THE GRAVE MISTAKE OF THE DENIERS OF 
THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GRAVES

The founder of the modernist Hizb-ut-Tahreer, like the 'Mutazilah before, also denied 'Aqeedah in the Punishment of the Grave-explaining his position by saying:

"Indeed ,from them (the aahaad ahaadeeth) are those which require and action, so it is acted upon. So from Abu Hurairah who said: The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "When any of you finishes the last tashahhud, he should seek refuge with Allaah from the four things: from the punishment of the Hellfire, from the punishment of the Grave, from the trials of life and death from the evil trials of the Dajjal" And from 'Aaishah: from the Prophet (saw), that he used to make supplication in the prayer: "O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Grave, I seek refuge in You from the trials of the Maseehud-Dajjal, I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death.O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from debt and sin" So these two ahaadeeth are 'Aahaad narrations and they contain the requirement of an action, ir to carry out this supplication after finishing the 'tashahhud'. So it is recommended to make this supplication after finishing 'tashahhud and it is permissible to make 'tasdeeq (attest) what is contained in them. However, "what is 'haraam (forbidden)' is to hold it with certainty-meaning to have it as part of ones 'aqeedah-as long as it only been reported in the aahaad hadeeth,adhannee (non- mutawaatir) proof.However ,if it occurs in 'mutawaatir form,then it is obligatory to make it part of one 'aqeedah"(Ad-Dawsiyyah (p.6) of Taqeedu-Deen an-Nabahaanee-the founder of Hizbut-Tahrir -may Allaah forgive him )

 This saying contains a number of 'shortcomings:

1)Differentiating between the 'aahaad and 'mutawaatir' ahadeeth in matters of 'aqeedah' is an innovation of the 'Qadariyyah' and the 'Mutazilah'-as has already been explained.

2)Making 'tasdeeq' of the Punishment in the Grave, whilst forbidding a person to have 'aqeedah'(belief) in it,is a contradiction in terms. Since-as has preceded in the words of al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr-'tasdeeq' is attesting the truth of something in the heart, which is the same as 'aqeedah' and which thereby necessitates 'eemaan'. However, differentiating between 'tasdeeq' and 'aqeedah' is innovated speech; opposing the way of our Salaf. Unfortunately,the likes of this innovation has been clearly stated by the present leader of 'Hizbut-Tahrir in Britain, when he said: "We trust it; and I encourage all of you 'an tasaddiqoo bi 'adhaabil-Qabr(to have 'tasdeeq in the Punishment of the Grave). I encourage all of you 'antasaddiqoo bi awdatil-Mahdee (to have 'tasdeeq' in the coming of the Mahdee). I encourage you for that. "But whoever believes in that, he is sinful" (From an available taped lecture entitled: 'Punishment of the Grave (Regents Park Mosque,2nd May 1992 CE] by Omar Bakri Muhammad.)

3)How is it possible to affirm Punishment of the Grave with the tongue, whilst forbid 'aqeedah' (belief) of it in the heart-is this not but 'nifaaq' (hypocrisy)?! Rather, eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave necessitates-as a foundation -'aqeedah in the heart!! May Allaah have mercy upon Imaam Ahmad when he said: "You should beware of speaking about an issue in which you are not preceded by a scholar" (Quoted by Ibn al-Qayyimin A'laamul-Muqieen(4/266))

4)Along with all this it must be remembered that: "It is not permissible to invent an interpretation about an 'Aayah or about a Sunnah, which was not there in the time of 'Salaf'; nor did they have any knowledge about it; nor explain it to the Ummah. Since this would imply that the ' Salaf' were ignorant of the truth in this matter and failed to reach it ,whereas the late coming opponent is somehow guided to the truth!" (As-Saarimul- Munkee (p.247) of al-Haafidh Ibn 'Abdul-Haadee.)

Imaam al-Awzaee(d.157H)(rh)-said: "Hold fast to the narrations of the 'Salaf', even if people were to abandon you. Beware of the opinions of the people ,no matter how much they beautify it with their speech" (Related by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadee in his excellent book Sharafu Ashaabul-Hadeeth(p.7)

Abu Haneefah(d.159H)(rh)-said: "Stick to the 'athar' (narration) and the way of the 'Salaf' and beware of newly invented matters, for all of it is innovation" (Related by as-Suyootee in Sawnul-Mantaq wal-Kalaam(p.32)

So denying 'Aqeedah' in the Punishment of the Grave, declaring this to be something sinful and forbidden, declaring also that it is not matter which will definitely occur, but it is a matter which may possibly occur-is speech in opposition to that of the Salaf-us-Saalih -the like of which was previously uttered by only the 'Khawaarij and a group from the 'Mutazilah' and there is no doubt in its being a deviation from the straight path.

