Purgatory Life (Barzakh)
"Barzakh" literally means 'barrier'.
In the Qur'an, it has been used for the period between death and the Day
of Resurrection.
"And behind them is the Barzakh
(barrier) till the Day they will be Resurrected." Holy Qur'an (23:100)
Our Third Imam (a.s.) has said that
"We will intercede on your
behalf on the Day of Judgment; but, by Allah, I am worried about you or
the period when you would be in Barzakh."
Imam Zaynal Abideen (a.s) has referred
in the Hadith to the fact that the sinning believers will get their
punishment during this period, as will be explained later on.
It appears from many traditions that the soul maintains some emotional
attachment with the body even after death - at least till the body is
buried. That is why it is forbidden to roughly handle the dead-body
"because it pains the Soul." When a child gets hurt while playing
and, let us say, his leg is wounded, the parents feel more pain in
their hearts than the child might be feeling in his leg. In the same
way, as the soul has been with the body for some time, it gives it pain
to see that body mis-handled.
After the questioning in the grave,
the Soul of a believer is sent to Wadis-Salaam (The Valley of Peace);
and that of an un-believer to Wadi Barhut (The Valley of Barhut). The
Valley of Peace is said to be in Najaf, where the Souls of the Believers
remain in peace waiting for the Day of Resurrection; and the Valley of
Barhut is said to be in Yemen, where the souls of hypocrites and
unbelievers remain in turmoil, afraid of the approaching Day of
Resurrection.
The above information is based upon
traditions. There is nothing to make us believe that these Ahadith are
not to be taken literally. If Allah keeps a soul in a place (i.e., a
Body) before death, He can keep that very soul in another place after
death too. Some modern scholars have tried to interpret these words
metaphorically. They say that the Valley of Peace means 'Peace' and the
Valley of Barhut means 'Turmoil'; and according to them, the Ahadith
means that the souls of the believers remain in peace and those of
others remain in turmoil.
During past centuries, Muslim scholars
have repeatedly tried to interpret so many Ayats and Ahadith
metaphorically, just because the literal meanings were not palatable to
the tastes of their times. Subsequent discoveries showed that it was
the literal meaning which was correct. Therefore, one cannot find any
justification for this latest attempt which denies the literal meanings
and explanations of these two Valleys. The correct view and attitude is
to believe what we have been told by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and Imams
(a.s.) because they are our guides in these matters, and it will not do
to insert our own views in between.
QUESTIONING IN THE GRAVE
The questioning in the grave is one of the "Dharuriyyat-e-Deen"
(Those things which are commonly believed by all Muslims) and if some
one rejects this belief he will not remain a Muslim. Sheikh Saduque (a.r.)
has written:
"And it is our belief that the
Questioning in the grave is 'Haqq' (Truth, Fact); whoever would answer
the questions correctly would get comfort and mercy in his grave and the
Garden of Bliss in the Akherat; and whoever would not answer correctly,
for him would be the fear of boiling water in his grave and Hell in the
next world."
According to traditions, after one has
been buried and those who had come to bury him go away, two angels come
into his grave. One is called Munkar, the other Nakir. The soul is
caused to re-enter the body for questioning. Then the "dead person"
is asked: Who is thy Rabb (Lord
and Sustainer)? Who is thy Prophet? What is thy religion? What is thy
Book? What is thy Qubla? Who are thy Imams?
It appears from some traditions that
questioning of the grave contains questions about prayers, Zakat, Hajj,
fast and the Love of Ahlul-Bait (a.s.)
If he is a believer and answers correctly, the angels tell him to sleep
peacefully; and a door is opened into his grave from the Paradise; he
sees his place in the Paradise; then his soul is taken out from the body
and is placed in neighborhood of the 14 Masumeen (sinless persons) i.e.,
the Prophet (s.a.w.), his daughter, Fatima Az-Zahara (a.s.) and the 12
Imams (a.s.).
According to some traditions, the
names of the angels who come to question a believer are 'Mubashshir' and
'Bashir' (one who brings good tidings).
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) told Hadrat Ali (a.s.):
"O Ali, verily those who love
you will be glad in three places: at the time of death, because you will
be there visiting them: and at the questioning in the grave as you will
be there teaching them (the correct replies); and at the time of coming
before Allah, and you will be there introducing them."
