The Barzakh

The Barzakh refers to the life of the grave. It is an intermediary stage, a barrier, between this world and the Akhira (Hereafter). The barzakh commences when the soul exits the body at the time of death and continues until the Day of Resurrection.

When death approaches any of them, they cry “My Lord! Let me go back, so I may do good in what I left behind.” Never! It is only a useless appeal they make. And there is a barrier behind them until the Day they are resurrected [23:99-100]

For the believer, the period in the qabr (grave) will be easy and quick. For the disbeliever, it will be difficult and long lasting. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ‎ said he has not seen anything more terrifying than the life of the qabr. If the events in the qabr are good, the events thereafter, on the Day of Judgement, will be good. If the events are bad, the events thereafter will be worse.

Where are the Souls?

Whilst the body remains in the qabr, there are different opinions as to what happens to the soul. Some suggest the disbeliever’s souls in are Jahannam and the believer’s souls will be in Jannah, or in the courtyards outside, with some form of connection with the body.

The souls of the shaheed (martyrs) are within the green birds of Jannah. They are flying around enjoying the ambience, perching on the chandeliers hanging from the Arsh (Throne) of Allah SWT. Some souls may be in the graves or in the vicinity of the bodies.

Ultimately, the Barzakh is the realm of the unseen, the knowledge of which lies only with Allah SWT. The Prophets however will be alive and praying in their graves. This is a gift from Allah SWT so that they remain in peace whilst performing dua and zikr.

Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets [Abu Dawud]

Sakarat-al-Maut – The Pangs of Death

Sakarat-al-maut is a Quranic term describing the drifting in and out of consciousness at the time of death. It refers to the agony of death. The eyes dilate, as if in fear. There is a feeling of external and internal pressure, as if the soul is being forced through the eye of a needle.

With the pangs of death will come the truth. This is what you were trying to escape [50:19]

This will be the default state for everyone, believer and disbeliever, with only a few spared (eg the shaheed). What is the purpose of experiencing this?

• As a final test for the very pious/righteous, to bear it with patience so that Allah SWT can elevate their rank in Jannah.
• As expiation for some minor sins in this world which would otherwise need to be accounted for on the Day of Judgement. No fatigue, disease, sorrow, sadness, harm, or distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were a prick of a thorn, but Allah will expiate some of his sins thereby [Bukhari].
• As a punishment for the disbeliever and/or one with many bad deeds.

Conversely, whilst an easy death may be a blessing from Allah SWT, it does not necessarily mean the deceased will be granted Jannah. It may be as recompense for any good they did in this world, if all their other deeds were bad and they are destined for Jahannam. This is an example of the ultimate justice of Allah SWT. Each soul is rewarded for what it does, either in this world or the Akhira.

Every soul will have an assigned angel, Malak Al Mawt, the Angel of Death who will sit at the head. If the person is awake as the soul leaves, they look up with their eyes following the soul.

For the Righteous Soul

• Angels descend with bright faces with the shrouds and perfume of Jannah. The numbers of angels correlates with the level of piety/righteousness of the soul. This could potentially be as far as the eye can see.
• The Angel of Death says, “O pure and peaceful soul, now is the time to exit, come and meet Allah’s pleasure.” The soul exits from the body, flowing out gently like water.
• The soul is shrouded and perfumed by the angels who attend to and comfort it as it is raised to the highest heavens.
• As they rise, other angels ask, “Who is this soul?” They reply with positive adjectives used to describe them in this life – pious, honest, kind and so forth.
• As they ascend, each of the gates of the heavens are opened until they reach the 7th heaven.
• Then Allah SWT will declare, “Write the name of the soul in the register of Illyeen” (the highest book). “Return My servant to this world, as I created them from it and will return them to it and will resurrect them again.”
• Once back in the grave, two black/blue angels, Munkar and Nakir, will come and ask 3 questions. These are referred to as the Fitna al Qabr, the Trial of the Grave.
• Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? The soul will answer with, “Allah SWT, Islam, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ‎ .”
• The angels will ask, “How do you know these answers?” The soul will reply, “I read the book of Allah SWT, I believed in it and affirmed it to be true.” The answers will be known only if the soul truly believed and practiced in this world.
• Allah SWT will decree, “They have spoken the truth so give them the clothes of Jannah, the couches and cushions of Jannah and show them their place in Jannah.”
• The grave is made vast and filled with light. A portal opens where the soul sees their place in Jannah, smells the fragrance and sees and hears the pleasures of Jannah.
• The soul asks Allah SWT to hasten Judgement Day so they can go to Jannah. A beautiful, calming entity comes to comfort the soul, saying, “I have come to give you glad tidings. Rejoice and be happy for this is the day you were promised.” When asked who he is, he will reply, “I am your good deeds coming back to you.”

