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Torment in the grave according to the sins

Question

When the torment of the grave is over, does this mean that I will not be tortured in the Hereafter?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It was proven through the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) that while the bliss of the grave is incessant, its torment may either continue or cease. Disbelievers and some non-observant Muslims will have to undergo incessant punishment, whereas, non-observant Muslims whose sins are not grave will be punished for some time.

Torment may cease either for a certain reason, such as charity or supplication in favor of the deceased, or without reason, due to the forgiveness of Allaah The Most Generous.

The Hanafi scholar, Ibn Abi Al-‘Izz  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him mentioned that there are two types of torment in the grave; the first is incessant. Allaah The Almighty refers to that type in the verse (what means): {The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Fir‘awn (Pharaoh) enter the severest punishment."}[Quran 40: 46] This was also referred to in the Hadeeth (narration) of Ibn ‘Aazib  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that in the grave of the disbeliever a door shall be opened between him and Hell and he will see his seat in it until the advent of the Hour. [Ahmad]

The second type of torment lasts for a while and then ceases. This is the case with some non-observant Muslims whose sins are slight. They will be punished according to their sins then their punishment shall be lightened.

Ibn ‘Uthaymeen  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him mentioned that the disbeliever will never receive the least bliss and his punishment will continue incessantly. On the other hand, the non-observant believer will be punished according to the extent of his sin. The interval between his death and the advent of the Hour might be longer than the extent of his punishment and therefore, his punishment will cease.

Allaah Knows best.

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