This Hadith, and many others, show that Imam (or Imams) (a.s.), come
into the grave also.
If he is not a believer, and does not answer correctly, then the angels
punish him with a club, a door is opened from the Hell into his grave.
Thereafter, his soul is transferred to Wadi Barhut.
Here it must be mentioned that this
questioning in the grave is only for a perfect believer or a confirmed
unbeliever. It is not for common people; nor is it for children, mad
persons or those whose religious beliefs (disbelief’s) were not based on
understanding and conviction (he was a Muslim or Christian just because
he happened to be born of Muslim or Christian Parents).
Also, if 'Talqueen' has been recited
on the grave, the dead-body is not questioned. Talqueen means 'To
Teach'. In Talqueen, the dead-body is taught the correct answers to the
questions which are to be asked. According to Ahadith, if Talqueen is
recited, the angels tell each other to return because "the Talqueen
is his proof (of faith)."
Question: How can a dead-body hear
Talqueen? Talqueen is recited in Arabic language. How can a non-Arab
dead-body understand it?
Answer: So long as the soul is in
this body, it requires ears to hear and eyes to see. But as soon as it
is free from the shackles of the body, it hears, sees and feels
independently, without needing any of the organs. Therefore, we should
not be surprised at how a 'dead-body' can hear our sound and Talqueen.
So far as understanding the Talqueen in a 'foreign language' is
concerned, the same principle applies here. While in this body, the
soul understands through the mind. But when it becomes free, it
understands independently. When it understands with the help of the
brain, it is bound to this or that language. When it understands on its
own, it needs no particular language. All languages are equal for it.
Furthermore, according to traditions, the language of the Akherat is
Arabic; and as soon as one dies, he at once understands this language.
Also, according to traditions, a dead
body which carries a stick from the lote-tree on either side, is
exempted from punishment and questioning in the grave.
Zurarah (r.a.) asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) why the two green
branches (of lote-tree) are put with the dead-body (in the shroud), Imam
(a.s.) said:
"So long as the branch is
green, the dead-body is not punished nor is the account of deeds and
beliefs taken." then he said: "And the punishment starts on the first
day, within the first hour, as soon as people go back after burying
their dead. And it is for this reason that the two branches have been
prescribed. (As the punishment and questioning is deferred in the first
hour because the branches are green) there will be no punishment or
accounting even after they become dry, if Allah so wishes (as the time
of punishment has passed.)"
THE SQUEEZE IN THE GRAVE
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has said:
"Whoever is subject to the
questioning in the grave, is also squeezed by the grave therein; and the
one who is exempted from questioning, is exempted from the squeeze
also."
For some believers this squeeze will be like two friends embracing each
other. But for some other believers, whose sins had not been washed by
the agony of death, this will be severe enough to fracture the ribs.
This squeezing is not dependent upon
the corpse being buried in the earth. In the words of Imam (a.s.) the
Lord of the earth is also the Lord of the atmosphere. And the corpse
would be squeezed, if it deserved it, no matter in what condition or
place it happens to be.
Now we will refer to the funeral of Bibi Fatima Bint Asad (a.s.) during
the Prophet's (s.a.w.) time.
When Bibi Fatima Bint Asad (wife of Hadrat Abu Talib and mother of
Hadrat Ali (a.s.) died, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was very much grieved.
Verily, the Messenger of Allah gave
Kafan (shroud) to Fatima Bint Asad (mother of the leader of the
Faithful) in his own robe, when the women finished washing her, he
(s.a.w.) carried her bier on his shoulder, and he remained under her
bier till he bought it to her grave.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) "remained
under her bier" means that he carried on his shoulder. In East
Africa, a peculiar custom has been adopted: the son of the dead person
remains "under the bier" literally; instead of carrying the bier or
helping others carrying it, he places himself between those who are
actually carrying the bier, and inconveniences them.
Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) put her
bier near the grave, and entered the grave and lay in it. Then he stood
up and took the body in his hands and laid it into the grave. Then he
put his face near hers whispering to her for a long time, telling her
"your son, your son". Then he came out, filled the grave and shaped it
properly. Then he inclined towards the grave, and people heard him
(s.a.w.) saying:
'There is no god but Allah. O
Allah, I am giving her to thee in trust' .
Then he returned.
