Re: Qabar Ka Azab
Evidences from the Qur'an
1) Allah Most High says regarding the punishment for Pharaoh and his people:
“In front of the fire they will be brought morning and evening. And (the sentence will be) on the day that judgment will be established (it will be ordered) cast you the people of Pharaoh in the severest penalty”
(Surah al-Mu’min, 46).
The famous scholar, Imam Fakhruddin al-Razi (Allah have mercy on him), in his renowned exegesis Tafsir al-Kabir, commentating on this verse says:
“Our scholars have substantiated the punishment in the grave with this verse of the Holy Qur’an. They say: “The verse indicates that fire will be brought to them morning and evening and this does not refer to the day of judgment as Allah says: “And on the day judgment will be established, cast you the people of Pharaoh in the severest penalty” (i.e. it is referring to a time that is before the day of judgment, m). It also does not refer to this world, as bringing them to the fire did not occur in this world. Therefore, it becomes evident that this happened after their death and will happen before the Day of Judgment, thus it proves the establishment of the punishment in the grave. When it is established and proved for Pharaoh’s people it will also be established for others, as there is no reason of distinction” (Tafsir al-Kabir).
Another great Tafsir scholar, Imam Ibn Kathir (Allah have mercy on him) says:
“This verse is a fundamental evidence for the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah in establishing the punishment of the grave” (Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Adhim, 4/84).
Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) reports a narration in the explanation of this verse in his monumental commentary of Imam al-Bukhari’s Sahih, Fath al-Bari:
“Shurahbil narrates from Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him): “The souls of Pharaoh’s people will in the form of black birds. They are brought to the fire every morning and evening and shown their aboard” (See: Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq, Ibn Abi Hatim & Tafsir al-Mazhari).
2) Allah Most High says:
“If you could but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death and the angels stretch forth their hands (saying): “Yield up your souls. This day shall you receive your reward, a punishment of shame” (Surah al-An’am, 93).
Ibn Hajar (Allah have mercy on him) quotes Tabrani narrating from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him):
“This will occur at the time of death. And the meaning of “stretching forth their hands” is smiting their faces and backs”
3) Allah Most High says:
“If you could see when the angels take the souls of the unbelievers (at death), (how) they smite their faces and their backs (saying): “Taste the penalty of the blazing fire” (Surah al-Anfal, 50).
The above two verses indicate that the punishment will commence at the time of death, which in effect is the punishment of the grave.
4) Allah Most High says regarding the people of Sayyiduna Nuh (Peace be upon him):
“Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood) and were made to enter the fire (of punishment), and they found in lieu of Allah none to help” (Surah Nuh, 250).
This verse indicates that the people of Nuh were entered into the fire directly after drowning.
5) Allah Most High says:
“Twice shall we punish them, and thereafter shall they be sent to a grievous penalty” (Surah al-Tawba, 101).
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) states in his Fath al-Bari:
“Tabarani narrates from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “Once on Friday the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) gave a sermon……and then he said: “Allah has disgraced the hypocrites in the world and that is the first punishment and the second punishment will be in the grave” (Fath al-Bari, 3/18).
There are many other evidences in the Qur’an that prove the punishment of the grave, which can not obviously be cover here. One may look at the following verses with the relevant commentaries: 14/27, 20/124, 32/21, 89/27, 102/1-2, and many other verses.
Sunnipath.