Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Are there airports and airplanes in Paradise?


Paradise and Hell

Are there airports and airplanes in Paradise?


Question:

This might sound very childish but I would like to know if someone likes something on earth very much , like an airplane for example , can he get one in heaven ? can he get an airport as well ?.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah [Allah].

This question is not childish, rather it is prescribed for the intelligent person to ask questions, seek benefits and look for that which will increase his longing for Paradise and make him strive harder to reach it. Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) asked him similar questions to this.

It was narrated from Sulaymaan ibn Buraydah from his father that a man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him), "O Messenger of Allaah [Allah], are there horses in Paradise?" He said, "If Allaah [Allah] admits you to Paradise, any time you wish to be carried on a horse of red rubies that will fly with you wherever you want in Paradise, you will do that." Another man asked him, "O Messenger of Allaah [Allah], will there be camels in Paradise?" and he did not say to him something like he said to his companion. He said, "If Allaah [Allah] admits you to Paradise, you will have there whatever your heart desires."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2543; this hadeeth was classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 3/522.

With regard to the specific topic of your question, about a person who loves flying and airplanes, there are many saheeh ahaadeeth which speak of a similar joy.

It was proven that the souls of the martyrs are in the crops of birds in Paradise, flying wherever they wish. Narrated by Muslim, 2410.

It was proven that Ja'far ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) flies in Paradise with two wings, as an honour from Allaah [Allah] and to replace his arms which were cut off in the battle of Mu'tah.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "I saw Ja'far flying in Paradise with the angels."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3763; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 3465.

It was narrated from Ibn `Umar (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) that he used to say salaam to Ibn Ja'far and say, "Peace be upon you, O son of the one with two wings." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3506.

It seems that for a person to fly by himself is more exciting for most people than flying by means of something else. There are many verses and ahaadeeth which say that people in Paradise will have whatever their hearts desire and more.

As it says in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

"Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them; (there will be) therein all that innerselves could desire, and all that eyes could delight in and you will abide therein forever"

[al-Zukhruf 43:71]

Al-Sa'di said in his commentary on this verse:

"… all that inner-selves could desire…" _ this phrase is comprehensive and includes every kind of blessing, joy, delight and pleasure, in the most perfect and best sense.

And Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"`Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity) which they will enter, under which rivers flow, they will have therein all that they wish. Thus Allaah [Allah] rewards the Muttaqoon (the pious)"

[al-Nahl 16:31]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "Allaah [Allah] says: `I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and it has never crossed the mind of man.' Recite if you wish: `No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do' [al-Sajdah 32:17 _ interpretation of the meaning]."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3072; Muslim, 2824

A person should be certain of the absolute perfection of Paradise and of its people's happiness.

With regard to being certain that there will be airplanes and airports and other things for which no proof is narrated in the texts, this is the matter of knowledge of the Unseen, which needs evidence.

We say as the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "If Allaah [Allah] admits you to Paradise you will have therein whatever your heart desires and whatever will delight you."

We ask Allaah [Allah] to help us and you to do that which will lead us to everlasting delight in Paradise.

And Allaah [Allah] knows best.

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Objection to the fact that a man will have hoor `iyn who will share her husband with her


Paradise and Hell

Objection to the fact that a man will have hoor `iyn who will share her husband with her

Question:

What happens in paradise, with a couple who have been married. I have heard that the wife will be with her husband, but that the husband will in addition to her, have 70 women (hoors) at his service.

This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah [Allah].

Firstly:

The believer must submit to the rulings and decrees of Allaah [Allah]. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah [Allah] (His Words, the Qur'aan) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: `We hear and we obey.' And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)"

[al-Noor 24:51]

If the believer is confused about anything in the rulings of Allaah [Allah], and he does not know what it means or what the reason behind it is, then he must say as those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say:

"We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord"

[Aal `Imraan 3:7 _ interpretation of the meaning]

It is not permissible for the believer to say that one of the rulings of Allaah [Allah] is not fair; exalted be Allaah [Allah] far above that. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves"

[Fussilat 41:46]

There is no rule that is better than the rule of Allaah [Allah]. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Is not Allaah [Allah] the Best of judges?"

[al-Teen 95:8]

"Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allaah [Allah] for a people who have firm Faith?"

[al-Maa'idah 5:50]

Secondly:

In this question there are two mistakes and a misunderstanding. The first mistake is where the questioner says that in Paradise a man will have seventy hoor `iyn. What is proven in the saheeh Sunnah is that the martyr (shaheed) will have seventy-two hoor `iyn. The least of the people of Paradise will have two wives, and some will have more than that.

It was narrated that al-Miqdaam ibn Ma'di Yakrib said: The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "The martyr has six blessings with Allaah [Allah]: he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed; he will be shown his place in Paradise; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror; a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it; he will be married to seventy-two wives from al-hoor al-`iyn; and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1663; Ibn Maajah, 2799; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

And more than that has been narrated. Abu Na'eem narrated in Sifat al-Jannah from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "A man will go to one hundred virgins in one day _ i.e., in Paradise."

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 367.

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "The lowest of the people of Paradise in status will be a man whose face Allaah [Allah] will turn away from the Fire towards Paradise, and make a shady tree appear before him. … Then he will enter his house and his two wives from among al-hoor al-`iyn will enter after him. They will say: `Praise be to Allah Who has created you for us and us for you.' And he will say: `No one has been given the like of that which I have been given.'" Narrated by Muslim, 188.

Al-Haafiz said:

The apparent meaning is that the least that will be given to each of them will be two wives.

Thirdly:

The second mistake is the questioner's saying that al-hoor al-`iyn will serve the man. This is not correct, rather the ones who will serve the people of Paradise will be boys of everlasting youth. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls"

[al-Insaan 76:19]

Al-hoor al-`iyn will be wives of the men in Paradise, in addition to their wives from among the people of this world. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"So (it will be). And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes"

[al-Dukhaan 44:54]

"They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes"

[al-Toor 52:20]

Fourthly:

The misunderstanding is when the questioner says: "This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way."

Fairness or justice is to be found in the rulings of sharee'ah, not in what a person thinks who does not know sharee'ah and its rulings, let alone the reasons behind them.

The sister who is asking this question thinks that the jealousy in her heart, and what it leads to of depression and sorrow will remain with her in Paradise, but this is not correct, and this is why there is this misunderstanding in her question.

Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world); rivers flowing under them, and they will say: `All the praises and thanks be to Allaah [Allah], Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allaah [Allah] had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.' And it will be cried out to them: `This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do'"

[al-A'raaf 7:43]

There is nothing but joy and happiness in Paradise; there is no room for hatred and rancour in the hearts of the people of Paradise. Al-hoor al-`iyn are something which Allaah [Allah] has created to honour the people of Paradise and to increase their delight. Moreover a man will be given the strength of one hundred men for intercourse, so the large number will not have any effect on a woman, and her feelings towards her co-wives and her husband's concubines will not be like her feelings in this world.

It was narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam said: The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said to me: "A man in Paradise will be given the strength of one hundred men in eating, drinking, desire and intercourse." A Jewish man said: "The one who eats and drinks will need to relieve himself." The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said to him, "The way in which one of them will relieve himself will be by means of sweat which will come out through his pores, and thus the food in his stomach will be digested."

"Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allaah [Allah] for a people who have firm Faith?"

[al-Maa'idah 5:50 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Narrated by Ahmad, 18827; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/443; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 1627.

It was narrated from Anas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "The believer in Paradise will be given such-and-such strength for intercourse." It was said, "O Messenger of Allaah [Allah], will he really be able to do that?" He said, "He will be given the strength of a hundred (men)."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2536; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/413; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 8106.

And Allaah [Allah] knows best.

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The meaning of the verse, "They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills" [Hood 11:107]


Paradise and Hell

The meaning of the verse, "They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills" [Hood 11:107]

Question:

I would like an explanation of the meaning of this passage, and the most correct interpretation of it. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.

They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the Doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills).
And those who are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills: a gift without an end."

[Hood 11:106-108] May it be understood from this that whoever enters Paradise may be expelled from it if Allaah [Allah] wills? Have these verses been abrogated by anything in the Qur'aan, since they appear in a Makkan soorah?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah [Allah].

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah [Allah] have mercy on him) said:

These verses have not been abrogated, rather they are clear. The scholars differed as to the meaning of the phrase "except as your Lord wills", but they are agreed that the delight of the people of Paradise will be everlasting and eternal; it will never cease or come to an end, and they will never be expelled from it. Hence after that Allaah [Allah] says, "a gift without an end", to refute what some people may imagine, that some may be expelled from Paradise. For they will abide therein forever and this gift is without an end, i.e., it will never cease. In other verses this meaning is explained further. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Truly, the Muttaqoon (the pious) will be amidst Gardens and watersprings (Paradise).

(It will be said to them): `Enter therein (Paradise), in peace and security'" [al-Hijr 15:46]

Allaah [Allah] states that they will be secure _ safe from death, safe from expulsion, safe from sickness, grief and all kinds of hardship. Then Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And We shall remove from their hearts any deep feeling of bitterness (that they may have). (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones.

No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it" [al-Hijr 15:47-48]

So Allaah [Allah] states that they will abide therein forever and will never be expelled from it.

And Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, the Muttaqoon (the pious), will be in place of Security (Paradise)

Among Gardens and Springs,

Dressed in fine silk and (also) in thick silk, facing each other,

So (it will be). And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes.

They will call therein for every kind of fruit in peace and security;

They will never taste death therein except the first death (of this world), and He will save them from the torment of the blazing Fire,

As a bounty from your Lord! That will be the supreme success!"

[al-Dukhaan 44:51-57]

So Allaah [Allah] tells us that the people of Paradise will be in a place of security where they will never be exposed to fear and where the blessing will never be taken away from them. They will also be safe, and they will not face the danger of death, sickness, expulsion, grief or any other hardship, and they will never die. What this means is that the people of Paradise will abide therein forever, for eternity.

Some of the scholars said that the phrase "except as your Lord wills" refers to the extent of their stay in the grave, for the believer will be in one of its gardens and delights. But that is not Paradise itself, rather it is a part of Paradise, for a door will be opened from Paradise for the believer in his grave, and some of its fragrance, goodness and blessings will reach him. Then after that he will be transferred to Paradise which is high above the heavens.

Some of the scholars said that what is meant by the words "except as your Lord wills" is the length of their standing in the place of resurrection, for the Reckoning and the reward or punishment, after they have been brought forth from their graves; then after that they will go to Paradise. And some of the scholars said that the meaning includes both things, the time that they spend in their graves and the time that they spend in the place of standing (on the Day of Judgement), and their passage across the Siraat. During all of these times they are not in Paradise, but they will move from these places to Paradise.

The phrase "except as your Lord wills" means, except for the time spent in the grave, and except for the time when they stand on the Day of Judgement, and except for the time spent crossing al-Siraat, because at those times they will not be in Paradise, but they will be moving towards it. Hence we know that the matter is clear and there is nothing unclear or doubtful in it, praise be to Allaah [Allah].

The people of Paradise will be blessed therein and will abide therein forever. There will be no death, no sickness, no expulsion, no hardship, no grief, no menstruation, no nifaas (post-partum bleeding), no kind of hurt forever, rather they will be in everlasting delight and goodness.

