BENEFIT 155: Response to those who deny/cast doubts regarding the punishment of the grave

The questioner asks: What is the response to those who cast doubts regarding the punishment of the grave? Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajuri hafidhahullah: "Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and those who follow his guidance. After praising Allah, the response to them is based on the Qur'ān and the Sunnah. The Qur'ān confirms the punishment of the grave, as Allah Almighty said: { ٱلنَّارُ یُعۡرَضُونَ عَلَیۡهَا غُدُوࣰّا وَعَشِیࣰّاۚ وَیَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡخِلُوۤا۟ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ أَشَدَّ ٱلۡعَذَابِ } "The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening (I.e. In their graves). And the Day the Hour is established [it will be said], 'Admit the people of Fir'awn into the severest punishment (I.e. Hellfire).'" [Surah Ghāfir: 46] This indicates that they are punished in their graves, in the Barzakh, {وَمِن وَرَاۤئهِم بَرۡزَخٌ إِلَىٰ یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُونَ} "and behind them is a barzakh (barrier) until the Day of Judgment." [Surah Al-Muʾminūn: 100] And regarding the narration of Al-barā', the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "As for the wicked one or the disbeliever, when he is questioned, he will say, 'Ha-ha! I do not know.' It will be said to him, 'You did not know and you did nor did you recite,' and then a door to the Fire will be opened for him." All of this is from the punishment of the grave, which includes its severe heat and hot wind. The scholars have unanimously agreed on this, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, commanded seeking refuge from the punishment of the grave during the Tashahhud of the prayer, I.e he ordered to supplicate in the final Tashahhud, saying: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil trial of the Antichrist.' The Muslims have continued to adhere to this belief, and it is mentioned in the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah. You will not find any book written on creed that does not mention the punishment of the grave. So whoever opposes this belief contradicts the Qur'ān, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslims and the people of truth. Therefore, his statement hold no weight, and a group of scholars have declared such a person who denies/doubts the punishment of the grave to be a disbeliever, as this is rejection of the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and contradicts the path of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his companions. Allah Almighty says: {ومن يشاقق الرسول من بعد ما تبين له الهدى ويتبع غير سبيل المؤمنين نوله ما تولى ونصله جهنم وساءت مصيرا} "And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!" We have a specific treatise written on this subject, and if the questioner wishes to read it, it is published on my website." Source: https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/488