The Muslims said: 'O Messenger
of Allah, today we have seen you doing such things as you had never done
before!'
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"Today I lost the
righteousness of Abu Talib: Verily, she was so (kind to me) that
whenever she had any good thing, she gave it to me, instead of using it
for herself or her own children. And I said once that on the Day of
Judgment people would be assembled naked.
She said:
"Oh, the shame!"
Therefore, I assured her that
Allah would resurrect her with clothes. And I described the squeeze of
the grave, and
she said:
"Oh, the weakness!"
So, I guaranteed to her Allah
would save her from it. It was for this reason that I gave her shroud
from my own robe, and I lay down in her grave. And I knelt near her to
teach her (the answers of) what she was being asked. And verily, she
was asked about her Lord; and she said, "Allah is my Lord"; and about
her Prophet, and she answered, "Muhammad (s.a.w.)". Then she was asked
about her Wali and Imam, and she perplexed and hesitated a little; so I
told her "Your son, your son". And she replied, "My child is my Imam".
Then the two angels went away and said, "We have no authority upon you,
sleep as a bride sleeps (with no worry at all)." Then she died again
(i.e., her soul was taken out of her body again.)"
This Hadith shows the love of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) towards Abu
Talib and Fatima Bint Asad, and their love towards him; it also shows
the prestige of the Prophet, that he could exempt Fatima Bint Asad from
the common plight of the Day of Judgment and the grave; and shows the
benefit (and origin) of Talqueen; proves that the questioning and
described by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) himself.
THREE GROUPS IN BARZAKH
The question of reward and punishment in Barzakh is very complicated.
Allah decides everything according to His own plan, which, of course, is
based upon mercy and justice - justice for all and mercy for the
believers. Obviously, every case is dealt with its own merit.
Therefore, it is very difficult to lay down any hard and fast rule.
Still, what appears from the traditions of the Masumeen (a.s.) may be
summed up as follows:
Different types of people get different types of treatment after death
and before the Day of Resurrection.
First:
there are true believers, perfect in their faith virtuous in their
deeds. They lived a blameless life, and if there was some mistake or
sin (because 'to err is human') their worldly troubles (illness,
poverty, death of near and dear ones, troublesome neighbors or tyrant
spouse, etc.) and/or agony at the time of death were sufficient to be
counted as its retribution and atonement.
Allah knows that they deserve reward.
Still, the Day of Judgment has not arrived, and they can not be sent to
the Paradise straight away. By the rule of the Law, they should be left
without any reward till they are resurrected; but the Mercy of Allah
decrees that they should not be left in abeyance. Therefore, they are
questioned about their beliefs, and on giving correct answers, they
enter a state of bliss, which gives them the satisfaction of knowing
that their future is assured: They find pleasure and happiness in their
grave, and wait eagerly for the Day of Judgment.
Second:
the confirmed unbelievers and hypocrites, whose lives are devoid of any
good deed: Or if there was any good deed, the worldly blessings
(health, wealth, good family and friends, prestige and power, etc.)
and/or the ease at the time of death were sufficient rewards.
Allah knows that their place is
Jahannam (Hell): but He will not send them there before the Day of
Judgment. So, to give them a fore-taste of their punishment, they are
questioned about their beliefs, and when they do not give correct
answers, their graves are turned into punishment cells. And they wish
the Quiyamat would not come at all.
Here it should be mentioned that the
reward or punishment of Barzakh is different from that of Paradise or
Hell. The reward or punishment of Barzakh is for the soul only. It is
for this reason that we do not see anyone being rewarded or punished in
the grave. In the traditions of the Masumeen (a.s.), it has been
compared to happy dreams or nightmares. The person who is dreaming is
going through all the tortures in the dreams; but the man sitting
besides him does not realize what is going on. Likewise, the joys of
dream are not known to others at all.
But again it is not a strict rule.
Some exceptions have been observed whereas the dead-body was found
enjoying some rewards, (a heavenly rose put near the nose, for example
or undergoing some torture (a scorpion stinging at the toe, for
instance.). But these are the exceptions that prove the rule.
