From Kitab Ar-Ruh by Ibn Al-Qayyim:
What causes people to be tortured in the grave?
The response to this question is general and specific.
The general response: they are tortured for their ignorance and disobedience, hence no soul is tortured by Allaah which is beloved and obedient to him, nor the body which contained it. The torture of the grave and the nextlife is the result of the anger of Allaah toward his servant. Thus, whoever has angered Allaah on earth without repenting will be tortured during the intermediate stage according to the extent of his anger, and this is affirmed and denied.
The specific response: the prophet (may Allaah send salutations upon him) has informed us of the two men whom he saw being tortured in their graves. One was a tale carrier while the other did not protect himself from his urine. The later neglected obligatory purification while the formed created hostility among people, but was truthful. There is a warning here that a greater punishment awaits one who falsely creates hostility between people, as well as one who neglects prayer where purity from urine is a prerequisite.
The following appears in a tradition of Shu’ba: (as for one of them, he used to backbite). This person was a backbiter while the other was a tale carrier. The tradition of Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) has preceded concerning the one who was whipped and whose grave became engulfed in flames because he passed womeone who was oppressed without offering assitance. The tradition of Sumura whhich appears in Saheeh Al Bukhaaree has preceded concerning the torture of one whose lie becomes widespread, as well as one who does not implement the Qur’an that he recites, those who fornicate and commit adultery, and one who consumes usury as the prophet had witnessed during the intermediate stage. The tradition of Aboo Hurayra(may Allah be pleased with him) has also preceded: (heads will be bashed because they neglecteed to rise for prayer). IT has preceded that some will graze like cattle before the tree of Az Zaqqooom due to the neglect of obligatory charity, and that some will eat rotten meat due to fornication and adultery. Some will have their lips cut with iron scissors due to the verbal incitement of strife. The tradition of Aboo Sa’eed has preceded where the punishment of those guilty of these crimes has been metnioned. The stomachs of some of them will be like houses and they will be upon the path of the people of Fir’awn, these have consumed usury. Some will be hung by their breasts, these have committed fornication and adultery. Some will have their sides torn and will be fed their own flesh, these have backbitten. Some will ahve copper nails which they will scratch their faces and chests with,, these have dishonored ohters, and the torture of the grave awaits one who:
carries tales
lies
backbites
provides false testimony
slanders
instigates
innovates
speaks about Allah and his messenger without knowledge
speaks carelessly
consumes usury and the wealth of orphans
receives bribary
wrongfully consumes the weatlh of his brother or one bound by contract
drinks intoxicants
eats from the cursed tree
commits fornication, adultery, or homosexuality
steals
betrays
deceives
offers, consumes, witnesses, or records usury
marries a womans ot hat she may return to her former husband and seeks him for that purpose
attempts to avoid obligatory duties and performs forbidden acts
disturbs Muslims and highlights their shortcomings
governs by other than what Allaah has revealed and rules in opposition to the legislation of Allaah
facilitates sinfulness and aggression
takes a sacred life
disregard the boundaries of Allaah
does not declare the names and attributes of Allaah as they are
prefers his views, tastes, and politics rather than the tradition of the messenger of Allaah (may Allaah sned alutations upon him)
wails while mourning
sings and listens to singing
erects mosques over graves adn lights candles within them
is deceptive when selling by weight and measure
is arrogant
is ostentatious
slanders the early Muslims
approaches fortunetellers and astrologers and believes them
has sold his portion of the hereafter for the temporary world of those whom he has oppressed
is not affected when prompted to fear Allaah, but is affected when prompted to fear creation
guides with the speech of Allaah and his messenger, though does not accept this speech unless he receives it from one whom he respects
is not moved by the Qur’aan but is deeply moved by satanic music
lies while swearing by Allaah, but is truthful when swearing by other than him
is proud of his sin such that he discloses it
cannot be trusted with what is valueable and sacred
is vulgar and has been shunned by others who fear his repulsivesness
delays prayed until the final time period and fails to remember Allaah while offering it
does not give obligatory charity willingly
does not perform pilgramige although he is able
does not obseve the rights of others although he is able
is not careful about a moment, an utterance, a morsel, and a footstep
is careless about the source of his wealth
does not maintain family ties
is nto merciful toward the destitue, the widows, the orphans, and the animals, but rejects the orphan, does not feed the needy, and is selfish and ostentatious
is concerned with the shortcomings and sins of others while forgetting his own
Since most people are of thsi nature, the majority of those buried are tortured. Graves appear to be nothing but soil whiel misery and regret lie within them. By Allaah they have given an admonition which leaves a preacher speechless. They have called out: O inhabitants of the world, you have dwelled within a home which you will soon depart, but you have demolished the one which you will soon reach. You have dwelled within the homes of others wh ile demolishing the only ones you have. This is the home in which deeds are stored. It is a garden of paradise or a pit of hell.
The old biblical tale of ‘take the plank from your own eye’:
And our Nabi’s statement, “Whomever conceals the fault of his brother, Allah will conceal his faults on the day of judgment.”
And the religion is sincere advice …
‘Adopt Humility!’
May Allah save us from the torture of the grave amin!
salam
Barak Allahu Feek for that.
How do people not believe in this issue?
Jazakallaah khayr!
Abit off-topic but what does this mean?
من كان مؤمنا تقيا كان لله وليّا
“whoever is a pious believer then he is a wali(close friend) of Allah”
Not keeping clean from the remains of urine.
Is this not from an authentic hadith? – I wondered why you didn’t mention it.
Also, can you explain – if the reason a person “cuts off relations” with family members is due to negative influence [from them]would this be necessarily wrong?
oh, just re-read, you actually did mention it, in the first paragraph, lol…I had skimmed down to the listings…but pls do explain my last question. Jazaks.