the
journey of the soul. You will be taking this journey soon. Narrated
Al-Baraa' ibn 'Aazib (RAA): We followed the Prophet (SAAS) out to attend the
funeral of one of the Ansar men. When we reached the grave - before the man
was buried - the Prophet (SAAS) sat down (facing the Qiblah) and we sat down
encircling him. We sat still as if birds were on our heads, silent. The
Prophet (SAAS) had a stick in his hand with which he would scratch up the
sand. [He gazed at the sky and then down to the ground, repeating this three
times] Then he said, "Seek the protection of Allah from the punishment of
the Grave." He then continued, "When the believing soul is reaching the end
of his time on earth, starting out in the hereafter, angels with white faces
shining like the sun descend upon him from heaven, bringing with them one of
the shourds of Paradise and Hanoot. They sit down around him as far as the
eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and
pronounces, 'O blessed soul, come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of
Allah.' The soul will then come out like a drop of water coming out of the
mouth of a waterskin. And the Angel of Death will take it. [Until his soul
comes out, every angel between the heavens and earth will pray for him, as
will every angel in heaven. The gates of heaven will be opened for im, and
the people in every level of heaven will pray to Allah to permit his soul to
ascend through their domain.
When the (Angel of Death) has taken the soul, the (other angels) do not
leave it in his hand for a moment; immediatly they take it and wrap in the
shroud and scent it with Hanoot. This is the meaning of Allah's words:
[...When death approaches any of you, Our Angels take his soul, and they
never fail in their duty.] - An'am 6/61
At that moment a scent shall emerge from the soul, a scent not unlike the
finest musk found on earth. They shall take the soul up (to the heavens) and
whenever they pass a group of angels, the (angels) will remark, 'Who is this
blessed soul?' They will say, 'It is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so' using
the best names that they were addressed with in this world.
(They shall go on) until they reach the first heaven. They shall ask for it
to be opened and it shall open for them. In each heaven, those who are
closest to Allah will accompany him to the next heaven until they reach the
seventh heaven, where Allah - Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala - will say, 'Register
the book of My slave in 'illiyyun.'
[And what will explain to you what 'Illiyyun is? (It is) a register (fully)
inscribed, to which bear witness those nearest to Allah] Mutaffifoon
83/19-21.
So his book will be registered in Illiyun. Then Allah (SWT) will say, 'Take
him back to the earth for this was my promise: I created them from it, I
shall return them to it, and I will resurrect them from it again.
He will be taken back to the earth, and his soul will be returned to his
body. [And he will hear the footsteps of his companions as they leave him.]
Two stern Angels will come to him, [rebuke him] and sit him up. They will
ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He will answer, 'My Lord is Allah.' They will
ask him, 'What is your religion?' He will say, 'My religion is Islam.' They
will ask him, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He will say, 'He is
the Messenger of Allah (SAAS).'
Yu Thabbitul Allahu al ladheena Aamanu bil Qawl ath-thabiti fil Hayatid
Dunya wa fil Aakhirah
A voice will call from Heaven, 'My slave has spoken the Truth, so furnish
his grave from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a
gate to Paradise.' Some of its breeze and scent will reach him, and his
grave will be widened for him as far as the eye can see. There will appear
before him a handsome, well dressed, and finely scented man, saying, 'I
bring you good news which shall make you happy. I bring you good news of the
good pleasure of Allah and Gardens of eternal blessing. This is the day you
were promised.' He will say, 'And you, may Allah give you better news, who
are you?' He will say, 'I am your good deeds, and by Allah I only ever saw
you hastening to obey Allah, and ever reluctant to disobey Him, so may Allah
reward you with good.'
Then a gate of Paradise and a gate of Hell will open for him. And it will be
said, 'this is your place if you had disobeyed Allah, but Allah has fiven
you this instead of that.' When he sees what is in Paradise he will say, 'My
Lord! Hasten the coming of the Hour...' It will be said, 'Dwell in
patience.'
As for the Disbelieving (corrupt) man, when he leaves this world and enters
the Hereafter, stern and harsh angels come down to him from heaven, their
faces are black and they bring with them sack-cloth from Hell. They sit
around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits
at his head and says, ' Come out O evil soul to the anger and wrath of
Allah!'
