Events at the time of Death

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EVENTS AT THE TIME OF, AND AFTER DEATH

Cont. from previous issue (Vol 1, no. 6) 

While all the above is taking place, above the surface of this earth, the dead body is being bathed and shrouded with kafan by family and friends, the janaaza salaah is being read, and the mayyit is finally laid to rest in his qabr or grave. By that time, the Angels return from above with the soul (ROOH) and this rooh or soul is once again introduced into the body. When this happens the deceased comes alive again. Two different angels approach him and make him sit in an upright position. These are the Munkar and Nakeer. They begin questioning him. They first ask: “Who is your Rabb (Creator and Sustainer)?” He replies: “Allah!” They then ask: “What is your religion?” He replies: “My religion is Islam.” The angels then ask: “Who is this man whom was sent among you?” (At this point a window from the grave is opened up through which the dead will see the blessed countenance of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam.) The answer from the deceased will be: “That man is The Messenger of Allah.”

     Having answered all the questions successfully, Munkar and Nakeer will enquire: “Where did you get this knowledge to answer all these questions.” The deceased will say: “I read the Book of Allah (Quran), I believed in it, and accepted whatever was therein.”

Suddenly a voice will call out from the heavens: “My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out for him bedding from Paradise, and clothe him with garments from Paradise, and open up for him a door towards Paradise! The deceased will then get the wonderful fragrance and cool breeze of Jannat. The grave of that believer will be expanded as far as the eye can see.

     A man with beautiful looks and dress, and aromatic fragrance will then approach the dead one in the grave. This newcomer will tell him: “Congratulations on your happiness! This is the day which you were promised.” The deceased will ask: “Who are you, for your face looks like the face of one who brings good?” This stranger will answer: “I am your good deeds!” The deceased, brimming with joy and excitement, will call out to Allah: “O My Allah, bring on the Day of Qiyamah! O My Allah, bring on the Day of Qiyamah! O My Allah, bring on the Day of Qiyamah, so that I may return to my family and wealth!”

     The above narrative was concerning a Muslim, male or female, who died. As for the kaafier or disbeliever, the following happens to him or her after death.

     When an unbeliever is about to die, a group of angels with black and ugly faces descend from the heavens with a dirty piece of blanket. They sit around the dying kaafier as far as the eye goes. Then the Angel of Death approaches and sits by the headside. He says to the dying one: “O wretched soul, come out towards the Anger and Wrath of Allah!” The soul is then separated from the body just as a spit (the iron used to roast or braai meat) is separated from wet wool. These hideous looking angels grab it and quickly wrap it in the dirty blanket strip. Then the  smell of carrion, so terribly offensive as has never been experienced on earth, is emitted from this blanket. Then the angels ascend with this evil. Whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask: “Who is this wretched soul?” The bearers will reply that this is so-and-so, son of so and so, calling him the worst names which were used for him in this world. They then proceed towards the first heaven, and request the gate-keeper to open the gates. But they will refuse to allow this kaafier’s soul to enter. At this point, The Messenger of Allah recited the verse of the Quran: And the gates of the heavens shall not be opened for them (the unbelievers) (Surah 7, verse 40). Allah the Almighty will then pronounce: “Write his name among the inmates of sijjeen (prison in the depths of the earth wherein the souls of unbelievers will reside). His soul will then be thrown back onto this earth. At this stage (as mentioned earlier) the family and friends of the deceased would have completed the rituals of burial and filled the grave up with sand. The soul is then placed back into the body and it comes alive. Simultaneously, the same Munkar and Nakeer arrive and make the deceased sit upright. They ask: “Who is your Allah?” The unbeliever stutters: “Hah, hah, I don’t know.” They ask further: “What is your religion?” He gives the same answer, stammering with fear: “I don’t know.” They ask: “Who is this man who was sent to you?” He stutters: “hah, hah, I don’t know.” A voice then calls out from the heavens: “My servant is a liar! So spread out for him a bed-spread from Hell, and clothe him with garments from Hell, and open up for him a door towards Hell. Through this door he will get the heat and smoke of Hell fire. His grave  crushes him to the extent that the ribs of the either side of the body intertwine. Then an ugly looking man, wearing horribly grotesque garments and smelling very foul, approaches. This newcomer says: “Congratulations on your evil predicament! This is the day you were promised. The dead one will ask: “Who are you, because your face is the one of he who brings evil?” The man replies: “I am your evil deeds.” The dead one will cry out in anguish, O Allah, do not bring on the Day of Qiyamah.