Similarly, the people of Hell will abide in it forever; they will not exit it and it will not be destroyed. Rather it will abide and they will abide therein. It was said that the phrase "except as your Lord wills" refers to the time they will spend in their graves, or the time they will spend standing on the Day of Resurrection, as mentioned above concerning the people of Paradise. After that they will be driven to Hell, where they will abide for eternity. We ask Allaah [Allah] to keep us safe from that. Allaah [Allah] says in Soorat al-Baqarah (interpretation of the meaning):

"Thus Allaah [Allah] will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire"

[al-Baqarah 2:167]

And Allaah [Allah] says concerning the kaafirs in Soorat al-Maa'idah (interpretation of the meaning):

"They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom; and theirs will be a lasting torment"

[al-Maa'idah 5:37]

Some of the salaf said that the Fire would come to an end after thousands of years and many ages have passed, and that they would die or be brought forth from it. But this view does not count for anything according to the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah, rather it is false and is refuted by a great deal of evidence from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, as stated above. The view of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah is that Hell will abide for eternity and that its people will never come forth from it, and that it will never be destroyed, rather it will remain forever, according to the apparent meaning of the Qur'aan and of the Sunnah as proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him). The evidence for that, apart from what has been mentioned above, is that Allaah [Allah] says concerning the Fire (interpretation of the meaning):

"whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire"

[al-Isra' 17:97]

And Allaah [Allah] says in Soorat al-Naba', addressing the people of Hell (interpretation of the meaning):

"So taste you (the results of your evil actions). No increase shall We give you, except in torment"

[al-Naba' 78:30]

We ask Allaah [Allah] to keep us safe and sound from that and becoming among its people.

See Majmoo' Fataawa al-Maqaalaat al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, vol. 4, p. 361

Other verses which clearly indicate that the people of Hell will abide therein forever include the following (interpretation of the meanings):

1 _ "Verily, those who disbelieve and did wrong; Allaah [Allah] will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way — (Tafsir Al-QurtubĂ®).

Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever; and this is ever easy for Allaah [Allah]"

[al-Nisa' 4:168-169]

2 _ "(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allaah [Allah] and His Messages (of Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever disobeys Allaah [Allah] and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever"

[al-Jinn 72:23]

3 _ "Verily, Allaah [Allah] has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell).

Wherein they will abide for ever, and they will find neither a Wali (a protector) nor a helper"

[Al-Ahzaab 33:64-65] And Allaah [Allah] knows best.

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There will be no end to the life of the Hereafter


Paradise and Hell

There will be no end to the life of the Hereafter

Question:

Will humans live in the after-life forever or for only as long as Allah wishes ? What is the Islamic belief regarding this ?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah [Allah]. Allaah [Allah] has decreed that this world will come to an end, and He has decreed that its people will die. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish.

And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever"

[al-Rahmaan 55:26-27]

"Everyone shall taste death. Then unto Us you shall be returned"

[al-`Ankaboot 29:57]

Then Allaah [Allah] will resurrect His slaves and give them eternal life to which there will be no end. He will bring them to account for their deeds, and He will reward those who did good deeds and punish those who did evil deeds. Mankind will be divided into two groups, one in Paradise and one in Hell. The people of Paradise will abide therein forever, and the kaafir people of Hell will abide therein forever also.

There are many verses and ahaadeeth which clearly state that, for example:

1 _ Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"But those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah [Allah] — Islamic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), abiding therein forever. Therein they shall have Azwaajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives), and We shall admit them to shades wide and ever deepening (Paradise)"

[al-Nisa' 4:57]

Al-Tabari said:

"abiding therein forever" means, they will stay there forever, and it will never end or cease; they will remain there forever. Tafseer al-Tabari, 5/144

2 _ Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Allaah [Allah] will say: This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) — they shall abide therein forever. Allaah [Allah] is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise)"

[al-Maa'idah 5:119]

3 _ Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, those who disbelieve and did wrong; Allaah [Allah] will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way.

Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever; and this is ever easy for Allaah [Allah]"

[al-Nisa' 4:169]

4 _ Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, Allaah [Allah] has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell).

Wherein they will abide for ever, and they will find neither a Wali (a protector) nor a helper"

[al-Ahzaab 33:64-65]

5 _ Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allaah [Allah] and His Messages (of Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever disobeys Allaah [Allah] and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever"

[al-Jinn 72:23]

Ibn Katheer said:

"he shall dwell therein forever" means, he will stay there and remain there, he will have no way out of it and that will never cease for him.

Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/520

6 _ Allaah [Allah] tells us that the kuffaar will not die in Hell and they will never have a good life. Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, sinner, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allaah [Allah] and His Messengers), then surely, for him is Hell, wherein he will neither die nor live"

[Ta-Ha 20:74]

"There he will neither die (to be in rest) nor live (a good living)"

[al-A'laa 87:13]

al-Qurtubi said:

"There he will neither die (to be in rest) nor live (a good living)" means, he will never die so as to find a respite from the torment, and he will not live a life that will be any good.

Tafseer al-Tabari, 20/21

7 _ It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "Death will be brought forth in the form of a black and white speckled ram, and a caller will cry out, `O people of Paradise!' They will crane their necks and look, and he will say, `Do you recognize this?' They will say, `Yes, it is death,' and all of them will have seen it. Then he will cry out, `O people of Hell!' They will crane their necks and look, and he will say, `Do you recognize this?' They will say, `Yes, it is death,' and all of them will have seen it. Then the ram will be slaughtered, and he (the caller) will say, `O people of Paradise, it is eternal and there will be no death; O people of Hell, it is eternal and there will be no death.'" Then he recited (interpretation of the meaning): "And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not" [Maryam 19:39]

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4453; Muslim, 2849

According to the version narrated from Ibn `Umar in Muslim (2850): "And the joy of the people of Paradise will be increased, and the grief of the people of Hell will be increased."

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

This ram and the action of laying it down and slaughtering it whilst the two groups are looking on is something real; it is not something illusionary or symbolic, as some people made the serious mistake of suggesting. They said that it is a description, but a description cannot take a physical shape, let alone be slaughtered.

That view is not correct, for Allaah [Allah] will cause death to appear in the form of a ram which will be slaughtered, just as He will cause deeds to appear in visible forms by which people will be rewarded or punished. Allaah [Allah] can cause descriptions to appear in physical forms the substance of which is the description, and He can create characteristics from physical beings, and He can create descriptions from descriptions and physical beings from physical beings. All four categories are possible for Allaah [Allah], and there is no contradiction in any of that. It is not something impossible, and there is no need for far-fetched interpretations such as saying that it refers to the slaughter of the Angel of Death. All of that is a misinterpretation of the words of Allaah [Allah] and His Messenger and a false understanding that is not dictated by reason or the reports, which is caused by lack of understanding of what the Messenger said.

Haadi al-Arwaah, p. 283, 284

8 _ It was narrated from Ibn `Umar (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "The people of Paradise will enter Paradise and the people of Hell will enter Hell, then a caller will stand between them and will say, "O people of Hell, there is no death; O people of Paradise, there is no death. It is eternal."

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6178; Muslim, 2850)

9 _ It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "A caller will cry out (i.e., to the people of Paradise): `You will be healthy and will never fall sick; you will live and will never die; you will remain young and will never grow old; you will feel ease and will never be miserable.' This is what Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning): `And it will be cried out to them: "This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do"' [al-A'raaf 7:43].

Narrated by Muslim, 2827

So hasten to do righteous deeds in this world, for it is only a short time before you will move to the realm of eternity, either to Paradise whose delights will never end or to Hell whose heat is eternal… so hasten and beware of procrastinating, for most of the pain of the people of Hell will be because of procrastination.

May Allaah [Allah] make us and you among the people of Paradise. Ameen.

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The meaning of abiding for eternity in Hell


Paradise and Hell

The meaning of abiding for eternity in Hell

Question:

Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, Allaah [Allah] forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills…"

[al-Nisa' 4:48]

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein…"

[al-Nisa' 4:93]

I hope that you could explain how to reconcile these two verses.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah [Allah].

Shaykh `Abd al-`Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah [Allah] have mercy on him) said: There is no contradiction between them _ praise be to Allaah [Allah]. In the first verse Allaah [Allah] is telling His slaves that any sin less than shirk (associating others in worship with Him) is subject to His will: He may forgive it by His grace, or He may punish the person who dies in sin in a way commensurate with his sin, because he transgressed the sacred limits of Allaah [Allah] and did that which deserves the wrath of Allaah [Allah]. But the mushrik (one who associates others with Allaah [Allah]) cannot be forgiven, rather he is doomed to Hell for eternity, to abide therein forever, if he dies in shirk _ we seek refuge with Allaah [Allah] from that.

With regard to the second verse, this is a warning to one who kills a person unlawfully, that he will be punished and that Allaah [Allah] is angry with him for that. Hence Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse of Allaah [Allah] are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him"

[al-Nisa' 4:93]

What this means is that this is the punishment if Allaah [Allah] punishes him, and he deserves that; if Allaah [Allah] forgives him then He is All-forgiving. He may be punished with what Allaah [Allah] mentions of a period of time spent in Hell, then Allaah [Allah] will bring him forth from the Fire. This is a temporary abiding in Hell, which is not like the abiding of the kuffaar. For abiding is of two types, eternal abiding which never ends, which is the abiding of the kuffaar in Hell, as Allaah [Allah] says concerning them (interpretation of the meaning):

"Thus Allaah [Allah] will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire" [al-Baqarah 2:167]

And Allaah [Allah] says in Soorat al-Maa'idah (interpretation of the meaning):

"They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom; and theirs will be a lasting torment"

[al-Maa'idah 5:37]

With regard to sinners, such as the one who kills a person unlawfully, the one who commits adultery, the one who disobeys his parents, the one who consumes riba, the one who drinks alcohol and so on, if they die in their sin and they are Muslims, then they are subject to the will of Allaah [Allah], as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills…"

[al-Nisa' 4:48]

So if He wills, He will forgive them because of the righteous deeds with which they died, such as their believing in Allaah [Allah] alone (Tawheed), their sincerity towards Allaah [Allah] and their being Muslims, or because of the intercession of those who intercede for them, as well as their Tawheed and sincerity.

Or He may punish them and not forgive them, so He will punish them by causing them to enter Hell and tormenting them therein, in a manner commensurate with their sin, then he will bring them forth therefrom, as is mentioned in many ahaadeeth from the Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him), who said that he will intercede for the sinners among his ummah, and that Allaah [Allah] will set a limit for that several times, so he will intercede and bring forth a number of them by Allaah [Allah]'s leave, then he will intercede again and again and again; he (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) will intercede four times. Similarly the angels, the believers and the children who died before reaching the age of adolescence and before their parents died, will all intercede and Allaah [Allah] will bring forth whomever He wills from the Fire because of their intercession. Then some sinners among those who believed in Tawheed and Islam will be left in Hell, and Allaah [Allah] will bring them forth by His grace and mercy without any intercession, then there will be no one left in Hell except those whom the Qur'aan has ruled will abide therein forever, namely the kuffaar.

Thus the questioner will understand how to reconcile these two verses, and similar texts and the ahaadeeth which promise Paradise to those who die in Islam, except those whom Allaah [Allah] wishes to punish for their sin. And He is the most Wise and most Just in that; He rules as He wills and does what He wants.

And there are some whom Allaah [Allah] will not punish, by His grace, for many reasons, such as righteous deeds and because of the intercession of the intercessors, and above all that because of His Mercy and Grace. Majmoo' Fataawa al-Maqaalaat, 9/380.

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Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Will there be animals in Paradise?

Praise be to Allaah [Allah].

The animals that will be in Paradise according to the reports are of three types:

1 _ Specific animals which it is said will themselves be in Paradise, such as the dog of the people of the Cave and the she-camel of Saalih (peace be upon him). There are no saheeh reports concerning them.