For the Unrighteous Soul

• Angels come with a gloomy and scary disposition, surrounding the soul in accordance with the degree of their bad deeds.
• The Angel of Death says “You filthy soul, get out of your body and meet Allah’s anger”. The soul exits ‘like an iron comb through wet wool’, snatched away in a vicious manner.
• Angels surround the soul with the coals and stench of Jahannam as they ascend to the heavens.
• As they rise, other angels ask, “Who is this filthy soul?”. They will respond with negative adjectives of what others thought of the soul, describing their actions in this world – cheat, hypocrite, liar and so forth.
• As they ascend, the doors of Heaven are shut and the soul is not allowed any higher.
• Allah SWT will declare, “Write his name in Sijeen (register of Hell) and take his body back”.
• The soul of the one who commits shirk (associating others with Allah SWT) falls from the heavens and is thrown violently back into their body.
• Munkar and Nakir ask the 3 questions and the soul will reply “I don’t know.”
• Allah SWT will declare, “They have lied, they knew but rejected.” The angels cover the soul with the shrouds of Jahannam and bring the smoke of Jahannam.
• The grave becomes very small, dark and dank, compressing the soul until their ribs intertwine. The portal opens and shows the soul their place in Jahannam morning and evening and they feel the heat.
• The soul asks Allah SWT to delay Judgement Day as they know what to come is worse. A terrifying entity appears with an awful stench saying “I am your bad deeds coming back to you.”
• The soul is afflicted with the Azab al Qabr (punishment of the grave).

Trials of the Grave

Dammatul Qabr

Trial for everyone, a squeezing of the grave which occurs as soon as the deceased is buried. This is gentle for the righteous, like a warm hug. For others, a stronger squeeze as an expiation for sins. For the non believer, it will be extreme to the extent that the ribs will be intertwined.

Fitna al Qabr

Trial for everyone, to differentiate believers from non believers. The exceptions include:

• The shaheed.
• Very righteous pious people.
• Those who die on Friday or doing a good deed.
• The mentally insane.
• Children.

Two angels will come to question the deceased about their Lord, their religion and their Prophet. These are dark, black/blue angels with black eyes and a scary appearance. Munkar (meaning that which will be rejected, denier) and Nakir (meaning that which is unknown, denied).

Azab al Qabr

Punishment in the grave, for disbelievers and sinful believers, a terrifying affair. Generically any sin can be punished. Specifically, punishment is for the kafir (disbeliever) and the munafiq (hypocrite – outwardly Muslim but really a disbeliever). Allah SWT says of the hypocrites:

We will punish them twice, then they will be brought back (to their Lord) for a tremendous punishment [9:101]

And with reference to Pharaoh’s people:

They are exposed to the Fire morning and evening. And on the Day the Hour will be established (it will be said) “Admit Pharaoh’s people into the harshest punishment (of Hell)” [40:46]

For the believer, some punishments will stop after the sins have been expiated or if dua or good deeds offered on behalf of the deceased are accepted.