The Third
Group is of those who are neither perfect
believers nor confirmed unbelievers. The children, the lunatics, those
who because of one reason or another were not in a position to
differentiate between the right and wrong path, those who were so far
from Islamic environment that they were not aware of the truth of Islam,
those who did not know about Islam but at the same time were not enemies
of Islam, those whose religious beliefs were not based upon logical
understanding but they just followed what their families were following;
even those non-believers who love the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and his
Ahlul-Bait (a.s.), without knowing that they were the True Guides sent
by Allah; all such people come under this group.
Such people will not be subject to the
questioning and squeeze of the grave. They will be left in a state like
deep slumber; and Allah will decide about them on the Day of Judgment.
Till then, there is neither reward nor punishment for them.
After these three main groups, there
still remains a group in between, which must be described here to
complete the picture. This group is of those who had committed so many
sins that could not be wiped out by worldly troubles and agony of
death. Now, if Allah decides such a believer should come on the Day of
Judgment clean from all blemishes and free from all sins, then He may
put him under punishment which has been referred to in the Hadith of
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) which was mentioned earlier:
"We will intercede on your
behalf on the Day of Judgment; but, by Allah, I am worried about you
whilst you would be in Barzakh."
On the other hand, if Allah decides to leave his case in suspense till
Quiyamat, then it will fall under the third group. Anyhow, all these
things depend upon the Justice and Mercy of Allah. We have not been
told enough to know all the details about all the groups.
It is about the first and second group
(as well as the last mentioned believers who will be punished in
Barzakh) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said: "When one dies his
Quiyamat starts." In this sense the Barzakh is called "Quiyamat-e-Sughra"
(the Lesser Quiyamat).
SALMAN FARSI TALKS WITH A DEAD
PERSON
It seems proper to give here a short account of the conversation which
Salman, the Persian, had with a dead person. It is a lengthy tradition,
but of great benefit.
Asbagh bin Nubata (r.a.) was a trusted companion of Ameerul-Mumineen
Ali (a.s.). He went to see Salman Farsi (r.a.) who at the time was
governor of Madain. Asbagh (r.a.) says:
"I
found him very sick, near his death. He told me: 'O Asbagh, the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) had informed me that, at the time of my
death, a dead person would talk to me. Now, put me on the wooden plank
and take me to the graveyard. On reaching the graveyard, Salman faced
towards the Quibla and in a loud voice saluted the dead. Nobody
replied. After saluting them several times without getting any reply,
Salman said: "O Inhabitants of these graves, I am Salman, a slave of
the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). The Prophet (s.a.w.) had told me that
at the time of my death a dead person would converse with me. Now, if
the time has arrived, then, for the sake of Allah and His Messenger
(s.a.w.), please talk to me."
Suddenly someone responded to his Salaam, and said:
"O people who build and plant, and
ultimately the buildings turn into ruins and gardens decay, ask me what
you want, I will reply."
Salman (r.a.) asked: "Are you
from the people of Paradise or of Hell?"
The dead man said that he was from the
people of Paradise.
Salman requested him to describe how
he died and what agonies he had to undergo at that time. He replied:
"O Salman, please do not ask
this. By Allah, if someone had snipped my flesh (by scissors) in little
bits and removed the fleshed from the bones, it would have been easier
than the agony of death. O Salman, I always did good deeds in your
world, always prayed on time, used to recite the Qur'an, was good to my
parents, lived on lawful earnings. Then I fell ill and my life came to
its end. At that time, a very tall person, with a frightening
countenance, stood in the air before me. He pointed to my eyes and they
lost their sight; to my ears and they became deaf; to my tongue and it
lost its speech. I asked him who he was and why he was doing it to me.
He said: 'I am the angel of death; your life has ended in this world.
You have to go from here to another world'.
Then two persons came to me, one of
them sat on my right, the other on the left. They informed me that they
were the two angels who had written all my deeds in the worldly life.
One, whose name was 'Raqueeb' gave my record of good deeds, on reading
which I was much pleased. then the other angel, whose name was 'Ateed",
gave me the other record, a complete record of my sins; and on reading
that I was very sad.
Then the Angel of Death came
nearer and removed my soul through my nose, and I have not forgotten its
agony yet. Seeing me dead, my relatives and family members started
crying. The Angel of Death said: "Why are you crying? I have not done
any injustice that you are complaining of. When your life came to end,
I removed your soul on the command of Allah. And I will come to you so
many times."
Then another angel took my soul
and I was brought to heaven where I was asked about my deeds, viz.
