The Journey into the Hereafter - The Believer in the Grave (part 2 of 8)
Since 2012-12-03
We will now take a brief look at the journey of the soul after death. This is truly an amazing story, all the more so because it is true and one which we all must take.
The Believer in the Grave
A Grave World
We will now take a brief look at the journey of the soul after death. This is truly an amazing story, all the more so because it is true and one which we all must take. The sheer depth of knowledge we have concerning this journey, its precision and detail, is a manifest sign that Muhammad was truly God’s Last Messenger to humanity. The revelation he received and then communicated to us from His Lord is as unambiguous in its description of the afterlife as it comprehensive. Our glimpse into this knowledge will begin with a brief exploration of the journey of the believing soul from the moment of death to its final resting place in Paradise.
When a believer is about to depart this world, angels with white faces come down from the heavens and say:
O peaceful soul, come out to forgiveness from God and His pleasure.” [Ibn Uthaymeen, authentic]
»يقال لنفس المؤمن: اخرجي أيتها النفس المطمئنة إلى مغفرة من الله ورضوان« ابن عثيمين، صحيح
The believer will look forward to meeting his Creator, as the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, explained:
“…when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of God’s pleasure with him and His blessings upon him, and so at that time nothing is dearer to him than what lies ahead of him. He therefore loves meeting God, and God loves meeting him.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
»المؤمن إذا حضره الموت بشر برضوان الله وكرامته، فليس شيء أحب إليه مما أمامه، فأحب لقاء الله وأحب الله لقاءه« صحيح البخاري
The soul peacefully passes out of the body like a drop of water which emerges from a water-skin, and the angels take hold of it:
The angels gently extract it, saying:
{…Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! (30) "We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for.} [Fusilat 41:30-32]
{...أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِىٓ أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ}فصلت: 30-31
Transliteration: alla takhafoo wala tahzanoo waabshiroo bialjannati allatee kuntum tooAAadoona (30) Nahnu awliyaokum fee alhayati alddunya wafee alakhirati walakum feeha ma tashtahee anfusukum walakum feeha ma taddaAAoona
Once extracted from the body, the angels wrap the soul in a shroud smelling of musk and ascend up to the heavens. As the Gates of Heaven open for the soul, the angels greet it:
“A good soul has come from the earth, may God bless you and the body you used to dwell in.”
…introducing it with the best names it was called with in this life. God commands his “book” to be recorded, and the soul is returned back to earth.
The soul then remains in a place of limbo in its grave, called the Barzakh, awaiting the Day of Judgment. Two fearsome, dread-inspiring angels called Munkar and Nakeer visit the soul to ask it about its religion, God, and prophet. The believing soul sits upright in its grave as God grants it the strength to answer the angels with full faith and certainty.
Munkar and Nakeer: “What is your religion?”
Believing soul: “Islam.”
Munkar and Nakeer: “Who is your Lord?”
Believing soul: “Allah.”
Munkar and Nakeer: “Who is your Prophet?” (or “What do you say about this man?”)
Believing soul: “Muhammad.”
Munkar and Nakeer: “How did you come to know these things?”
Believing soul: “I read the Book of Allah (i.e. the Quran) and I believed.”
Then, when the soul passes the test, a voice from the heavens will call out:
“My slave has spoken the truth, supply him with furnishings from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a gate for him to Paradise.”
The believer’s grave is made roomy and spacious and filled with light. He is shown what would have been his abode in Hell - had he been a wicked sinner - before a portal is opened for him every morning and evening showing him his actual home in Paradise. Excited and full of joyful anticipation,…the believer will keep asking: “Oh Allah, make the Hour (of Resurrection) come?!”. [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«فتعاد روحه في جسده فيأتيه ملكان فيجلسانه فيقولان من ربك فيقول ربي الله فيقولان ما دينك فيقول ديني الإسلام فيقولان ما هذا الرجل الذى بعث فيكم فيقول هو رسول الله فيقولان له وما عملك فيقول قرأت كتاب الله فآمنت به وصدقته فينادي مناد من السماء أن صدق عبدي فأفرشوه من الجنة وألبسوه من الجنة وافتحوا له بابا إلى الجنة قال فيأتيه من روحها وطيبها ويفسح له في قبره مد بصره...فيقول رب أقم الساعة حتى أرجع إلى أهلي ومالي» صححه الألباني
By IslamReligion.com (co-author Abdurrahman Mahdi)
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