Majmoo 'al-Fataawa of Shaykh Ibn Baaz & the Permanent Committee

Barzakh (Period between Death and the Resurrection)

Q: What is the type of life which Allah gives the dead person after he is buried in the grave? Is it the same life experienced before death? How many senses does Allah restore to him? What is the fate of the dead whose bodies are cremated after death like the case in India, Japan and other countries? How are they questioned after death? We all know that the doctor anesthetises the patient during operations, so what happens to the person when he dies? A: First, it should be known that every believer, man or woman, has to believe in all matters related to the Day of Resurrection like accountability for actions, Jannah (Paradise), Hellfire as well as matters related to death like bliss and punishment in the grave and all matters related to Ghayb (the Unseen). All these matters have been reported in the Noble Qur'an and the authentic Hadiths of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). We have to hold true faith in these matters as we know that Allah states nothing but the truth. Allah (عز وجل) says: “And whose words can be truer than those of Allâh? (Of course, none).” [Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 122] Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) also says: “And who is truer in statement than Allâh?” [Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 87] We also know that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the most truthful of men and that he does not speak of his own accord. Every single word he speaks is inspired to him by Allah. So, we have to believe in all the authentic Hadiths that have been reported from him even though we may not be able to understand some of them. Therefore, we have to believe in all the reports he mentioned regarding the Hereafter, Jannah, Hellfire, reward and punishment of the dead, and bringing life back to the dead. All these matters are true and established. All servants of Allah have to believe in every word of the Qur'an, every statement authentically reported from the Prophet and every statement agreed upon by scholars of Islam. ... ... When Allah bestows upon the believer the blessing of knowing the wisdom behind these unseen matters, he should thank Allah and praise him for the knowledge and insight that He has given him. This is because knowing the wisdom behind them increases a person's faith and tranquillity. As for the test of the grave and the condition of the dead person, Allah causes the soul of the dead person to return to him. Authentic Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) were narrated in this regard. The dead person experiences a type of life other than the life that he used to live before death. This life is known as Barzakh (period between death and the Resurrection). Allah gives him life in the sense that he becomes only able to understand the question and answer, then his soul leaves his body and ascends to heaven if he was a pious person but descends to Hellfire if he was impious. So, the soul is returned to him when the two Angels come to probe the soundness of his faith by asking him about his Lord, his Deen (religion) and his Prophet. The believer will say: "My Lord is Allah, my Din is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad." When he is asked: "What did you say about this man who was sent among you?", he will reply: "He is the Messenger of Allah. He brought guidance to us. We believed in him, trusted him and followed him." Whereupon it will be said to him: "We know that you were a true believer." One gate in Jannah (Paradise) will be opened for him so that he can enjoy some of its blessings. Then it will be said to him: "This will be your sitting place in Jannah which you will enter when Allah raises you from the dead." Upon seeing his sitting place in Hellfire, it will be said to him: "This would have been your sitting place in Hellfire if you had disbelieved in Allah. Now, Allah has protected you from it and caused you to dwell in Jannah." When asked about his Lord, Din and Prophet, the Kafir (disbeliever) will exclaim: "What? What? I do not know. I heard the people say something, so I said it." So he will be beaten with an iron bar until he sends out a loud scream which all but human beings will hear, because if they would hear it, they would faint. One gate of Hellfire will be opened for him and his grave will be contracted upon him until his limbs are caught up among one another. The grave will resemble a pit in Hellfire. It will be said to him: "This will be your resting place in Hellfire when Allah raises you up from the dead." Upon seeing his place in Jannah, it will be said to him: "This would have been your place in Jannah had you been guided by Allah." Thus it is clear that the barzakh life can take on the aspect of a garden of paradise or that of a nightmare. The torment and bliss experienced in the grave occur to both the body and soul and the same will be the case on the Day of Resurrection. As for those who are cremated after death, others who die by drowning.