2 _ Those which are mentioned in the Qur'aan [Quran] and Sunnah, which Allaah [Allah] has prepared for the believers in Paradise, whether they are mentioned in specific terms, such as the birds of which Allaah [Allah] says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And with the flesh of fowls that they desire"

[al-Waaqi'ah 56:21]

or mentioned in general terms, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And We shall provide them with fruit and meat such as they desire"

[al-Toor 52:22]

Another example is the bull which Allaah [Allah] has prepared as food for the people of Paradise, as was narrated from Thawbaan the freed slave of the Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him), who said: "I was standing by the Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) when one of the Jewish rabbis came and said, `Peace be upon you, O Muhammad,' and I pushed him back so hard that he nearly fell over… He (the Jew) said: `What would be their food after this?' He (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him)) said: `A bull which was fed in the different quarters of Paradise would be slaughtered for them'…"

Narrated by Muslim, 315.

3 _ Those animals which have been specifically mentioned in the saheeh Sunnah, which will be in Paradise. These include:

(a) It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah [Allah] be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "Pray in the sheep pens and wipe their dust (raghaam), for they are among the animals of Paradise."

Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, 2/449; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 3789.

Raghaam means dust (as translated here). The word has also been narrated as ra'aam, which refers to the mucus that comes from the sheep's nose. What is meant is to wipe the dust from it, or wipe away what comes from its nose, so as to look after it and take care of it. This was the view of al-Manaawi in Fayd al-Qadeer.

(b) It was narrated that Abu Mas'ood al-Ansaari said: A man brought a bridled she-camel and said, "This is for the sake of Allaah [Allah]." The Messenger of Allaah [Allah] (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "You will have seven hundred she-camels in return on the Day of Resurrection, each of them bridled." Narrated by Muslim, 1892.

Al-Nawawi said: What is meant by makhtoomah (bridled) is that it has a khitaam (bridle) on it, which is like a halter. And it was said that that it may be understood as meaning that he will have the reward of giving seven hundred she-camels, or it may be understood as it appears to be, and that he will have seven hundred she-camels in Paradise, each of them bridled, and he will be able to ride them wherever he wants, for pleasure, as was narrated concerning the horses and camels (nujab) of Paradise. This interpretation is more clear. And Allaah [Allah] knows best. Sharh al-Nawawi, 13/38.

The ahaadeeth about the camels and horses to which al-Nawawi referred are as follows

(a) It was narrated from Abu Ayyoob that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) said: "The people of Paradise will visit one another on white camels as if they are rubies, and there are no animals in Paradise apart from camels and birds."

Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 4/179.

Al-Haythami said: This was narrated by al-Tabaraani. Its isnaad includes Jaabir ibn Nooh who is da'eef (weak). Majma' al-Zawaa'id, 10/413. It was also classed as da'eef by al-Albaani in Da'eef al-Jaami', 1833.

(b) It was narrated from Sulaymaan ibn Buraydah from his father that a man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him), "O Messenger of Allaah [Allah], will there be horses in Paradise?" He said, "If Allaah [Allah] admits you to Paradise, you will not wish that you could be carried on a horse of red rubies which will fly wherever you want in Paradise, but that will happen." And another man asked him, "O Messenger of Allaah [Allah], will there be camels in Paradise?" but he did not say something like he had said to his companion. He said, "If Allaah [Allah] admits you to Paradise, you will have therein whatever your heart desires and will delight your eyes."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2543. Classd as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 3/522.

A similar report was also narrated by Abu Ayyoob from al-Tirmidhi, 2544; and also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, 3/423.

And it was narrated in saheeh ahaadeeth that the souls of the martyrs are in the crops of birds in Paradise which fly wherever they want.

It should be noted that the birds, horses and camels in Paradise are not the same as those in this world; they resemble them in name only. What they are really like is known only to Allaah [Allah]. But we know that they are extremely beautiful, because they are one of the delights that Allaah [Allah] has prepared for His close friends in Paradise. This was indicated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah [Allah] be upon him) in the hadeeth quoted above, in which it says that the horses of Paradise are of red rubies, and will fly with their rider wherever he wants.

We ask Allaah [Allah] to bless us and admit us to Paradise by His mercy, for He is the Most Generous.

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Purification of the sinners


Paradise and Hell

Purification of the sinners

Question:

I've heard that, after the judgement day the moslem, excluded the syahid and moslem who were guaranted by Allah to go to heaven, before they go to the heaven they would be cleaned. I mean, they would go to hell first then after they have been cleaned up they would go to heaven.Is it true?.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Perhaps the questioner is referring to the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished.

Then We shall save those who use to fear Allaah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)"

[Maryam 19:71-72]

This is addressed to all of mankind, righteous and immoral, believers and kaafirs, stating that there is not any one among them who will not pass over Hell, a decree which Allaah has issued and of which He has warned His slaves. So it must inevitably come to pass, and there is no avoiding it.

The scholars differed as to the meaning of this passing over. Some said that it means that Hell will be brought close to all creatures, until it terrifies all of them, then Allaah will save those who fear Him.

Some said that it means that all will enter it, but it will be coolness and safety for the believers.

Some said that it means crossing the siraat which is a bridge over Hell. The people will cross it according to their deeds: some will cross it in the twinkling of an eye, some like the wind, some like swift horses; some will pass quickly, some will walk, some will crawl and some will be snatched and thrown into the Fire, all according to their level of fear of Allaah. Hence Allaah says "Then We shall save those who used to fear Allaah and were dutiful to Him" i.e., by doing what He commanded and avoiding what He forbade; "And We shall leave the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)" i.e., those who wronged themselves by disbelieving and committing sin, "therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)" _ this is because of the wrongdoing and kufr, so they will deserve to abide therein forever and there will be no way out for them.

From Tafseer Ibn Sa'di, p. 811

Secondly:

It is essential for those who will be admitted to Paradise to be cleansed of all their sins before they enter it. The sinners' cleansing of their sins may happen in this world or in the Hereafter. In this world, Allaah has given His slaves ways of cleansing themselves thereof, by following their sins and evil deeds with prayers for forgiveness, sincere repentance and good deeds that erase sin. We have already discussed this matter in the answer to question no. 13693.

With regard to the purification of the sinners in the Hereafter, this will be achieved in several ways:

1 _ Prayers of the believers for the (deceased) believer, such as their offering the funeral prayer for him. It was narrated from `Aa'ishah and Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no deceased person for whom a group of Muslims numbering one hundred offer the funeral prayer, all of them interceding for him, but their intercession for him will be accepted."

Narrated by Muslim, 947.

It was narrated that Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: "There is no Muslim man who dies and forty men who do not associate anything in worship with Allaah stand and pray for him, but Allaah will accept their intercession for him."

Narrated by Muslim, 948.

So it is known that this du'aa' is one of the means of the deceased being forgiven.

2 _ Acts of ongoing charity that the person did during his life will benefit him after his death.

3 _ Good deeds done on behalf of the deceased, such as charity, Hajj, etc. These will benefit him, according to the texts of the saheeh Sunnah. It was proven in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever dies owing fasts, let his heir fast on his behalf." And it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When a man dies all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who will pray for him."

Narrated by Muslim, 1638.

4 _ What happens in the grave of the trial, squeezing and terror. These are things that expiate for sins.

5 _ The intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and others for sinners on the Day of Resurrection, as is narrated in mutawaatir reports in the ahaadeeth about intercession, such as the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the saheeh hadeeth, "My intercession will be for those among my ummah who committed major sins," and "I was given the choice between admitting half of my ummah to Paradise and intercession, and I chose intercession because it is more general and greater. Do you think it will be only for the pious? No, it will be for the sinners who contaminated themselves with sins." Narrated by Ibn Maajah 4311; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 3480.

6 _ The terrors, difficulties and hardships of the Day of Resurrection.

7 _ The mercy and forgiveness of Allaah bestowed with no action on the part of His slaves. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: "Allaah created mercy on the day that He created it, and divided it into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts and sent one to all of His creation. If the kaafir knew of all that is with Allaah of mercy, he would never despair of Paradise, and if the believer knew of all that is with Allaah of punishment he would never feel safe from Hell."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6469.

And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah will draw the believer close and screen him and will say, `Do you admit such and such sin, do you admit such and such sin?' and he will say, `Yes, O Lord.' Then when he has admitted his sins and thinks that he is doomed, [Allaah] will say, `I concealed them for you in the world and I forgive you for them this Day.' Then he will be given the book of his good deeds. But as for the kaafir and the hypocrite, "the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord!" No doubt! the Curse of Allaah is on the Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers, oppressors)' [Hood 11:18 _ interpretation of the meaning]"

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2441.

8 _ It is proven in al-Saheehayn that when the believers have crossed al-Siraat, they will be detained on a bridge between Paradise and Hell, where they will settle their scores with one another. Then when they have been cleansed and purified, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When the believers have been saved from the Fire, then they will be detained on the bridge between Paradise and Hell. There they will settle the scores between them for any wrongs that they did to one another in this world, and when they have been cleansed and purified, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, each of them will recognize his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognizes his dwelling in this world." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6535.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

"When the believers have been saved from the Fire" means when they have been saved from falling into it after they have crossed al-siraat.

Al-Qurtubi said: These believers are the ones whom Allaah knows that settling scores will not use up all of their good deeds.

I (al-Haafiz) say: Perhaps the people of al-A'raaf are among them, according to the more correct opinion referred to above. Excluded from this are two groups of believers: those who will enter Paradise without being brought to account, and those who are doomed by their deeds.

"they will be detained on the bridge between Paradise and Hell" _ al-siraat is a bridge placed across Hell, and Paradise lies beyond that. So the people will pass across it according to their deeds. Among them will be those who are saved, who are the ones whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, or they are equal, or Allaah has forgiven them. Some of them will fall into Hell, and they are the ones whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds, except for those whom Allaah forgives. Those believers in Tawheed who fall will be punished for as long as Allaah wills, then they will be brought out by intercession and other means. The ones who are saved may have some scores which others need to settle with him, but they have good deeds that equal that or outweigh it, so some of their good deeds equivalent to those scores that need to be settled, and thus is will becomes free of responsibility.

"and when they are cleansed and purified" means cleansed and freed of all responsibilities. End quote.

If the Muslim who believed in Allaah alone but committed sins is not cleansed for some reason, then he will enter Hell so that he may be purified completely therein, but he will not abide therein forever, rather he will be brought forth by the intercession of those who intercede and by the mercy of the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

Shaykh `Abd al-`Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to the sinners, such as those who kill unlawfully, those who disobey their parents, those who consume riba, and those who drink alcohol _ if they die in those sins and they are Muslims, they and others like them will be subject to the will of Allaah, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"but He forgives whom He pleases sins other than that"

[al-Nisa' 4:116]

So if He wills He will forgive them because of the righteous deeds with which they died, which is their belief in Him alone (Tawheed) and their sincerity towards Allaah, and their being Muslims, or the intercession of those who intercede for them, as well as their Tawheed and sincerity.

Or He may punish them without forgiving them, so they are punished by being admitted to Hell and tormented therein, to a degree commensurate with their sins, then they will be brought forth, as is stated in mutawaatir ahaadeeth narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which say that he will intercede for the sinners among his ummah, and that Allaah will give him a certain number of people a number of times, so he will intercede and bring forth a group by Allaah's leave, then he will intercede again, and again and again, so he will (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) will intercede four times. And the angels and the believers will also intercede, as will al-afraat (the children who died before they reached the age of puberty). All of them will intercede and Allaah will bring forth whomever He wills from Hell through their intercession. Then there will be some of the sinners from among the believers in Tawheed and Islam left in Hell. Then the Lord will bring them forth by His grace and mercy, without intercession on anyone's part, and there will be no one left in Hell except those whom the Qur'aan rules will abide therein forever, namely the kuffaar.

From Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Ibn Baaz, 9/380.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "… until when Allaah has finished passing judgement amongst His slaves, and He wants to bring forth from Hell those whom He wants of those who used to testify that there is no god except Allaah, He will command the angels to bring them forth and they will know them by the traces of the mark of sujood. Allaah will forbid the Fire to consume the mark of sujood on the sons of Adam. So they will bring them forth and they will have been burned, then water that is called the water of life will be poured on them, and they will grow like seeds growing after a flood recedes." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6574; Muslim, 172.

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "As for the people of Hell who belong there, they will neither die nor live therein, but people who entered Hell because of their sins, they will die once, then when they have become like coals, permission will be given for intercession, so they will be brought forth group after group and scattered on the rivers of Paradise, then it will be said, `O people of Paradise be generous to them, then they will grow like seeds growing after a flood recedes."

Narrated by Muslim, 185.

We ask Allaah to bestow His mercy upon us, and to forgive us. Praise be to Allaah the Lord of the Worlds. And Allaah knows best.

References:

Fataawa Ibn Taymiyah, 7/498-501; Minhaaj al-Sunnah, 6/238; Fath al-Baari, 11/406; al-Bihaar al-Zaajirah, 242;

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The ratio of people of Paradise to people of Hell


Paradise and Hell

The ratio of people of Paradise to people of Hell

Question:

In Saheeh al-Bukhaari there are two ahaadeeth (nos. 6529 and 6530 according to the numbering of Fath al-Baari). In hadeeth no. 6529 it says that the number of "those who are to be sent to Hell is ninety nine from every hundred." And in hadeeth no. 6530 it says that the number of "those who are to be sent to Hell is nine hundred and ninety nine from every thousand." I hope that you could comment and explain this. May Allaah reward you with good.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The first hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari (6529) from Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The first one to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam. He will be shown his progeny and it will be said, `This is your father Adam.' He will say, `Here I am at Your service.' He will say: `Bring forth those who are to be sent to Hell from among your progeny.' He will say, `O Lord, how many should I bring forth?' He will say, `Bring forth from every hundred ninety nine.'" They said: "O Messenger of Allaah, if ninety nine are taken from every hundred of us, what will be left of us?" He said, "My ummah, among the other nations, is like a white hair on a black bull."

The second hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari (3348) and Muslim (222) from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah will say, `O Adam!' and he will say, `Here I am at Your service, and all goodness is in Your hand.' He will say, `Bring forth those who are to be sent to Hell.' He will say, `Who are those who are to be sent to Hell?' He will say, `From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine.' At that point the young will turn grey, every pregnant female will abort, and the people will appear intoxicated although they are not. But the punishment of Allaah is severe." They said, "O Messenger of Allaah, which of us will be that one?" He said, "Be of good cheer, for there will be one man from among you and one thousand from among Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj." Then he said, "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I hope that you will be one quarter of the people of Paradise," and they said, "Allaahu akbar!" Then he said, "I hope that you will be one third of the people of Paradise," and they said, "Allaahu akbar!" Then he said, "I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise," and they said, "Allaahu akbar!" Then he said, "Among the people you are like a black hair on the hide of a white bull, or like a white hair on the hide of a black bull."

According to the first hadeeth, the number of those who will be saved on the Day of Resurrection is ten in a thousand. According to the second hadeeth it is one in a thousand.

The scholars have reconciled between these two ahaadeeth in several ways, such as the following:

1 _ The numbers are not to be taken literally, so stating a particular number does not mean that there may not be more than that. What is meant by the two numbers mentioned in the two hadeeth is the small number of believers and the large number of kaafirs.

2 _ The hadeeth of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri may be understood as referring to all the progeny of Adam, so there will be one in every thousand (who goes to Paradise), and the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah may be understood as referring to everyone except Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj, so that the number is ten in every thousand. This is supported by the fact that Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are mentioned in the hadeeth of Abu Sa'eed but not in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah.

3 _ It may be that the division will happen twice: once involving all the nations who came before this ummah, when the number will be one in every thousand, and again for this ummah only, when the number will be ten in every thousand.

4 _ It may be that what is meant by "those who are to be sent to Hell" is the kaafirs and the sinners [from among the Muslims] who will enter it, so that from every thousand nine hundred and ninety nine kaafirs are sent, and from every hundred ninety-nine sinners are sent.

These answers were mentioned by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 11/390.

And Allaah knows best.


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The people of Paradise will abide therein for ever


Paradise and Hell

The people of Paradise will abide therein for ever

Question:

When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, for how long will they remain there? Will there come a time when they will leave Paradise?.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, they will abide therein forever and never leave it. Similarly the people of Hell will abide therein forever and never leave it.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah:

With regard to Paradise, it is the abode of reward on the Day of Resurrection for those who believed and did righteous deeds. In it there are whatever delights people could desire. In it there is what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has it ever entered the mind of man. Those who enter it will enjoy real pleasures in both a physical and a spiritual sense, and they will live there forever. It will never cease to exist and they will never leave, and their joy will never come to an end, and they will have nothing to disturb their joy. This is according to the definitive texts and the consensus of the scholars and believers. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"The description of the Paradise which the Muttaqoon (the pious) have been promised: Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade; this is the end (final destination) of the Muttaqoon (the pious), and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire

[al-Ra'd 13:35]

"Truly, the Muttaqoon (the pious) will be amidst Gardens and watersprings (Paradise).

(It will be said to them): `Enter therein (Paradise), in peace and security.'

And We shall remove from their breasts any deep feeling of bitterness (that they may have). (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones.

No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it" [al-Hijr 15:45-47]

"This is a Reminder. And verily, for the Muttaqoon (the pious) is a good final return (Paradise), —

`Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), whose doors will be opened for them.

Therein they will recline; therein they will call for fruits in abundance and drinks;

And beside them will be QaasiraatatTarf [chaste females (wives) restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands)], (and) of equal ages.

This it is what you (AlMuttaqoon — the pious) are promised for the Day of Reckoning!

(It will be said to them)! Verily, this is Our provision which will never finish"

[Saad 38:49-54]

"Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except AlMuttaqoon (the pious).

(It will be said to the true believers of Islamic Monotheism): My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve,

(You) who believed in Our Ayaat (proofs, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were Muslims (i.e. who submit totally to Allaah's Will, and believe in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism).

Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness.

Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them; (there will be) therein all that innerselves could desire, and all that eyes could delight in and you will abide therein forever.

This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the life of the world).

Therein for you will be fruits in plenty, of which you will eat (as you desire)"

[al-Zukhruf 43:67-73]

And it is proven in the Sunnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "A caller will call out _ i.e., to the people of Paradise _ `You will be healthy and never fall sick; you will live and never die; you will stay young and never grow old; you will feel joy and never feel sorrow.'" Narrated by Muslim.

It was also proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Death will be brought, in the form of a black and white ram, on the Day of Resurrection. Then the command will be given to slaughter it, then it will be said: `O people of Paradise, it is eternal and there is no death! O people of Hell, it is eternal and there is no death!'" Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.

Allaah has confirmed that both Paradise and Hell are eternal and will last forever, and that the believers will abide in Paradise forever and the disbelievers will abide in Hell forever, in many verses of the Qur'aan. And the proven Sunnah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) provides many details which leave no room for any doubt that this is true, and there is no room for misinterpretation of the clear texts. Whoever doubts this fact or misinterprets the clear texts is following his own whims and desires and displacing words from their right places [cf. al-Nisa' 4:46], so he is one of the kaafirs.

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The people of Hell will abide therein forever


Paradise and Hell

The people of Hell will abide therein forever

Question:

Will the torment of the people of Hell in Hell be neverending, or will there come a time when it will end?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The people of Hell will remain in Hell being tormented without end. This is indicated by a great deal of evidence from the Qur'aan and Sunnah.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen was asked: Is Hell eternal or will it come to an end?

He replied:

What is definite is that it is eternal, and no other view is known among the salaf. Hence the scholars made this one of their tenets of faith, so that we believe that Hell is eternal and will last forever. This is a matter concerning which there is no doubt, because Allaah has mentioned the eternal nature of Hell in three places in the Qur'aan:

1 _ In Soorat al-Nisa, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, those who disbelieve and did wrong [by concealing the truth about Prophet Muhammad and his message of true Islamic Monotheism written in the Tawraatt (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) with them]; Allaah will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way.

Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever" [al-Nisa' 4:168-169]

2 _ In Soorat al-Ahzaab, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, Allaah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell)

Wherein they will abide for ever"

[al-Ahzaab 33:64]

3 _ In Soorat al-Jinn, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"and whosoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever"

[al-Jinn 72:23]

If Allaah had mentioned the eternal nature of Hell in one place, that would have been sufficient, so how about if He has mentioned it in three places? It is strange that a group of scholars are of the view that Hell will cease to exist, based on false arguments which go against what is indicated by the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and they misinterpreted the meanings of the Qur'aan and Sunnah and said that the words "dwell therein forever" mean for as long as it exists.

How can this be correct? If they are to dwell therein forever, that means that Hell itself must last forever, as they will be in it. If a person is to dwell in some place forever, then the place where he will be must last forever as well, because if that place will cease to exist then he cannot dwell forever. The verse is very clear, and the arguments which go against the text are to be rejected.

This difference of opinion which was narrated from a few scholars is to be rejected, because it goes against the clear text which every believer must believe in. Whoever goes against it because of some argument that he comes up with may be excused before Allaah. But whoever studies the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah will know that the view that Hell will last forever is the truth which cannot be ignored.

Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn `Uthaymeen, 2/55-56

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah:

There is a great deal of evidence in the Qur'aan and Sunnah to show that Hell will never cease to exist, and that the kaafireen will abide in Hell forever and will never come out of it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"This, because you took the Revelations of Allaah (this Qur'aan) in mockery, and the life of the world deceived you. So this Day, they shall not be taken out from there (Hell), nor shall they be returned to the worldly life (so that they repent to Allaah, and beg His Pardon for their sins)"

[al-Jaathiyah 45:35]

"Surely, those who disbelieved in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment"

[al-Nisa' 4:56]

"but he whom He sends astray, for such you will find no Awliyaa' (helpers and protectors) besides Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.

That is their recompense, because they denied Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and said: "When we are bones and fragments, shall we really be raised up as a new creation?"

[al-Isra' 17:97]

"But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allaah _ Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination" [al-Taghaabun 64:10]

"and whosoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever"

[al-Jinn 72:23]

"Verily, the Mujrimoon (criminals, sinners, disbelievers) will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever.

(The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein.

We wronged them not, but they were the Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers).

And they will cry: `O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us." He will say: "Verily, you shall abide forever.'

Indeed We have brought the truth (Muhammad with the Qur'aan) to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth"

[al-Zukhruf 43:74]

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals (to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah. But those who believe, love Allaah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allaah and that Allaah is Severe in punishment.

When those who were followed disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them.

And those who followed will say: `If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would disown (declare ourselves as innocent from) them as they have disowned (declared themselves as innocent from) us.' Thus Allaah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire"

[al-Baqarah 2:165-167]

"Verily, those who belie Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners).

Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hell-fire). Thus do We recompense the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)"

[al-A'raaf 7:40-41]

"But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism), for them will be the fire of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!

Therein they will cry: "Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do." (Allaah will reply:) "Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there is no helper" [Faatir 35:36]

"Truly, Hell is a place of ambush —

A dwelling place for the Taaghoon (those who transgress the boundary limits set by Allaah, like polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah, hypocrites, sinners, criminals),

They will abide therein for ages.

Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.

Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges —

An exact recompense (according to their evil crimes).

For verily, they used not to look for a reckoning.

But they belied Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, and that which Our Prophet brought) completely.

And all things We have recorded in a Book.

So taste you (the results of your evil actions). No increase shall We give you, except in torment"

[al-Naba' 78:21-30]

And there are other verses which all indicate that the kuffaar will abide in Hell for eternity and will never come out, and it will never cease to exist. When taken all together this view is very strong and there is no room for misinterpretation .

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Monday, September 05, 2005

Ruling on cursing specific people


Paradise and Hell

Ruling on cursing specific people

Question:

What is the ruling on cursing (and not just insulting) the Jews and Christians or other groups, whether living or dead? May Allaah reward you with good.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The author of Lisaan al-`Arab [a famous Arabic-language dictionary _ Translator] said: La'n (curse) means being cast out far from goodness, and it was said that it means being cast away far from Allaah, and from people.

Cursing happens in two ways:

Cursing the kuffaar and sin in general terms, such as saying "May Allaah curse the Jews and Christians," or "May Allaah curse the kaafirs, evildoers and wrongdoers," or "May Allaah curse the wine-drinker and thief." This kind of curse is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. Ibn Muflih said in al-Adaab al-Shar'iyyah, 1/203: "It is permissible to curse the kuffaar in general."

The second is where the curse is applied to a specific person, whether he is a kaafir or an evildoer, such as saying, "May Allaah curse So and so," mentioning him by name. This may fall into one of two categories:

1 _ Where there is a text which states that he is cursed, such as Iblees, or where there is a text which states that he died as a kaafir, such as Pharaoh, Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl. Cursing such persons is permitted.

Ibn Muflih said in al-Adaab al-Shar'iyyah, 1/214: "It is permissible to curse those concerning whom there is a text stating that they are cursed, but there is no sin involved if one does not do this."

2 _ Cursing a particular kaafir or evildoer concerning whom there is no text stating that they are cursed _ such as wine-drinkers, those who offer sacrifices to anything other than Allaah, the one who curses his parents, those who introduce innovations in religion, and so on.

"The scholars differed as to whether it is permissible to curse these people, and there are three points of view:

(i) That it is not permissible under any circumstances

(ii) That it is permissible in the case of a kaafir but not of a (Muslim) evildoer

(iii) That it is permissible in all cases."

Al-Adaab al_Shar'iyyah by Ibn Muflih, 1/303

Those who say that it is not permissible quoted a number of texts as evidence, including the following:

1 _ The report narrated by al-Bukhaari (4070) from `Abd-Allaah ibn `Umar, that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when he raised his head from rukoo' in the final rak'ah of Fajr prayer and said: "O Allaah, curse So and so, and So and so, and So and so," after he had said, "Sami'a Allaahu li man hamdih, Rabbana wa laka'l-hamd." Then Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning):

"Not for you (O Muhammad, but for Allaah) is the decision; whether He turns in mercy to (pardons) them or punishes them; verily, they are the Zaalimoon (polytheists, disobedients and wrongdoers)" [Aal `Imraan 3:128]

2 _ The report narrated by al-Bukhaari (6780) from `Umar, that there was a man at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whose name was `Abd-Allaah, but his nickname was Himaar (donkey), and he used to make the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) laugh. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had had him flogged for drinking, then he was brought one day and he commanded that he be flogged, and a man who was there said, "O Allaah, curse him, how often he is brought [for this reason]!" But the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not curse him, for by Allaah what I a know about him is that he loves Allaah and His Messenger."

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 6/511.

It is permissible to curse all those whom Allaah and His Messenger have cursed, but as for cursing specific people, if it is known that the person died in kufr, then it is permissible to curse him. But with regard to a specific [Muslim] evildoer, we should not curse him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade cursing `Abd-Allaah ibn Himaar who used to drink wine, even though he had cursed the wine-drinkers in general; however cursing a specific person if he is an evildoer or promoter of bid'ah is a point of dispute among the scholars.

And Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen said in al-Qawl al-Mufeed, 1/226.

The difference between cursing a specific person and cursing those who commit sin in general is that the former (cursing a specific person) is not allowed, and the latter (cursing the people who commit sin in general) is allowed. So if you see an innovator, you do not say, `May Allaah curse you,' rather say, `May the curse of Allaah be upon those who introduce innovations,' in general terms. The evidence for that is the fact that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed some people among the mushrikeen and followers of jaahiliyyah and said: "O Allaah, curse So and so, and So and so, and So and so," he was told not to do that when Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning):

"Not for you (O Muhammad, but for Allaah) is the decision; whether He turns in mercy to (pardons) them or punishes them; verily, they are the Zaalimoon (polytheists, disobedients and wrongdoers)"

[Aal `Imraan 3:128]

This was narrated by al-Bukhaari.

And Allaah knows best.

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The torments of the grave will expiate for the believer's sayi'aat (bad deeds)


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

The torments of the grave will expiate for the believer's sayi'aat (bad deeds)

Question:

Will the Muslim benefit from the trials of the grave by having his sayi'aat (bad deeds) reduced or wiped out?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

One aspect of the bounty of Allaah towards this ummah is that He has created means of expiation before people are brought to account. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned ten things which will bring about expiation, one of which is the torment in the grave.

He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

"Whatever befalls the believer in this world, in al-barzakh (the period between death and resurrection) and during the Day of Resurrection of pain which is a torment, Allaah will cause that to expiate for his sins. It was reported in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: `Nothing befalls the believer of disease, affliction, grief or harm, even a thorn which pricks him, but Allaah will cause it to expiate for his sins.'"

(Majmoo' al-Fataawaa, 24/375).

And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

"The eighth reason: whatever happens to him in the grave of trials, being squeezed, and terror. These are some of the things which will expiate for his sins." (Majmoo' al

Fataawaa, 7/500).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah also said, in Minhaaj al-Sunnah (6/238), that among the things which expiate for bad deeds is: what the believer is tested with in his grave of being squeezed, and the interrogation of the two angels.

And Allaah knows best.

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Is the punishment in the grave continuous?


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

Is the punishment in the grave continuous?

Question:

I have a brother who died; he was a sinner who committed major sins and acts of disobedience, but I loved him very much. I have read things about the punishment in the grave which are very frightening. Is his punishment in the grave continuous, and will it be lightened at all if I do acts of worship and give the reward for them to him, such as giving in charity or doing Hajj? I hope you can help me, because I am still grieving for him very much.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The ultimate fate of your brother rests with Allaah: if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him. We cannot say anything definite about his case, but we can speak about the matter in general terms.

With regard to the question of whether the punishment in the grave is continuous or it may stop:

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

The answer is that the punishment in the grave is of two types:

A type which is continuous, apart from what has been narrated in some ahaadeeth which say that it will be reduced during the period between the two blasts of the Trumpet, then when they are raised from their graves, they will say:

"Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep." [Yaa-Seen 36:52 _ interpretation of the meaning].

Further evidence that this punishment will be continuous is to be seen in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

"The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon" [Ghaafir 40:46]

This is also indicated by the hadeeth of Samurah which was narrated by al-Bukhaari, about the dream in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw that being done to him (the person who was being punished in the grave) until the Day of Resurrection.

And by the hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas about the story of the two palm branches, where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed that the punishment (of the people in the two graves) would be reduced as long as the palm branches did not dry out, so the lessening of the punishment was connected only to the period of time that the branches remained fresh.

And by the hadeeth of Rabee' ibn Anas from Abu'l-`Aaliyah from Abu Hurayrah, then he [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] came to some people whose heads were being smashed with rocks, and every time they were smashed, they were then restored, and they would have no respite from that.

And by the story in al-Saheeh of the man who put on two garments and strutted about in an arrogant manner, so Allaah caused the earth to swallow him up, and he will remain sinking down into it until the Day of Resurrection.

And by the hadeeth of al-Baraa' ibn `Aazib about the story of the kaafir for whom a door to Hell will be opened (in his grave) and he will look upon his place in Hell until the Hour comes. This was narrated by Ahmad, and in some versions it was said that that a hole will be made in his grave and he will feel its distress and smoke until the Resurrection.

The second kind: which will last for a while, and then stop.

This is the punishment of some sinners whose sins are not so great; they will be punished in accordance with their sins, then the punishment will be reduced, just as they will be punished in the fire then the punishment will end.

The punishment may be stopped by du'aa', charity, seeking forgiveness or the reward of Hajj _ this may reach the deceased from some of his relatives or others.

(al-Rooh, p. 89)

The last part of this passage answers the second part of your question. We ask Allaah to bestow His mercy upon us. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

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What is al-barzakh? (the period between a person's death and his resurrection)


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

What is al-barzakh? (the period between a person's death and his resurrection)

Question:

What is Barzakh? Please explain in details. also I would like to know what kind of punishment is there on which sins?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

What is meant by al-barzakh is the period between a person's death and his resurrection on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever dies as a Muslim, obeying Allaah, will be in a blessed state, and whoever dies as a kaafir, disobeying Allaah, will be punished. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning);

"The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): `Cause Fir`aun's (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!'"

[Ghaafir 40:46]

