What is the belief of the people of the Sunnah and the community regarding the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection)?
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The questioner : In the last of this questioner's questions, Ibrahim from Riyadh asks: What is the belief of the people of the Sunnah and the community regarding the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection)?
The Shaykh : Their belief regarding the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is what has come in the Book and the Sunnah of evidence that a person is punished in his grave and is blessed according to his state. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said regarding the family of Pharaoh:[Ghafir 40:46] And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-An'am 6:93] And Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: [Al-Waqi'ah 56:83-96] This life, in which there is bliss or punishment, is a life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection); it is not like the life of this world. In it, the living person does not need water, food, air, protection from cold, or protection from heat. It is a life whose nature we do not know; rather, it is among the matters of the unseen that no one knows except Allah, Mighty and Majestic, or those who have reached it and attained true certainty thereof. And we recite in our prayers: “I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Hellfire, from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of life and death, and from the trial of the Dajjal (the false messiah)”. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Their belief regarding the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is what has come in the Book and the Sunnah of evidence that a person is punished in his grave and is blessed according to his state. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said regarding the family of Pharaoh:
The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment."
النّارُ يُعرَضونَ عَلَيها غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا وَيَومَ تَقومُ السّاعَةُ أَدخِلوا ءالَ فِرعَونَ أَشَدَّ العَذابِAnd if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
وَلَو تَرى إِذِ الظّالِمونَ في غَمَراتِ المَوتِ وَالمَلائِكَةُ باسِطو أَيديهِم أَخرِجوا أَنفُسَكُمُ اليَومَ تُجزَونَ عَذابَ الهونِ بِما كُنتُم تَقولونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيرَ الحَقِّ وَكُنتُم عَن ءاياتِهِ تَستَكبِرونَ(83) Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat (84) And you are at that time looking on - (85) And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see - (86) Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed, (87) Bring it back, if you should be truthful? (88) And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah, (89) Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure. (90) And if he was of the companions of the right, (91) Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right." (92) But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, (93) Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water (94) And burning in Hellfire (95) Indeed, this is the true certainty, (96) So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
فَلَولا إِذا بَلَغَتِ الحُلقومَ * وَأَنتُم حينَئِذٍ تَنظُرونَ * وَنَحنُ أَقرَبُ إِلَيهِ مِنكُم وَلكِن لا تُبصِرونَ * فَلَولا إِن كُنتُم غَيرَ مَدينينَ * تَرجِعونَها إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ * فَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِنَ المُقَرَّبينَ * فَرَوحٌ وَرَيحانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعيمٍ * وَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِن أَصحابِ اليَمينِ * فَسَلامٌ لَكَ مِن أَصحابِ اليَمينِ * وَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِنَ المُكَذِّبينَ الضّالّينَ * فَنُزُلٌ مِن حَميمٍ * وَتَصلِيَةُ جَحيمٍ * إِنَّ هذا لَهُوَ حَقُّ اليَقينِ * فَسَبِّح بِاسمِ رَبِّكَ العَظيمِThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.