We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) accompanying the bier of a man of the Ansar. When we reached his grave, it was not yet dug. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat down and we also sat down around him as if birds were over our heads. He had in his hand a stick with which he was scratching the ground.
He then raised his head and said: Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment in the grave. He said it twice or thrice.
The version of Jabir adds here: He hears the beat of their sandals when they go back, and at that moment he is asked: O so and so! Who is your Lord, what is your religion, and who is your Prophet?
Hannad's version says: Two angels will come to him, make him sit up and ask him: Who is your Lord?
He will reply: My Lord is Allah.
They will ask him: What is your religion?
He will reply: My religion is Islam.
They will ask him: What is your opinion about the man who was sent on a mission among you? He will reply: He is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
They will ask: Who made you aware of this? He will reply: I read Allah's Book, believed in it, and considered it true; which is verified by Allah's words: "Allah's Book, believed in it, and considered it true, which is verified by Allah's words: "Allah establishes those who believe with the word that stands firm in this world and the next."
The agreed version reads: Then a crier will call from Heaven: My servant has spoken the truth, so spread a bed for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him into Paradise. So some of its air and perfume will come to him, and a space will be made for him as far as the eye can see.
He also mentioned the death of the infidel, saying: His spirit will be restored to his body, two angels will come to him, make him sit up and ask him: Who is your Lord?
He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. They will ask him: What is your religion? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. They will ask: Who was the man who was sent on a mission among you? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. Then a crier will call from Heaven: He has lied, so spread a bed for him from Hell, clothe him from Hell, and open for him a door into Hell. Then some of its heat and pestilential wind will come to him, and his grave will be compressed, so that his ribs will be crushed together.
Jabir's version adds: One who is blind and dumb will then be placed in charge of him, having a sledge-hammer such that if a mountain were struck with it, it would become dust. He will give him a blow with it which will be heard by everything between the east and the west except by men and jinn, and he will become dust. Then his spirit will be restored to him.
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4753
In-book reference: Book 42, Hadith 158
English translation: Book 41, Hadith 4735 http://sunnah.com/abudawud/42/158
We have often heard that we will be asked about three questions in the grave. There are several hadith which talk about those three questions, I have bolded the text of those questions. If one pays attention, we can see that three are four questions to be asked not three. The answer to fourth question is equally important because that determined how we will be able to answer the first three questions. In other words, angels will be asking for evidence and source of answers to first three questions.
The source of our answers in to believe in Quran and Sunnah (because Quran tells us to follow the Sunnah of Prophet peace be upon him). Anyone who follow Biddah's will not be able to answer these questions.
Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah:
AbdurRahman ibn Amr as-Sulami and Hujr ibn Hujr said: We came to Irbad ibn Sariyah who was among those about whom the following verse was revealed: "Nor (is there blame) on those who come to thee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst: "I can find no mounts for you."
We greeted him and said: We have come to see you to give healing and obtain benefit from you.
Al-Irbad said: One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer, then faced us and gave us a lengthy exhortation at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid.
A man said: Messenger of Allah! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so what injunction do you give us?
He then said: I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.
Those who believe there is good Biddah should pay attention to the word every in above hadith. Prophet peace be upon him has been very precise in his words. Every includes good and bad biddah and it shows that there is no such thing as good biddah.
Anyways, My intention is to only give an advice and not to turn this into a useless discussion to prove that good Biddah is part of our religion when it is NOT. If one still wants to follow innovations, feel free to do so but remember the warnings mentioned in these hadiths and in Quran.
تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ
It ( the hell fire) almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?" [Quran 67:8] وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.
Wow, that's quite an interesting narration! It's fascinating to hear about the experiences in the grave. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seemed so engaged at the moment, scratching the ground with a stick while reminding everyone to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.
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format_quote Originally Posted by bondlillian
Wow, that's quite an interesting narration! It's fascinating to hear about the experiences in the grave. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seemed so engaged at the moment, scratching the ground with a stick while reminding everyone to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.
I'm actually not afraid of death and have even chosen one of the Washington Headstones for myself in advance. I just want the ceremony to be the way I see it. Anyway, thanks for sharing interesting insights.
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