The punishments vary according to the sins committed. A hadeeth was narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari which describes the torments of al-barzakh which will befall some of those who committed major sins. It was narrated that Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) often used to ask his companions, `Did any one of you see a dream?' So dreams would be described to him by those who Allaah willed should speak. One morning, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"Last night, two people came to me (in a dream), and woke me up and said, `Let's go!' I set out with them, and we came across a man who was lying down, with another man standing over him, holding a big rock. He threw the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away, and the one who had thrown it followed it, and picked it up. By the time he came back to the man, his head had been restored to its former state. Then he (the one who had thrown the rock) did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, `Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on!' So we went on, and came to a man who was lying flat on his back, with another man standing over him, holding an iron hook. He put the hook in the man's mouth and tore off that side of his face to the back (of his neck), and he tore his nose and his eye from front to back in a similar manner. Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did likewise. No sooner had he finished the second side but the first side was restored to its former state, then he went back and did the same thing again. I said to my two companions, `Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on!' So we went on, and came to something like a tannoor (a kind of oven, lined with clay, usually used for baking bread). _ I think the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, in that oven there was much noise and voices. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added: - We looked into it and saw naked men and women. A flame of fire was reaching them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried out loudly. I asked them, `Who are these?' They said to me, `Move on!' So we went on and came to a river _ I think he said, red like blood. _ In the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had gathered many stones. Whilst the swimmer was swimming, the man who had gathered the stones approached him. The swimmer opened his mouth and the man on the bank threw a stone into it, then the swimmer carried on swimming. Each time he came back, he opened his mouth again, and the man on the bank threw another stone into his mouth. I said to my two companions, `Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on, move on!' We went on and came to a man who had the most repulsive appearance imaginable. Beside him there was a fire, which he was kindling, and he was running around it. I asked my companions, `Who is this man?' They said, `Move on, move on!' So we went on until we reached a garden of deep green dense vegetation, with all kinds of spring colours. In the midst of this garden was a very tall man, whose head I could hardly see because of his great height. Around him there were children, a great number such as I have never seen. I said to my companions, `who is this man, and who are these children?' They said, `Move on, move on!' So we went on, until we came to a huge garden, bigger and better than any I have ever seen. My two companions said to me, `Go up.' So we went up into it, until we reached a city built of gold and silver bricks. We went to the gate and asked for it to be opened. It was opened and we entered the city, where we found men with one side of their bodies more handsome than the most handsome person you have ever seen, and the other side uglier than the ugliest person you have ever seen. My two companions ordered those men to throw themselves into the river. There was a river flowing through the city, and its water was pure white. The men went and threw themselves in the river, and came out with the ugliness in their bodies gone, and they were in the best shape. (My two companions) said to me, `This is the Paradise of `Aden (the Garden of Eden), and that is your place.' I looked up and saw a palace like a white cloud. They said to me, `That is your place.' I said to them, `May Allaah bless you both, let me enter it.' They said, `For now you will not enter it, but you shall enter it (one day).' I said to them, I have seen many wonders this night. What do all these things mean that I have seen?' They said: `We will tell you. The first man you came across, whose head was being smashed with the rock, is the man who studies the Qur'aan then he neither recites it nor acts upon it, and he goes to sleep, neglecting the obligatory prayers. The man you came across whose mouth, nose and ears were being torn from front to back, is the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that is so serious that it spreads all over the world. The naked men and women whom you saw in a structure that resembled an oven are the adulterers and adulteresses. The man you saw swimming in the river with rocks being thrown into his mouth is the one who consumed riba (usury). The ugly-looking man whom you saw kindling a fire and walking around it was Maalik, the keeper of Hell. The tall man whom you saw in the garden was Ibraaheem, and the children around him were the children who died (young) in a state of fitrah (natural state of mankind, i.e., Islam).' _ Some of the Muslims asked, `O Messenger of Allaah, what about the children of the mushrikeen?' He said, `And the children of the mushrikeen too.' _ `As for the men who were half handsome and half ugly, they were people who had mixed a good deed with another deed that was bad, but Allaah forgave them.'" (narrated by Muslim, no. 6525) Shaykh Waleed al-Firyaan


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The Nature of Life in the Grave


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

The Nature of Life in the Grave

Question:

When it is said that the dead person is alive in the grave, is that the same as his former life (is he alive in the same way)? How many of his senses are restored to him? For how long does he stay alive in the grave? If the dead person is questioned in a physical sense, how does that apply in the case of those who are burned (cremated) like the Hindus and Japanese and others? Where does their questioning take place? When a doctor performs an operation, he removes the person's senses by means of an anaesthetic. With regard to death, I wonder what death means?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: it should be noted that what is obligatory upon every believing man and woman is to believe what Allaah tells them in His Book or on the lips of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about all matters that have to do with the Hereafter, the Reckoning, Paradise and Hell, or that have to do with death, the grave and torment or blessing in the grave, and all matters of the Unseen that are mentioned in the Noble Qur'aan or in the saheeh reports of the Sunnah. We have to believe and accept that, because we know that our Lord tells the truth in all that He says and tells us about. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"and whose words can be truer than those of Allaah? (Of course, none)"

[al-Nisaa' 4:122]

"And who is truer in statement than Allaah?"[al-Nisaa' 4:87]

We know that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the most truthful of people, and that he never spoke on the basis of his own whims and desires; it was Revelation which was revealed to him. Whatever was proven in the saheeh ahaadeeth, it is obligatory to believe in it even if we do not fully understand it. So what we have to do is to believe what has been narrated concerning the matters of the Hereafter and of Paradise and Hell, and the blessings of the people of Paradise and the torments of the people of Hell, and the fact that in the grave a person will be tormented or blessed, and that his soul will return to him. All of this is true and is stated in the texts, so we have to submit to that and believe everything that we learn from the Qur'aan or that is narrated in the saheeh Sunnah or on which the scholars of Islam reached consensus.

If Allaah blesses a believing man or woman with knowledge of the reasons for that, then it is even better, light upon light and knowledge upon knowledge. So let him praise Allaah and give thanks to Him for the knowledge and insight that He has bestowed, thus increasing his knowledge and peace of mind.

With regard to the questioning in the grave and the state of the deceased, this questioning is real. The deceased person's soul will be restored to him; saheeh reports to that effect have been narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The life of the deceased in the grave is different from his life in this world; it is a special kind of life in al-barzakh (the interval between his death and the Day of Resurrection) which is not like his life in this world, where he needs food and drink etc. It is a special kind of life wherein he can understand the questions and answers, so the two angels will ask him, Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?

The believer will say, My Lord is Allaah, Islam is my religion and Muhammad is my Prophet. This will be the answer of believing men and women. Then he will be asked, What do you know about this man (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him))? He will say, He is the Messenger of Allaah. He brought us guidance and we believed in him and followed him. It will be said: we knew that you were a believer. Then a gate to Paradise will be opened for him, and he will feel its rest and provision and blessings. It will be said, This is your place until Allaah resurrects you to it. And he will be shown his place in Hell, and it will be said to him, This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in Allaah, but now Allaah has granted you refuge from it and you have ended up in Paradise.

As for the kaafir, he will be asked about his Lord and his religion and his Prophet, and he will say, Oh, oh, I don't know, I heard the people saying something so I said the same. Then he will be beaten with an iron rod and will utter a scream that will be heard by all things apart from al-thaqalayn, i.e. jinn and men; the animals will hear it. Then a gate to Hell will be opened for him, and his grave will constrict until his ribs intermingle, and his grave will be like one of the pits of Hell. A gate to Hell will be opened for him and he will feel its heat and torment. It will be said, This is your place until Allaah resurrects you to it. Then a door to Paradise will be opened for him and he will be shown his place in Paradise, and it will be said to him, This would have been your place if Allaah had guided you.

From this we know that the grave will be either one of the gardens of Paradise or one of the pits of Hell. The torment or blessing will happen to the body as well as the soul in the grave, and also in the Hereafter, in either Paradise or Hell.

With regard to those who die by drowning or burning, or are eaten by wild animals, their souls will have their share of torment or blessing, and that will come to their bodies on land or in the sea, or in the bellies of the wild animals, as much as Allaah wills. But most of the blessing or torment will come to their souls which remain, either in a state of blessing or a state of torment. The soul of the believer will go to Paradise; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The soul of the believer is a bird which hangs from the trees of Paradise, eating their fruits; the soul of the kaafir goes to Hell."

Every Muslim man and woman has to accept what Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have told us, and believe it as it was meant by Allaah, even though some of the meaning may be hidden from us. And Allaah has perfect wisdom, may He be glorified.

Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi'ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-`Allaamah `Abd al-`Azeez ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 338.

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Sunday, September 04, 2005

Does the torment of the grave continue until the Day of Resurrection?

Torment and Blessing in the Grave

Does the torment of the grave continue until the Day of Resurrection?

Question:

I would like to ask about the grave: after the two angels have finished questioning the person in his grave, will the evildoer continue to be tormented in his grave until the Hour begins? Also, will the believer continue to enjoy delight until the Hour begins? Or does that simply last for one day which comes to an end, after which the person becomes just a dead body? Is there any evidence to indicate that the person in his grave moves into a new life which will last until the Hour begins? Please answer me, may Allaah bless you.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Man's life is divided into three sections:

1 _ The life of this world, which ends with death.

2 _ The life in al-barzakh, which starts after death and ends when the Hour begins.

3 _ The life of the Hereafter, which begins after the people are raised from their graves, and is spent either in Paradise (we ask Allaah of His Bounty) or in Hell (we seek refuge with Allaah).

So the life of al-barzakh lasts from after a person dies until he is resurrected, whether he is buried in a grave or not, whether he is burned or eaten by wild animals. The evidence that points to this life is the hadeeth narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said that after the deceased is placed in his grave, he can hear the footsteps of his family (as they walk away from the grave).

This life (in al-barzakh) will either be filled with delight, or it will be hellish, and the grave will either be one of the gardens of Paradise or one of the ditches of Hell.

What indicates that there will be either delight or torment (in al-barzakh) is the aayah in which Allaah says concerning the people of Pharaoh:

"The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): `Cause Fir`awn's (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!'"

[Ghaafir 40:46 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Ibn Mas'ood said: The souls of the people of Pharaoh and those of their ilk among the kaafirs are shown the Fire morning and evening, and they are told, this is your abode.

Ibn Katheer said: this aayah is the main basis of the Sunni's belief in the torment of al-barzakh in the grave. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/82)

Al-Qurtubi said: Some of the scholars quoted as evidence to prove the torment of the grave the phrase "The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon" [Ghaafir 40:46]. A similar view was expressed by Mujaahid, `Ikrimah, Muqaatil and Muhammad ibn Ka'b, all of whom said that this aayah is proof of the torment of the grave. Do you not see that it says concerning the torment of the Hereafter: "And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): `Cause Fir`awn's (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!"? (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 15/319)

It was narrated that `Abd-Allaah ibn `Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: `When any one of you dies, he is shown his place morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise then he is one of the people of Paradise, and if he is one of the people of Hell, then he is one of the people of Hell.'" (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Bid' al-Khalq, 3001; Muslim, al-Jannah wa sifat na'eemihaa, 2866).

It was narrated from `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that a Jewish woman entered upon her and mentioned the torment of the grave, and said to her, "May Allaah protect you from the torment of the grave!" `Aa'ishah asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about the torment of the grave, and he said, "Yes, the torment of the grave." `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pray any prayer after that but he sought refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Janaa'iz, 1283; Muslim, al-Kusoof, 903).

These aayahs and ahaadeeth indicate that the torment of the grave is real and that it is ongoing in the case of some people.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him and save him from the torment of the grave) said:

If a person is a kaafir (we seek refuge with Allaah), then there is no way that the delight will ever reach him, and his torment will be continuous. If a person was a sinner but he was a believer, then his torment in the grave will be commensurate with his sin, and perhaps the punishment for his sin will take less time than the time in al-barzakh between his death and the onset of the Hour, in which case it will cease.

(al-Sharh al-Mumti', vol. 3, p. 253)

See also the answer to Question no. 7862, where more details are given.

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The torment and blessing in the grave are true and happen to both the soul and the body


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

The torment and blessing in the grave are true and happen to both the soul and the body

Question:

I have a strange quran. My aqeedah is that after the body is dead it is of no use and they cannhot hear.but according to hadith there is punishment in the grave.does this mean that the body is still alive.also in the quran it is mentioned that martyrs dont die?and also it is reported in a hadith in muslim that when prophet(saw) addresses the body of abu jahl, umaya and others umar(ra)asks him how can the dead hear to which the prophet(saw) replies that they can hear but cannot reply.kindly answer my question with detail


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

1 _ What is mentioned in the question, that the dead do not hear anything that the living say is true and is correct. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

"but you cannot make hear those who are in graves"

[Faatir 35:22]

"So verily, you (O Muhammad) cannot make the dead to hear"

[al-Room 30:52]

2 _ The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah is that there is torment and punishment in the grave and life in al-barzakh (the interval between death and the Day of Resurrection), and there is blessing and pleasure, according to the status of the deceased. The evidence for that is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

"The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): `Cause Fir`awn's (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!'"

[Ghaafir 40:46]

Allaah states here that the people of Pharaoh are exposed to torment morning and afternoon even though they are dead. From this aayah, the scholars affirmed that the torment of the grave is real.

Ibn Katheer said:

This aayah is the main basis of the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah in the torment of al-barzakh, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon" [Ghaafir 40:46].

