(2) Will the kaafir be tested in his grave?
The ahaadeeth that we have quoted indicate that the kuffaar will be tested in their graves. But AI-Hakeem at-Tirmidhi, Ibn 'Abd aI-Barr and Suyooti13 held a different view. AI-Hakeem at-Tirmidhi quoted as evidence, that they will not be questioned, the fact that when previous nations refused to respond to their Messengers, the punishment was hastened upon them, unlike this ummah from whom the punishment is withheld. The Messenger (صلىالله عليه وسلم) has been sent with the sword, so whoever enters Islam for fear of being killed, then becomes a hypocrite, will be punished in his grave. But what he says is subject to further discussion, because Allah did not destroy the disbelievers of other nations after He had sent down the Tawraat. 14 Ibn 'Abd aI-Barr quoted as evidence the sahih hadith in which the Prophet (صلىالله عليه وسلم) said: "This ummah will be tested in their graves"; some versions say, "will be questioned”15 The saheeh ahaadeeth refute this understanding, and indicate that this is not limited to the believers or to this ummah.
'Abd al-Haqq al-Ishbeeli, Ibn al-Qayyim, Qurtubi, As-Safaareeni and others were of the view that the questioning (in the grave) includes all people. 16
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13 Lawaami' al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah, 2/10
14 See Lawaami' al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah by As-Safaareeni, 2/10
15 Lawaami' al-Anwaar dl-Bahiyyah by As-Safaareeni, 2/10; Tadhkirat al-Qurrubi,
16Lawaami' al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah by As-Safaareeni, 2/10; Tadhkirat al-Qurtubi,