The soul will be dragged out of his body with as much difficulty as a
many-pronged skewer being dragged through wet wool (the veins and nerves
will be destroyed by it.)
He will be cursed by every angel between the heaven and the earth, and by
every angel in the heaven. The gates of heaven will be locked and the people
of every heaven will pray to Allah to not allow his soul to ascend through
their domain. He will take it and immediately put it into the sack-cloth,
stinking like the foulest stench of dead flesh ever experienced on earth.
They will take the soul up and whenever they take it past a group of angels,
they will say, 'Who is this evil soul?' They shall say, 'It is so-and-so,
son of so-and-so,' using the worst names he was addressed with on earth.
(They will go on) until they reach the first heaven; they will ask for it to
be opened for them, and it will not be opened. (Then the Messenger of Allah
- SAAS - recited):
[..No opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the
Garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle..] A'raf 7:40
Allah ta'ala will say register his book in Sijjin, in the lowest earth. Then
Allah will say, take him back to the earth for this was my promise; I
created it from it, i will return them to it, and i shall resurrect them
from it again. So his soul will be thrown down from heaven until it reaches
his body. Then he recited:
[..If anyone asigns partners to Allah, he is as if he had fallen from heaven
and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (like a bird on its
prays) and thrown him into a far distant place.]Al-Hajj 22:31
So his soul will be returned to his body ( and he will hear the footsteps of
his companions when they leave him ). Two stern angels will come to him,
rebuke him and sit him up. They will ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He will
say, Haa Haa, I do not know. They will ask him. 'What is your religion?' He
will say, 'Haa Haa, I do not know. They will ask 'What do you say about this
man who was sent among you? He will not even know his name. But he will be
told. Muhammad. And he will say, 'Haa Haa, I do not know. I heard the people
saying such and such.' He will be told May you never know.'
Then a voice will call from heaven and will say, 'He has lied. Furnish his
grave from Hell and open for him a gate from hell.' So some of his heat and
venom will reach him and his grave will be constricted until his ribs are
crushed together.
There will appear before him a man with an ugly face, badly dressed, and
foul smelling. He will say, 'I bring you bad news, this is the day you were
promised. He will say, 'and you, may Allah give you even worse news! Who are
you? Your face brings bad news!' He will say, 'I am your evil deeds, by
Allah I only ever saw you reluctant to obey Allah and ever eager to disobey
Him. May allah repay you with evil.'
Then there will be sent to him one who is blind , deaf , and dunb. Who will
carry in his hand an iron rod which if he were to beat a camel with it, it
would turn to dust. He will beat him with it until he turns to dust. Then
Allah will restore him then he will be beaten again. He will emit a scream
which the whole of creation will hear except men and jinn. Then a gate will
be open for him to hell. And his grave will be furnished from hell. He will
say, 'My Lord, may the hour never come.'
This is the journey we shall all take. How many have stopped to think about
and prepare for this journey. If you were given warning that the Angel of
Death would visit you after Maghrib, what would you do till then? Wouldn't
you pray continously and cry at Asr Salah. Wouldn't you give Sadaqah and
throw this world from your heart. Wouldn't you come back to Allah with a
sincere repentance. One day, not too far from now, you will be going back to
your Lord and He will ask you all of that which you did.
Bukayr ibn Aamir said, "If it was said to Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Abi Nu'aym that
the Angel of Death was about to visit him (and take his soul) he would not
find room for any extra actions. (i.e. He lived his day as if the Angel of
Death were coming at night, and lived his night as if the Angel of Death
were coming in the morning!)
Part II
Very often after someone dies, relatives and friends want to give that
person rewards while he is in the grave. This is something recognized by the
Shariah in certain cases:
Firstly: Making Dua' for the deceased. This is understood from the
institution of Janazah Salah when everyone gathers to pray sincerely for the
dead body.
Secondly: The Deceased feels comfort from the presence of the community
after the burial for a period of the time taken to sacrifice a camel and
distribute it's meat.