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/82)

According to the hadeeth of `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray in his salaah (prayer), "Allaahumma inni a'oodhu bika min `adhaab il-qabr, wa a'oodhu bika min fitnat il-maseeh il-dajjaal, wa a'oodhu bika min fitnat il-mahyaa wa fitnat il-mamaat, Allaahumma ini a'oodhu bika min al-ma'tham wa'l-maghram (O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave, I seek refuge in You from the tribulation of the Dajjaal, I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death, O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from sin and loss)."

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 798; Muslim, 589)

The relevant point in this hadeeth is that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave. This is one of the pieces of evidence that confirm the torment of the grave. No one disputed the torment of the grave apart from the Mu'tazilah and some other groups who are not worth paying attention to.

3 _ With regard to the hadeeth which describes the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) addressing the dead bodies of the mushrikeen on the day of the battle of Badr, it is to be understood that this was a unique case, where Allaah brought them back to life so that His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) might rebuke them and humiliate them.

(a) It was narrated that Ibn `Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood over the well of Badr [into which the bodies of the mushrikeen had been thrown] and said, `Have you found the promise of your Lord to be true?' Then he said, `They can hear what I am saying now.'"

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3980; Muslim, 932)

(b) It was narrated that Abu Talhah said: " `Umar said, `O Messenger of Allaah, why are you speaking to bodies that have no souls?' The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: `By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, you do not hear what I am saying any better than they do.'" Qutaadah said: Allaah brought them back to life so that they could hear what he was saying, so that they might be rebuked and feel regret and shame.

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3976; Muslim, 2875. See Fath al-Baari, 7/304)

The relevant point here is that Allaah caused the people in the well to hear the words of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so that they might be humiliated. But it is not correct to deduce from this hadeeth that the dead can hear everything, because this applied only to the people in the well. Some scholars made an exception and said that the dead can hear the salaam, but this is a view for which clear sound evidence is lacking.

4 _ According to the most correct scholarly view, the torment of the grave befalls both the soul and the body.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

"The view of the salaf (earliest generations) of this ummah and its imams is that the torment or blessing (of the grave) happens to the soul of the deceased and his body. After it departs from the body, the soul continues to be blessed or punished, and it is also connected to the body from time to time, so that the blessing or torment befalls the body as well as the soul."

So we must believe in that which Allaah has told us.

(al-Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah, p. 94)

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) was asked about this matter, and we will quote his reply in full:

"Indeed, the torment and blessing happen to both the soul and the body, according to the consensus of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah. The soul is blessed or tormented separately from the body, and it is blessed or tormented in connection with the body. The body is connected to it, so in this case the blessing or torment happens to them both, and it may happen to the soul separately from the body.

The view of the salaf and imams of this ummah is that when a person dies, he will be in a state of blessing or torment, and that happens to his soul and his body. After the soul has departed from the body, it remains in a state of blessing or torment, and that is sometimes connected to the body and the blessing or torment happens to them both. Then when the Day of Resurrection comes, the souls will be returned to their bodies and they will rise from their graves to meet the Lord of the Worlds. The physical resurrection is a matter upon which the Muslims, Jews and Christians are agreed."

(al-Rooh, p. 51, 52)

The scholars likened that to dreams when one is asleep, for a person may dream that he is going and traveling, and he may feel happiness or grief and sorrow while he is sleeping, and that is when he is in his place and in this world. So it is more apt that things should be different in the life of al-barzakh which is completely different from the life of this world and the life of the Hereafter.

Al-Nawawi said:

"If it is said, we see the deceased and how he is in his grave, so how can he be questioned, made to sit up and beaten with iron rods, when no mark is left on him? The answer is that this is not impossible, and indeed there is a similar case in our regular lives, that of the sleeper who feels joy or pain of which we feel nothing. A person who is awake may also feel joy or pain because of something he hears or thinks about, and those who are sitting with him feel nothing of that. Similarly, Jibreel used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and tell him of the Wahy (Revelation), and the people present were unaware of it. All of that is clear and evident."

(Sharh Muslim, 17/201)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

"When a person sleeps, he may feel joy or pain, and that happens to his soul and his body. He may dream that someone is beating him and wake up with pain in his body, or he may dream that he is being fed some good food, then wake up with the food in his mouth. This is something that really happens. If the body and soul of a sleeping person can experience joy and pain that are not felt by the person next to him, and a sleeper may even cry out because of the intensity of pain or fear of what is happening to him, and those who are awake can hear him, and he may speak, reciting Qur'aan or dhikr, or talking to someone, and those who are awake can hear that, even though he is asleep with his eyes closed, and he does not hear them if they speak to him _ then how can we deny that the one who is buried in his grave also feels things, when the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has told us that he "hears the sound of their footsteps" and "You do not hear what I say any better than they do"?

The heart is akin to the grave, hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, when he missed `Asr on the day of al-Khandaq: "May Allaah fill their hearts and graves with fire." And Allaah differentiated between them (graves and hearts) in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

"Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are poured forth (all mankind is resurrected)?

And that which is in the hearts (of men) shall be made known?"

[al-`Aadiyaat 100:9-10]

This is just to explain that this could happen.

We cannot say that the blessing or torment that the dead experience is like that which a sleeper experiences when he dreams, rather that blessing or torment is more complete and more far-reaching; it is a real blessing and a real torment. But this example is given to show that this is possible. If someone were to say that the dead person does not move in his grave, and the soil does not change, and so on, this matter may be explained in more detail, but that would take too long to explain here. And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.

(Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 4/275, 276)

And Allaah knows best.

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Images of the torment in the grave


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

Images of the torment in the grave

Question:

What are the types of azab (punishment) in the grave and for the people


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The torment in the grave will vary according to the sins committed by the person in this world, whether he was a kaafir or a disobedient Muslim.

There are saheeh ahaadeeth which describe this torment for the people who commit these sins. For example:

1 _ Being struck with an iron hammer:

It was narrated from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When a person is placed in his grave and his companions leave him, and he can no longer hear the sound of their sandals (footsteps), two angels come to him and make him sit up, and they ask him, `What did you say about this man Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?' He says, `I bear witness that he is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger.' It is said, `Look at your place in Hell which Allaah has replaced for you with a place in Paradise.'" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "And he sees them both. But as for the kaafir or hypocrite, he says, `I do not know, I used to say what the people said.' It is said, `You did not know and you did not follow those who knew.' Then he is struck a blow with an iron hammer between his ears and he screams a scream which everything around him can hear apart from the two races (of mankind and the jinn)."

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1222)

2 _7: Furnishings from Hell are prepared out for him; he is clothed with fire; a door to Hell is opened for him; his grave is made narrow for him; he is struck with a great hammer which, if a mountain were to be struck with it, it would turn to dust; and he is given the tidings of torment in the Hereafter. Hence he will wish that the hour will never come.

Ahmad (17803) and Abu Dawood (4753) narrated that al-Baraa' ibn `Aazib said: We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, "Seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave", two or three times …" _ Then he mentioned the soul of the believer and how he is blessed in his grave. Then he said: "But when the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with black faces, bringing sackcloth, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, `O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of Allaah and His anger.' Then his soul disperses inside his body, then comes out cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer passing through wet wool. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, `Who is this evil soul?' and they say, `It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is not opened." Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning):

"for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle"

[al-A'raaf 7:40]

He said: "Then Allaah says, `Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.' So his soul is cast down." Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

"and whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place"

[al-Hajj 22:31]

He said: "Then his soul is returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, `Who is your Lord?' He says, `Oh, oh, I don't know.' They say, `What is your religion?' He says, `Oh, oh, I don't know.' Then a voice calls out from heaven, `Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.' Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses him until his ribs interlock. Then there comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul stench, who says, `Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.' He says, `Who are you? Your face is a face which forebodes evil.' He says, `I am your evil deeds.' He says, `O Lord, do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour come.'"

This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa'iz, p. 156

8 _ Being swallowed up by the earth.

It was narrated from Ibn `Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whilst a man was dragging his lower garment out of pride, the earth swallowed him up and he will continue sinking into the earth until the Day of Resurrection." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5345; Muslim, 3894).

9- The edge of the mouth being torn to the back of the head

10- The head being smashed with a rock

11- Being burned in an tannoor oven

12- Swimming in a river of blood whilst being pelted with stones.

Al-Bukhaari (1386, 7047) narrated that Samurah ibn Jundub said:

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) often used to ask his companions, "Has any one of you had a dream?" Then those whom Allaah willed would tell him (about their dreams). One morning he said,

"Last night, two people came to me (in a dream), and woke me up and said, `Let's go!' I set out with them, and we came across a man who was lying down, with another man standing over him, holding a big rock. He threw the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away, and the one who had thrown it followed it, and picked it up. By the time he came back to the man, his head had been restored to its former state. Then he (the one who had thrown the rock) did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, `Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on!' So we went on, and came to a man who was lying flat on his back, with another man standing over him, holding an iron hook. He put the hook in the man's mouth and tore off that side of his face to the back (of his neck), and he tore his nose and his eye from front to back in a similar manner. Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did likewise. No sooner had he finished the second side but the first side was restored to its former state, then he went back and did the same thing again. I said to my two companions, `Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on!' So we went on, and came to something like a tannoor (a kind of oven, lined with clay, usually used for baking bread). _ I think the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, in that oven there was much noise and voices. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) added: - We looked into it and saw naked men and women. A flame of fire was reaching them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried out loudly. I asked them, `Who are these?' They said to me, `Move on!' So we went on and came to a river _ I think he said, red like blood. _ In the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had gathered many stones. Whilst the swimmer was swimming, the man who had gathered the stones approached him. The swimmer opened his mouth and the man on the bank threw a stone into it, then the swimmer carried on swimming. Each time he came back, he opened his mouth again, and the man on the bank threw another stone into his mouth. I said to my two companions, `Who are these two persons?' They said, `Move on, move on!' …

I said to them, I have seen many wonders this night. What do all these things mean that I have seen?' They said: `We will tell you. The first man you came across, whose head was being smashed with the rock, is the man who studies the Qur'aan then he neither recites it nor acts upon it, and he goes to sleep, neglecting the obligatory prayers. The man you came across whose mouth, nose and ears were being torn from front to back, is the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that is so serious that it spreads all over the world. The naked men and women whom you saw in a structure that resembled an oven are the adulterers and adulteresses. The man you saw swimming in the river with rocks being thrown into his mouth is the one who consumed riba (usury)."

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said:

This indicates that some sinners will be punished in al-barzakh (the interval between death and the Day of Resurrection).

Fath al-Baari, 12/445

12- Items stolen from the war booty will be set ablaze on the one who stole them.

Al-Bukhaari (4234) and Muslim (115) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: "We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to Khaybar, and Allaah granted us victory. We did not take gold or silver as booty, but we seized goods, food and clothes, then we set out for the valley. Along with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) there was a slave called Rifaa'ah ibn Zayd. When we camped in the valley, the slave of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up and began to unpack his saddlebag, when he was struck by a (stray) arrow which proved fatal. We said, `Congratulations to him, for he is a martyr, O Messenger of Allaah.' The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: `Not so, by the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, for the small garment that he stole from the booty on the day of Khaybar and which was not part of his share is burning like fire on him.' The people were very distressed by this. Then a man brought one or two shoelaces and said, `O Messenger of Allaah, I found (them) on the day of Khaybar.' The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: `A lace of fire' or `Two laces of fire.'"