Prayers, Fasts, Zakat, Khums, Hajj, Jihad, recitation of the Qur'an,
obedience to the parents etc. Likewise, I was asked whether I had
murdered any one, or taken some one's property without any right, or
been unjust to other people and such things.
Then that same angel brought my
soul back to earth. At that time the person who wanted to wash my body
(Ghusl) removed my clothes and started the ritual washing (Ghusl). My
soul cried out: "O servant of Allah, have mercy on this weak and broken
body. By Allah, all its veins, whence I have come out, have been
broken; and its limbs are like they have been minced." My soul was
imploring him in such a touching way that if the Ghassal were to hear
it, he would have left washing the dead bodies altogether.
Then they covered me with Kafan
(shroud), gave me Hunut, and prayed upon me. When they laid me in the
grave, I was so much frightened that words cannot describe it.
When they closed my grave, my soul
entered my body again. An Angel, Munabbih (One who awakens, reminds) by
name, came to me and made me sit. He ordered me to write down all the
deeds which I had done in the world. I said that I did not remember.
He said: 'I will go on reminding, you go on writing.' I said: 'Where
is the paper?' He said: 'This Kafan of yours will do for paper.' I
said: 'Where can I find a pen?' He said: 'Your finger will be your
pen.' I asked about the ink and was told that my saliva will work like
ink.'
When I had written all my
deeds, the Angel put my writing around my neck like a band. It is as
Allah says in the Qur'an:
"And the bird (i.e., deed done by
one) of every man have We bound about his neck, and We shall produce
unto him, on the Day of Resurrection, a book (in which his actions will
be recorded) which he will find open, (it will be said to him) read thy
book; thine own self will be a sufficient reckoner against thee." Holy
Qur'an (17: 13-14)
(In other traditions, the name of the
angel, who comes in the grave and guides in writing the deeds of the
Meyyit, is given as "Ruman").
Then the angel, very
frightening, Munkir by name, came to me with a fiery club, and asked
me: "Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet and who are your Imams?
What is your religion?" I was so afraid that I became totally confused;
my limbs were trembling; I could not understand what to reply. In that
confusion, the Mercy of Allah supported me, and my heart became
tranquil, and I replied: "Allah (His Power is Great) is my Lord; and
Muhammad (s.a.w.) is my Prophet, and Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) is my Imam
and Islam is my religion; and the Qur'an is my Book and the Kaaba is my
Qubla."
Then another Angel, who is called
Nakir, interrogated me in the same manner about my beliefs. By the
Grace of Allah, I replied his questions also and said: "I bear witness
that there is no god except Allah, and that Muhammad (s.a.w.) is His
Messenger, and that Ali and his sinless progeny (a.s.) are the proofs of
Allah, and that Paradise is Haqq (a Fact, Truth) and the Fire (of Hell)
is true, and Sirat (Path) is true, and the Balance (of deeds) is true,
and the Questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave is true, and the
Resurrection is true, and the raising (of dead) is true, and that the
Hour (Day of Judgment) is sure to come, there is no doubt in it, and
that Allah will raise all the dead who are in the grave."
Hearing these true answers, the
angels said to me: "Sleep as a bride sleeps" (without any worry); they
opened a door of Paradise towards my head, and the breeze of Paradise
came to me, and my grave (which previously looked like a prison) became
a vast place extending beyond my vision, and the whole place became a
garden.
O Salman, a man must remember
his Lord at all times, and must spend his life in His obedience, because
death is a sure thing and every one will have to face all those things
which I have told you."
Asbagh (r.a.) said:
"When the voice stopped, Salman (r.a.) told me to take him back home,
there he lay on the ground and looking towards heavens prayed to Allah,
and left this world."
A FEW SHORT NOTES
1. Those who are martyred in the Way of Allah remain alive for ever.
(The Prophets and Imams (a.s.) are superior than the martyrs; and as
such, they are also alive). About the martyrs Allah says in the Qur'an:
"And
think not those who are slain in the way of Allah, to be dead; nay!
alive they are with their Lord; are being sustained, rejoicing for those
who have not yet joined them from behind them, that no fear shall come
to them nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in the grace from Allah and
(His) bounty, and in the fact that Allah does not (allow) the reward of
the believers to be lost." Holy Qur'an (3:169-171)
2. The souls of the believers always
look forward for the gifts from their near and dear ones, and especially
so on Fridays and Friday eve. This gift may be in the form of prayers,
alms, and other good deeds done on their behalf; one may also perform
any Sunnat deed and pray to Allah to give its Thawab (Reward) to one's
dead.