Amr ibn Al-AAs (RA) said, "When you bury me, stay around my grave for the
time it would take to sacrifice a camel and distribute it's meat, so that i
may be comforted by your presence, until i see how I shall answer the
Messengers of my Lord" [Muslim]
Thirdly: A Dua' of strength and forgiveness (not in congregation) for the
deceased immediatly after he is buried.
Uthman ibn Affan (RA) said, "Whenever the Prophet (SAAS) had finished
burying someone, he would stand by the grave and say, 'Ask forgiveness and
strength for your brother, for at this moment he is being questioned.'"
The Prophet (SAAS) said, "When a person dies his deeds are cut off except
for three: continuous charity, knowledge that benefits others, or a pious
son/daughter who will pray for them."
After death, people try to give rewards to the dead in a manner that is in
many times against the principles of the Quran and Sunnah. Some follow
traditions passed down through their fathers, others do it as a source of
income.
The main phenomenon that happens is the Quran Khani, where people gather,
each participant given a part of the Quran to read, afterwhich a feast is
served. And some claim that the food is food of charity meant to be on
behalf of the deceased. In modern times, some even distribute invitation
cards and all types of food are prepared and enjoyed on what is meant to be
a sorrowful occasion.
In many countries of the Muslim Ummah this is a normal practice, and certain
days are fixed for this Quran Khani: the 3rd day, then the 7th day, the 10th
and 40th, and then annually. And unfortunately, this practice is often given
more importance than some Fard duties, hence the scholars have considered it
to be an innovation (bid'ah) and sinful. This is the opinion of the Ulema'.
Ibn Al-Humam Al-Hanafi said in Fath Al-Qadeer, a renowned book on the fiqh
of Abu Hanifah, "Gathering to feast at the house of the deceased is a sign
of joy and happiness. And to do so is bid'ah."
These practices are taken from the Hindu religion, as a famous Historian,
Al-Bairooni (303 AH) mentions in his book, Kitaab Al-Hind, "Hindus have
fixed days and dates for the deceased person's family on which they should
invite people and provide food, etc.. (the 11th day after death, 15th,
annually and specifically the sixth day of the month). The family members
are expected to provide food and water for nine days. Otherwise, according
to the Hindu belief, the soul of the deceased will wander in hunger and
thrist around the home."
In support of this, another Indian scholar, Ubaid Ullah also mentions,
"Every year a certain date is fixed when they try to convey rewards to the
deceased. This tradition is named 'Saraadh'. When preparation of food for
the Saraadh is done, no one may touch it until the Hindu Priest (Pandit)
comes and blesses it by reading something." From Tuhfatul Hind, p.91.
Muslims are only following these practices giving it a different name. In
place of a Pandit, an Imam is called to bless the food, etc. And if someone
does not want to come to the Quran Khani for fear it is against what the
Prophet (SAAS) came with, for fear that it is against Islam, for fear that
it will be rejected by Allah, the people and the community condemn him and
say he is disrespecting the dead and is against giving rewards to the
deceased.
And finally, when someone dies we see people telling others to recite
Al-Fatiha. This is an act which requires proof from the Quran or Sunnah or
Sahabah because that person is specifiying a time and fixed verses to
recite, something which can only be specified by Allah and His Messenger.
What do we do then when someone dies?
1.We should make food for the deceased family, they should not make food for
the visitors as they are in a state of sorrow and the last thing they want
to do is cook for dozens of people. The Prophet (SAAS) said, "Make food for
the family of Ja'far.."
2.Condolences should be given to the family of the deceased, but there is no
fixed place for this. It could be in the Masjid, on the street, or at their
house. However, if it is at their house, we should not spend too long
lounging in their living room. It should be a short visit.
3.We should have sympathy and make a dua of forgiveness for the person. This
is what the Prophet (SAAS) used to do and his companions likewise.
If you want Thawab, now dear brothers and sisters is the time to collect it.
Ali ibn Abi Talib stood with a companion of his near a grave one day and
asked him, "If he could come back to this Dunya, what do you think he would
do?" He replied, "He would do nothing but good deeds." The Ali (RAA) said,
"If it is not going to be him, then let it be you!" |
