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174

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Torture and Bliss of the grave

Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

23 Al-Muharram 1436

06 November 2015.

Dear Muslims,

All thanks be to Allah, we seek His support and His forgiveness. We fortify ourselves with Allah against ourselves and the evil of our deeds.

All you Muslims,

There are many facts of faith which every Muslim has absolute faith into; and knows for certain that he or she will pass through them. But, with life’s busy pace, and all its distractions; one tends to forget about those facts despite having faith into them.

This oversight and state of forgetfulness; slaves of Allah, must not be allowed to linger on. Every now and then the individual should face himself or herself and contemplate and meditate about those moments that he or she will go through. After that, he ought to think of the state where he is at and where he will end up to be. Will he be with those whom Allah says about them: {Allah makes those who have faith firm and fixed with firm words in this life and the life next}. Or shall he be amongst those whom Allah says about them: {and if you just see those transgressors when they are going through their moments of death; the angels extending their hands to them; try and get yourselves out of this, Today you are rewarded with the humiliating torment in return for the untruth that you used to say about Allah; and you used to be vain and arrogant towards His signs}.

Dear Muslims, the grave is the first stage of the next life’s stages. The grave is that dark, cramped and tight place. Each and every one of us shall enter; and each shall live in it for as long as Allah wishes him to do so. Subsequently, the individual shall go to his final settling place, either to paradise or to hellfire.

Dear brother and sister, just think of the grave. Have we ever took a moment and thought of the grave and the way it grips the person tight and strong, and how extremely tight and dark it really is? Or are we too busy with our lives? Busy to the point that we do not seem to find one moment to spare to think of this tremendous event of the grave. Every day we lose a loved one. Every day we burry some friend; and it is as if those events happen to others, but not to us. We are; or we seem to be so far away from it.

Dear brothers and sister,

By the Almighty Allah, the grave is an enormous frightening horror. The messenger ppbu said: {No matter how bad and horrible anything I ever saw, still the grave is ever worse}.

During the time of the prophet, one woman used to be the caretaker of the mosque. The messenger ppbu missed her one morning. They told him she died the night before and she was buried. They did not like to wake the messenger ppbu. He asked for her grave and he went to her grave and made a prayer for her. He said: {those graves are so full of true darkness for the people in them. Allah fills it with light with my prayers for them}.

Yes, the grave has such a tight and strong grip that no one is spared from; young or old; devoted or an aggressor. Not even Saad Ebn Muad as the messenger ppbu told. Saad whose death shook the throne of the Almighty; the most Gracious, and the gates of heavens were opened for him, and seventy thousand angels assembled as witnesses. He was not spared from the grip and squeeze of the grave.

You Muslims, you are on your way to your graves. All that stands between you and your grave is for your spirit to leave your body. Know that the grave has tests or temptations. Know that this nation gets tempted in their graves. When one dies, the messenger ppbu said: {two angels will come to him who are tough and reprimanding, they sit him up and say to him: who is your God? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?} That is the last temptation a believer is subjected to. That is what is referred to when Allah says: {Allah makes those who have faith firm and fixed with firm words in this life and the life next}. The faithful will say: “My God is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my prophet is Muhammad ppbu”. Then a caller calls in the sky: My slave has spoken the truth. While with a wicked or a disbeliever slave, the two angels come and reprimand him, sit him up and ask him: who is your God? He says: huh.. I don’t know. They say: what is your religion: he says: huh.. I don’t know. They say: what do you say about this man who was sent into you? He wouldn’t know the name. They say to him: Muhammad. He says: Huh, I don’t know. I heard people mentioning something like that. They say: you didn’t know, and you didn’t try to find out. A caller calls: My slave has lied.

We ask you Allah, by the fact that you are the one and only God, we ask that, you make us among those that you make firm and fixed with firm words in this life and the next. O Allah make our graves, and the graves of our fathers and mothers, and the graves of all Muslims, make each grave a garden of the gardens of paradise, and do not make them holes of fire. You are the most Gracious; the most Merciful.

Dearly beloved, remember and think about death and its struggle of dying, and its difficulty and bitterness. Death is a promise ever so true. Death is a judge ever so just. Death is a true source of fear for the hearts, and it truly brings tears to the eyes, and it truly splits and separates groups and companions, and truly puts an end to any joy or happiness, and a definite end to hopes and dreams and postponed deeds.

Have you; slave of Allah, have you ever thought of the day of your death? Have you thought about the day when you shall move or be moved from your home to your grave? The day when you shall be moved from your spacious place to the narrowness; and when you shall be betrayed by your friends and mates; and when you shall be left by your brothers and friends; when you shall be taken from your comfortable bed to a rough and dangerous place, and from a soft cover to be covered by earth, rocks and mud. You who accumulate riches and money, and you who actively build houses, that money is not really yours except for the cost of a coffin. It will all go to demise and it will be spent. Your body will go to earth. Not all the money that you collected will save you. In fact, you will leave it all behind to those who will not even thank you for it. Moreover, you are carrying all your deeds to Him who shall put you to account and will judge you.

You, who have faith, are you not crying? Are you not sad for your selves for the rest of your lives? How do you think anyone will feel; who is being sought out by the grave, and the grave shall be his resting place, and earth shall be his mattress, and worms and maggots will be his companions, and he is the one who is going to be waiting for even greater horrors to follow?