13- Along with this physical punishment there will also be a spiritual or mental punishment, which is that in the grave the kaafir will be shown what would have been his place in Paradise if he had obeyed his Lord; this will increase his regret and pain when he realizes the greatness of the blessing that he has missed out on.

Ahmad (10577) narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri said: I attended a funeral with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "O people, this ummah will be tested in their graves. When a man is buried and his friends leave him, an angel with a hammer in his hand comes and sits by him and asks, `What do you say about this man?' If he is a believer, he says, `I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' He says, `You have spoken the truth.' Then a door to Hell is opened for him and he says, `This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in your Lord, but because you believed, this is your place.' Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he wants to go there, but the angel says to him, `Calm down,' and his grave is made wide and spacious for him. But if he is a kaafir or a hypocrite, (the angel) says to him, `What do you say about this man?' He says, `I do not know, I heard the people saying something.' The angel says, `You did not know and you did not follow those who knew and you were not guided.' Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he says, `This would have been your position if you had believed in your Lord. But because you disbelieved, Allaah has replaced it for you with this.' Then a gate to Hell is opened for him, and he strikes him a blow with the hammer which is heard by all of Allaah's creation apart from the two races (of mankind and the jinn)." Some of the people said, "O Messenger of Allaah, there is no one who would have an angel standing by him holding a hammer but he would dumbfounded." The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm." [Ibraaheem 14:27 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in his commentary on Kitaab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi `Aasim, 865

These are some of the kinds of punishment that will befall some sinners in the grave.

We ask Allaah to grant us refuge from the torment of the grave.

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Images of the blessings of the grave


Torment and Blessing in the Grave

Images of the blessings of the grave

Question:

Who are pious what happens to them in their grave?.


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The evidence indicates that the believer will be blessed in his grave until the Hour begins, then he will move by the grace and mercy of Allaah to the blessings that will never cease or come to an end, which is the blessing of Paradise. May Allaah make us among its people.

These are some of the images of the blessings which are bestowed upon the believer in his grave:

1- His grave is furnished from Paradise for him

2- He is clothed in garments from Paradise.

3- A gate to Paradise is opened for him, and its breezes come to him, and he smells its fragrance and he feels delight in what he can see of its blessings.

4- His grave is made wide and spacious for him.

5- He is given the glad tidings of Allaah's pleasure and Paradise. Hence he longs for the Hour to begin.

It was narrated that al-Bara' ibn `Aazib said: "We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, "Seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave", two or three times. Then he said, "When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, `O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allaah and His pleasure.' Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the mouth of a waterskin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, `Who is this good soul?' and they say, `It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allaah, until they reach the seventh heaven. Then Allaah says: `Record the book of My slave in `Illiyoon in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.' So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, `Who is your Lord?' He says, `Allaah.' They say, `What is your religion?' He says, `My religion is Islam.' They say, `Who is this man who was sent among you?' He says, `He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).' They say, `What did you do?' He says, `I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.' Then a voice calls out from heaven, `My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.' Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, `Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this day.' He says, `Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.' He says, `I am your righteous deeds.' He says, `O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.'…"

Narrated by Ahmad, 17803; Abu Dawood, 4753. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa'iz, p. 156

6- He will be happy when he sees what would have been his place in Hell, which Allaah has replaced for him with a place in Paradise.

Ahmad (10577) narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri said: I attended a funeral with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "O people, this ummah will be tested in their graves. When a man is buried and his friends leave him, an angel with a hammer in his hand comes and sits by him and asks, `What do you say about this man?' If he is a believer, he says, `I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' He says, `You have spoken the truth.' Then a door to Hell is opened for him and he says, `This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in your Lord, but because you believed, this is your place.' Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he wants to go there, but the angel says to him, `Calm down,' and his grave is made wide and spacious for him. But if he is a kaafir or a hypocrite, (the angel) says to him, `What do you say about this man?' He says, `I do not know, I heard the people saying something.' The angel says, `You did not know and you did not follow those who knew and you were not guided.' Then a door to Paradise is opened for him and he says, `This would have been your position if you had believed in your Lord. But because you disbelieved, Allaah has replaced it for you with this.' Then a gate to Hell is opened for him, and he strikes him a blow with the hammer which is heard by all of Allaah's creation apart from the two races (of mankind and the jinn)." Some of the people said, "O Messenger of Allaah, there is no one who would have an angel standing by him holding a hammer but he would dumbfounded." The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm." [Ibraaheem 14:27 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in his commentary on Kitaab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi `Aasim, 865

7- He will sleep the sleep of a bridegroom

8- His grave will be illuminated for him

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When the deceased (or he said: any one of you) is buried, two black and blue angels, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakeer come to him. They say, `What did you say about this man?' And he says what he used to say, that he is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, `I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' They say, `We knew that you would say this.' Then his grave is expanded, seventy cubits wide, and it is filled with light. He says, `Let me go back to my family and tell them.' They say, `Sleep like a bridegroom whom no one will wake but his most beloved,' until Allaah raises him up. But if he was a hypocrite he says, `I heard the people saying something and I said likewise, I do not know.' So they say, `We knew that you would say that.' Then it is said to the earth, `Squeeze him,' so it squeezes him until his ribs interlock. And he will remain like that, being tormented, until Allaah raises him up."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1071. Classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1391.

With regard to his sleep being likened to the sleep of a bridegroom, that is because he will be so happy and comfortable. Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi.

These are some of the blessings that the believer will enjoy in his grave. We ask Allaah to make us among His people.

And Allaah knows best.

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The way to a good end

Torment and Blessing in the Grave

The way to a good end

Question:

Are there any signs that indicate that a person's life ended well?


Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: a good end…

A good end means when a person was guided before his death to keep away from that which angers the Lord and to repent from sin, and to focus on doing acts of worship and good deeds, and then he died in this good state. One of the indications of this is the saheeh hadeeth narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Allaah wills good for His slave, He uses him." They said, "How does He use him?" He said, "He guides him to do good deeds before he dies."

Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 11625; al-Tirmidhi, 2142; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1334.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Allaah wills good for His slave, He sweetens him." He was asked, "What is this sweetening?" He said, "Allaah guides him to do righteous deeds before he dies, then He takes (his soul) whilst he is in that state." Narrated by Ahmad, 17330; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1114.

There are signs of a good end, some of which are seen by the dying person as he is dying, and some which may be visible to other people.

Secondly:

With regard to the signs of a good end that appear to the dying person, these are things that give him the glad tidings, as he is dying, that Allaah is pleased with him. As Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, those who say: `Our Lord is Allaah (Alone),' and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): `Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!'"

[Fussilat 41:30]

These glad tidings come to the believers when they are dying. See Tafseer Ibn Sa'di, 1256.

This is also indicated by the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6507; Muslim, 2683 from the Mother of the Believers `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever loves to meet Allaah, Allaah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allaah, Allaah hates to meet him." I said, "O Prophet of Allaah, do you mean hating death, for all of us hate death?" He said, "It is not like that; but when the believer is given the glad tidings of the mercy and pleasure of Allaah, and His Paradise, he loves to meet Allaah, And when the kaafir is given the tidings of the wrath and punishment of Allaah, he hates to meet Allaah and Allaah hates to meet him."

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: What this hadeeth means is that the love and hate that are referred to here are those that happen when one enters the stage in which repentance is not accepted, where the dying person is told of his situation and he is shown his destiny.

There are many signs of a good end, which the scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) have derived from the texts which speak of that. These signs include the following:

1 _ Uttering the shaahadah (testimony of faith) when dying, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "A person whose last words are Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah [there is no go but Allaah] will enter Paradise." Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3116; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2673.

2 _ Dying with sweat on the forehead, because al-Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, "The believer dies with sweat on his forehead."

Narrated by Ahmad, 22513; al-Tirmidhi, 980; al-Nasaa'i, 1828. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

3 _ Dying on the night or day of Friday, because the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "there is no Muslim who dies on the day of Friday or the night of Friday, but Allaah will protect him from the trial (fitnah) of the grave." Narrated by Ahmad, 6546; al-Tirmidhi, 1074. al-Albaani said: When all its isnaads are taken into consideration, this hadeeth is hasan or saheeh.

4 _ Dying as a fighter for the sake of Allaah, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allaah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.

They rejoice in what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty and rejoice for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve.

They rejoice in a grace and a bounty from Allaah, and that Allaah will not waste the reward of the believers"

[Aal `Imraan 3:169]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever is killed for the sake of Allaah is a martyr, and whoever dies for the sake of Allaah is a martyr." Narrated by Muslim, 1915.

5 _ Dying of the plague, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The plague is martyrdom for every Muslim." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2830; Muslim, 1916.

It was narrated that `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said: I asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about the plague, and he told me that it is a punishment that Allaah sends upon whomsoever He will, and that Allaah has made it a mercy for the believers, for there is no one who stays in his land at the time of a plague, bearing that with patience and seeking Allaah's reward, knowing that nothing will befall him but that which Allaah has decreed for him, but he will be given a reward like that of a martyr."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3474.

6 _ Dying of a stomach disease. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "… and whoever dies of a stomach disease is a martyr." Narrated by Muslim, 1915.

7 _ Dying because of being crushed by a falling wall or by drowning, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The martyrs are five: the one who dies of plague, the one who dies of a stomach disease, the one who drowns, the one who is crushed by a falling wall, and the one who is martyred for the sake of Allaah." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2829; Muslim, 1915.

8 _ If a woman dies as a result of childbirth, or when she is pregnant. The evidence for that includes the hadeeth narrated by Abu Dawood (3111), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "A woman who dies with child is a martyr." al-Khattaabi said: What this means is if she dies with a child in her womb. `Awn al-Ma'bood.

And Imam Ahmad narrated (17341) that `Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us about the martyrs and mentioned among them, "A woman who is killed by the child in her womb attains martyrdom, and her child will drag her by his umbilical cord to Paradise." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Kitaab al-Janaa'iz, p. 39.

9 _ Death caused by burning, pleurisy and tuberculosis. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Being killed for the sake of Allaah is martyrdom; the plague is martyrdom; drowning is martyrdom; dying of a stomach disease is martyrdom; and the woman who dies in childbirth, her child will drag her by his umbilical cord to Paradise." (Abu'l-Awaam, the custodian of Bayt al-Maqdis added: and burning and tuberculosis). Al-Albaani said: Hasan saheeh. Saheeh al-Targheeb wa'l-Tarheeb, 1396.

10 _ Dying to defend one's religion, one's wealth or one's life, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever is killed defending his wealth is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his religion is a martyr; whoever is killed in self-defence is a martyr." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1421.

Al-Bukhaari (2480) and Muslim (141) narrated that `Abd-Allaah ibn `Amr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: "Whoever is killed defending his wealth is a martyr."

11 _ Dying guarding the borders of Islam for the sake of Allaah. Muslim (1913) narrated that Salmaan al-Faarisi (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Guarding the borders of Islam for one day and one night is better than fasting and praying at night for a whole month, and if he dies (whist performing this duty), he will go on receiving the reward for this great deed and his provision (continually), and he will be spared the questioning in the grave. "

12 _ One of the signs of a good end is dying whilst doing a righteous deed, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, seeking the Countenance of Allaah thereby, and that is the last of his deeds, will enter Paradise. Whoever gives charity and that is the last of his deeds will enter Paradise." Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 22813; classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Kitaab al-Janaa'iz, p. 43. See Kitaab al-Janaa'iz by al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 34.

These are the good signs which point to a good end, but despite that we cannot be certain that a specific person is one of the people of Paradise unless the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) testified that he will go to Paradise, such as the four khaleefahs.

We ask Allaah to grant us a good end.

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