Causes of Azab al Kabr

The sins below relate to prolonged actions/behaviours:

• Urine soiling. Not cleaning oneself after using the restroom and not taking care to avoid urine soiling the clothes. This accounts for the majority of azab al qabr as purity is required for salat, the backbone of faith.
• Tattletale/malicious gossip/backbiting. Revealing someone’s secrets which leads to breaking of ties between people.
• Wailing over the dead. Not crying or general distress but phrases such as “how will I live without you” or “who will take care of me/us.” It is Allah SWT Ar Razzaq who provides for everyone.
• Arrogance and pride. The earth will continue to swallow the person.
• Lying/slander. Causing hurt and distress to others. The face is torn off by an iron hook, one side at a time.
• Ignoring the Quran. A person who knew and recited the Quran but slept at night. Not praying Fajr and not praying any salah in its allotted time. The person is hit by a rock which rolls away, is retrieved and is hit again.
• Zinah. Unlawful sexual relations. Naked men and women held upside down in an oven, with flames reaching to their stomachs.
• Riba. Usury/interest. Person swimming in river of blood trying to escape but being pushed back and stones thrown into their mouth.
• Dying in debt. Specifically, taking advantage of someone without any essential need with no intention to repay. The soul is suspended (not in peace) until the debt is paid.
• Stealing from the battlefield. Without declaring the booty – equivalent to stealing from dead in this age. Being burnt in the fire.

Some punishments continue until Day of Judgement, notably for the kafir and munafiq. For the believer, the sins of arrogance, lying/slander, zinah, usury and not reading salah in its allocated time.

Protection From Azab al Qabr

• The exceptions of fitna al qabr.
• Salah.
• Good deeds – Quran recitation, zikr, worship, charity (sadaqah) and so forth.
• Reciting surah al Mulk frequently.
• Dua.

For the believer, some punishments will stop after the sins have been expiated, or if dua/good deeds are performed and accepted on behalf of the deceased.

Deeds Benefitting the Dead

Deeds Done by the Deceased

• Sadaqah jariyah – a perpetual charity that will keep benefitting the donor as long as the benefits are realised. For example, building a masjid/well/orphanage.
• Knowledge that people benefit from – teaching some one to pray, read Quran, teaching about Islam, giving dawah.
• Prayers from a righteous child – the parent invested time into the child to make them pious.
• Protecting the borders of an Islamic state – if the protector dies in that position.

Deeds Done by the Living

• Dua/asking for forgiveness – make dua for all Muslims that have come before you.
• Salat al jinazah (funeral prayer) – pray with sincerity. Ask to forgive the deceased’s sins, make their grave vast and light, make their companions (angels) better than us, raise their ranks in Jannah and covert their sins into good.
• Sadaqah/sadaqah jariyah on behalf of dead (best sadaqah is to build a well).
• Hajj/umrah on behalf of dead. Only if their obligatory Hajj has not been performed (as this is a debt owed to Allah SWT). Only if the person doing the Hajj has first done their own obligatory Hajj.
• Fasting on behalf of dead – to make up obligatory fasts owed.

What a Child can do for Their Deceased Parents

• Dua.
• Fulfil their oaths/covenants.
• Visiting the relatives and friends they visited, be generous with them – promotes remembrance and duas for deceased.

Schools of Thought

Hanafi: Any and all good deeds (including salah) can be gifted to the deceased and the living. The intention can be before or after the deed. This opinion has not changed over time.

Shafi’i: Originally, no deeds benefit the dead. This has now been reversed by latest scholars, and includes reciting the Quran.

Maliki: Originally, no deeds benefit the dead. This has now been reversed by latest scholars for monetary deeds (sadaqah) and reciting the Quran but not for bodily or spiritual deeds such as fasting and salat.

Hanbali: Originally, all good deeds could be gifted by the living to the deceased. This has now been reversed by latest scholars.