We believe that part of the belief in the Last Day is to believe that everything will perish except Allah Almighty, Who says: {Everything will perish except Him.} [Surat al-Qasas: 88] Allah Almighty also says: {Everyone on earth will perish, but there will remain the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honor.} [Surat ar-Rahmān: 26-27] And that the angel of death will take people's souls. Allah, the Exalted, says: {Say: "The angel of death, who is in charge of you, will take your souls, then to your Lord you will be brought back."} [Surat as-Sajdah: 11]
We believe in what happens after death, including the questioning of the dead and the bliss and punishment in the grave. This is indicated in a verse that says: {The Fire, which they will be exposed to [in their graves] morning and evening, and on the Day when the Hour takes place [it will be said]: "Admit the people of Pharaoh into the most severe punishment."} [Surat Ghāfir: 46] And the verse that reads: {We will punish them twice, then they will be brought back to a great punishment.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 101] And the verse that reads: {If only you could see when the angels take the souls of the disbelievers, beating their faces and their backs: "Taste the punishment of the scorching fire! This is because of what your hands have sent forth, for Allah is never unjust to [His] slaves."} [Surat al-Anfāl: 50-51] And the verse that reads: {If only you could see the wrongdoers in the throes of death while the angels are stretching out their hands [saying]: "Give up your souls! Today you will be recompensed with a disgracing punishment, because you used to tell lies against Allah and you arrogantly rejected His verses."} [Surat al-An‘ām: 93] And the verse that reads: {And for the wrongdoers, there will be another punishment before that, but most of them do not know.} [Surat at-Tūr: 47]
Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Regarding the verse: {Allah keeps those who believe steadfast with the firm Word [of faith]} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 27] The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It was revealed in connection with the punishment of the grave. It will be said to him: 'Who is your Lord?' He will reply: 'My Lord is Allah, and my Prophet is Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).' This is the meaning of the verse that says: {Allah keeps those who believe steadfast with the firm Word [of faith] in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 27]" [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (1369), Muslim (2871), and this is his version, At-Tirmidhi (3120), An-Nasā’i (2056 - 2057), and Ibn Mājah (4269 - 4750)]
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach them this supplication as he used to teach them a surah from the Qur’an. “Allāhumma inna na‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhābi jahannam, wa a‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhāb al-qabr, wa a‘ūdhu bika min fitnat al-masīh ad-dajjāl, wa a‘ūdhu bika min fitnat al-mahyā wa al-mamāt.” (O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the torment of Hellfire, and I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave, and I seek refuge in You from the tribulation of the Anti-Christ, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death.) [Narrated by Muslim (590), Abu Dāwūd (1542), At-Tirmidhi (3494), An-Nasā’i (2063), and Ibn Mājah (3840)]
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Once the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went through the graveyards of Madīnah and heard the voices of two humans who were being tortured in their graves. He said: “They are being tortured, and they are not being tortured for something grave; yet indeed it is grave. One of them was heedless about preventing urine from reaching his clothes, and the other one used to go about with talebearing.” Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked for a green palm tree leaf and split it into two pieces and placed one piece on each grave, saying: "I hope their punishment may be alleviated as long as these two have not dried." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (6055), Muslim (292), Abu Dāwūd (20), At-Tirmidhi (70), An-Nasā’i (31), and Ibn Mājah (347)]
Abu Sa‘īd related: Zayd ibn Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: As we were accompanying the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was riding a she-mule in a garden belonging to Banu an-Najjār, the animal shied and almost drop him. It happened that there were five or six graves there. So, he asked if anyone knew who were buried in them. A man replied that he did. He was asked when they died, and he said that they died during the period of polytheism. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "These people are being afflicted in their graves, and were it not that you would cease to bury one another, I would ask Allah to let you hear the punishment in the grave which I am hearing.” Then, he turned to us and said: "Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of Hellfire.” They said: "We seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of Hellfire.” He said: “Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave." They said: "We seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave." He said: "Seek refuge in Allah from trials, both open and secret." They said: "We seek refuge in Allah from trials, both open and secret." He said: "Seek refuge in Allah from the trial of the Anti-Christ." They said: "We seek refuge in Allah from the trial of the Anti-Christ." [Narrated by Muslim (2867)]
Abu Ayyūb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out after the sun had set, and heard a sound. He said: "Jews are being tormented in their graves." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (1375), Muslim (2869), and An-Nasā’i (2059)]
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: Two of the old Jewish women of Madīnah came to me and said: "The people of the graves are tormented in their graves." I did not believe them, and I did not want to believe them. They left, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to me, and I said: "O Messenger of Allah, two of the old Jewish women of Madīnah said that the people of the graves are tormented in their graves." He said: "They spoke the truth. They are tormented in a manner that all the animals can hear." I never saw him offer any prayer after that without seeking refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (6366), Muslim (586), and An-Nasā’i (2067)]
As disbelievers, hypocrites, and some Muslim sinners suffer torment in the grave, believers enjoy bliss therein. Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a man is placed in his grave and his companions leave him, he hears the steps of their sandals. Then, two angels come to him and, having made him sit up, they say: 'What was your opinion of this man, i.e. Muhammad?’ The believer replies: ‘I testify that he is the servant and Messenger of Allah.' He is then told to look at his abode in Hellfire for which Allah has substituted for him an abode in Paradise, and he sees them both. As for the hypocrite and the disbeliever, he is asked: ‘What was your opinion of this man?’ He replies: ‘I do not know. I said as other people said.’ They will say: ‘You neither knew nor did you follow.’ He will then be given a blow with iron hammers and will release a shout which will be heard by all that is near him, with the exception of men and jinn." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (1374) and Muslim (7318)]