3. The souls are some times allowed
to visit their relatives who are alive. So far as the believers are
concerned, there is no doubt about their visit. According to many
Ahadith, even that believer who has lowest rank is allowed to visit his
relatives once every Friday. Those above him in rank may be allowed
more frequently.
According to some Ahadith, even some unbelievers are allowed to visit
their relatives so that their sorrow and grief may increase by seeing
those relatives in disbelief and sin and realizing that they also would
be punished in Akherat if they persisted in rejecting Islam and Iman.
4. It must be mentioned here that the
souls of the unbelievers remain in punishment and are not free to do any
mischief to any one. Therefore, the idea of some people that this or
that person became a ghost after his death is sheer superstition. There
is no basis to accept such beliefs, prevalent in Hinduism.
Of course, there are Jinns, and among
them, according to the Qur'an, there are some evil ones also. But It
does not mean that the evil Jinns have no other interest except teasing
the East African residents of Indian origin. It is really surprising to
listen to such lamentations that 'I have chronic headaches, and so and
so (a Sheikh, or Amil, or sorcerer) has said that a very evil Jinn (Kalkail,
Dardail or some such name) is upon me.
The belief in magic or sorcery is
prevalent in Africa, and the East African Shia’s also have some Hindu
back-ground (as they have originated from India), and unfortunately, the
people who came to guide them in religious matters from Iran (and lately
from India) found this ready belief in ghosts (and evil Jinn) conducive
to their material gains. The result is that if, for example, there is a
dispute between a husband and wife, each party tries to obtain the most
effective 'Hirz' to subjugate the other party. (Incidentally, it would
be the most expensive also!) Neither of them would think of amending
oneself to win the heart of the spouse. The result, of course, is
Divorce.
Before we go further, it is advisable
to mention some Ayats of the Qur'an with their interpretations.
5.
"Until, when death overtakes any of them, he says, 'O Lord; cause me to
return (to life), so that I may do that which is right, which I had
neglected.' By no means. Verily these are (mere) words which he speaks
(he will not change his ways): and behind them there is a bar
(partition) until the day they shall be resurrected." Holy Qur'an (23:
99-100)
This Ayat describes the sorrow, shame
and grief of the unbelievers, when they face death. At that they desire
to be returned to life, so that they may amend the ways of their lives
and become virtuous. Of course, such a wish will not be granted to
them. But by telling the believers not to waste the opportunity of
doing good, lest we also should wish like that at the approach of death.
6.
"Allah shall confirm them who believe, by the steadfast word (of faith),
in this life and the next one; but Allah shall leave the wicked into
error; and Allah does what He pleases." Holy Qur'an (14: 27)
It means that Allah keeps the
believers steadfast on their faith in this life by the Creed of the
Unity of Allah, and will keep them firmly on the path of Paradise in
Quiyamat by the same Creed.
But according to the interpretation of
our Imams (a.s.), the word 'next world' in this Ayat refers to the
grave. Accordingly, this Ayat refers to questioning in the grave. It
says that Allah will keep the believers steadfast in the grave because
of their Creed. This help from Allah needs no further explanation
because we have seen how Allah, by His Grace, exempts them from
questioning if the Talqueen has been recited for them, or if they have
died on Friday or Friday eve. Even when they are questioned, Allah
sends Hadrat Ali (a.s.) to help them at that time. In this way their
faith is confirmed. As for others, Allah leaves them in their error in
the grave, because they rejected the divine guidance in this life.
7.
"They (the unbelievers) shall say (on the Day of Resurrection), 'O Lord,
thou hast given us death twice, and thou hast twice given us life; and
we confess our sins; is there, therefore, any way to get forth (from
retribution)?" Holy Qur'an (40: 11)
According to many traditions, two
deaths and two lives mean death in this world, then resurrection in the
grave for questioning, then death in the grave after questioning, then
resurrection on the Day of Reckoning.
This information was extracted from:
1. Sayed Akhtar Rizvi. The Day of Judgement. Published by Al-Bilal
Muslim Mission of Tanzania. 1988. |