Slave of Allah, just for a moment pretend that the struggle of death has approached you, and that you are suffering the pain and moans of dying. People have different interests. Some say: he made a will, and he has counted his money. Some will say: he can no longer speak, and he no longer recognises his neighbours, and he does not talk to his brothers. It is as if I see you hearing people talk to you; but you cannot reply. Just imagine yourself when you are removed from your bed to where you are being given the final wash or Ghusul. You are washed now, and you are dressed in the white shroud or coffin. Your friends, neighbours and family have deserted you. Your friends and brothers have shed tears for you.

You who are so arrogant and vain, you keep seeking hopes and dreams, yet death is closer to you.

You know when death comes; it comes so sudden and so quick; with such a taste, which, for certain you would not like.

As if you are asking a sponsor to take care of some stuff, while you watch the orphans you will leave behind.

Coffins are rapped on to you and the earth is laid upon you while the eyes are filled with tears.

If you are forgetting about this situation, and you who is forgetting about your grave, how long this forgetfulness will linger on? Do you think it is an easy matter? Moreover, do you think life will continue forever? And do you think you are happy with your state when your time comes for you to go? Or do you think your money will save your when your deeds will destroy you? Or do you think that feeling regretful and sorry will benefit you if your foot slips into the wrong? Or maybe your clan and family will be kind to you then?

No, by the Almighty Allah, that is wrong. You do not get satisfaction from small earnings; you do not get enough from Haram riches. No, you do not listen to the advice, and you do not heed the warnings. You are used to floating round with temptations, and you randomly come and go. You love to increase and multiply what you have. And you do not read or remember what has been presented to you to consider. You claim that you will be left alone unquestioned, and not to be brought to an account. You might even start to believe that death can be bribed off.

No, indeed, death cannot be kept off you, not by all your money nor by your children. The only thing that can benefit the people of the graves is their good deeds. Congratulations to this who listened and who was aware of the advice he heard. And implemented what he claimed he would do. Congratulations to this that controlled himself in face of temptations. This who realised that the only thing a person has is the deeds he does. He will see the deeds he does now. Then he shall be rewarded the generous reward. So, wake up from this slumber. Do not be hoping to reach the status of the devout people, while you live a wrong and foul life. You will not reach the status of the devout while you do the deeds of the sinners.

Slave of Allah, do watch and remember Allah at all times; especially when you are alone. And do not let false hopes stop you from doing the good deeds. Get as much supplies from this life to bring with you into the next life. Spend your time collecting good deeds rather than collecting money and riches.

Part 2

The messenger ppbu said: {the grave is the first stage of many in the next life. If a person makes it safe in through the grave then what is to follow is easier. And if the person does not make safe through it then what follows is going to be even worse}

This is a reminder for each of us to pay attention and put himself to an account. We often tend to question others and forget about ourselves.

This who forgets about himself, then time will run out for him. His regrets later; will even be greater. There is no worst regret than for one to have his own life working against him. His days lead him to more ruin, demise, misery and ill-being.

Dear brothers and sister, this who puts himself to an account in this life will have much lighter accounting in the next life. And this who ignores bringing himself to account now then will have a lasting regret and a bad ending. Do not be with those who death approaches them suddenly when they are most unprepared for it and most un-expecting it.

Many young people are misled with their youth into thinking life is long. They forget that some of their peers have already died. They keep saying they will return to Allah. Sometimes death surprises them before they do.

Some people spend their lives collecting money and may end up spending it in the wrong, or they die and leave it to those who inherit it and make a better use of it. Some make money and it causes them to go to hellfire, and those who inherit it may use it rightfully and earns them paradise.

Your life is short, and the situation is desperate. The smart one is the one who takes from this life for bettering his next life, the one who takes from his life to his death, from his youth to his old age, and from his health to his sickness. After the grave, there is only one final resting place, either paradise or hellfire.

Bringing yourself to an account now; means that you would compensate for what you did in the past by what is left in your life. Live your remaining hours and days. Do not be overwhelmed by being sorry and by being regretful. Do not stop doing deeds. Remember that who does well towards the end of his life; then he will be forgiven for what was done in the past or in the earlier part. And this who does bad near the end of his life then he will be punished for that and for what was done in his earlier life.

Remember that death comes sudden, so give each moment its value, and every breath you draw its true worth. Moreover, remember that ultimately; your balance is determined not by how much money you have; but by the good deeds, you do. And the ultimate profit you will gain is the gardens in paradise. And the loss you will endure is a ratchet flaming fire. And you can be the judge for yourself.

Be God fearing, and let death be enough as a preacher. Death does not need to knock on a door before approaching, and it does not fear a guard. It does not take someone else for a replacement, and it does not take a guarantor, it holds no mercy for a young or no respect for an elder.

Keep reminding yourself with this that destroys pleasures, and separates gangs. Do not feel be deceived or misled by those few good deeds you do.

Abu-baker at his deathbed his daughter Aesha read a poem which says:

For certain riches will be no good for a man

When (death) rattles in the throat; and tightens the chest.

Abu baker said: No, not like that, instead say (and he quoted a verse of the Quran): {And the agony of death comes in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which you have been avoiding}.

Omar ebn Khattab at his death said: I will be doomed, and so will my mother; if Allah does not have mercy on to me.

Abu-Hurairah cried at his death. He was asked: what makes you cry? He said: the prise is so far away, and supplies are so meagre, and the obstacle ahead is undefeatable, and going past it is either to paradise or to hellfire.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.