Likewise outwardly affirming 'tasdeeq' and[ apparently] affirming eemaan in the punishment of the Grave, whilst denying 'Aqeedah' in it, is a contradiction in terms-since tasdeeq, eemaan and Aqeedah in the opinion of the 'Salaf', all imply certainty and being definite-even if modernists dislike this!

Imaam Ahmad(d.241H)(rh) said: "Punishment of the Grave is a true fact; and no one denies it except who is misguided and misguiding others" (Tabaqqatul-Hanaabilah (1/174) of Ibn Abee Yalaa.)

An-Naasiree(d.652H) said in 'An-Noorul-Laami(no.110): "We have "eemaan' in the Punishment in the grave and its bliss....this is the madhabs of Ahlus-Sunnah wal- Jamaah. So it is obligatory to have 'Aqeedah' in this"

An-Nawawee(d.676H) said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim(5/85): "This chapter shows the excellence of seeking refuge-between the Tashahhudd and the Tasleem -from these (four) matters; and in it is an affirmation of the punishment of the Grave, and it is the position of the people of the truth-as opposed to the Mutazilah"

Imaam al-Qurtubee(d.671H)(rh) said: "To have eemaan in the Punishment in the Grave and its trials is obligatory, due to what the most truthful (the Prophet (saw) has mentioned. This is he belief of 'Ahlus-Sunnah wal_jamaah" (At-Tadhkirah bi Ahwaalil-Mawtee wa Ahwaalil-Aakhirah(p.137) of Imaam al-Qurtubee (d.671H)

1)Sufyan ibn 'Uyainah(d.197H)(rh) said: "The Sunnah is ten.Whosoever accepts them has completed the Sunnah and whoever abandons anything from them has abandoned the Sunnah; affirming al-Qadr (predestination ),giving precedence to AbuBakr and Umar, the Pond in Paradise, Shafaa (Intercession), the Scales, the Bridge over Hellfire, Emaan is statement and action, the Qur'ân is the speech of Allaah, Punishment in the Grave, being raised up on the day of Judgement and not testifying that any Muslim will definitely be in Paradise or Hell" (Sharh Usool Itiqaah Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah(no.312) of al-Laalikaee.)

2)Imaaam ash-Shafiee(d.204H)(rh) said: "Indeed al-Qadr (predestination): both the good and evil consequences are from Allaah -the Mighty and Majestic. Indeed Punishment of the Grave is a true fact, the questioning of those in the graves is a true fact, the Resurrection is a true fact, the Accountability is a true fact, Paradise and Hellfire are true facts. Whatever else is related in the Sunnah and so mentioned by the scholars and their followers throughout the lands of the Muslims is also true" (Manaaqibush-Shafiee(1/415) of al-Bayhaqee)

3)Imaaam Ahmad (d.241H)(rh) said: "From the essential Sunnah ,which if a person leaves anyone of its points-not accepting it and not having eemaan in it-then he will not be from its people are: (he then mentions ) eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave"(Usoolus-Sunnah(no.8) of Imaam Ahmad.) He also said: "Punishment of the Grave is a true fact. The servant will be questioned about his Religion and his Lord. Munkir and Nakeer and Paradise and Hellfire are also true facts" (Risaalatus-Sunnah(p.72) of Imaam Ahmad.)

4)Abu Dawood (d.275H)(rh) said: "Chapter: Questioning in the Grave and the Punishment of the Grave"(Kitaabus-Sunnah(p.900) part of Sunan Abee Dawood.)

5)Ibn Qutaybah(d.278H)(rh) said: "Ashaabul-Hadeeth are united upon the fact that whatever Allaah wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen ;that He is the creator of good and evil; that the Quraan is the speech of Allaah, uncreated, that Allaah will be seen on the Day of Judgement, giving precedence to Abu Bakr and 'Umar, upon eemaan in the punishment of the Grave. They do not differ in these fundamentals. Whosoever opposes them in any of these matters then they reject, hate and declare such a one an innovator and cut themselves off from him" (Taweel Mukhtaaliful-Hadeeth(p.18)

6)Imaam at-Tahaawee(d.321H)(rh) said: "This is an explanation of the 'Aqeedah' of Ahlus-Sunnaj wal-Jamaah upon the way of scholars of this religion; Abu Haneefah an-Nauman ibn Thaabit al-Kofee, Abu Yousuf Yaqoob ibn Ibraheem al-Ansaree and Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Hasanash ash-Shaybanee-may Allaah be pleased with them all-and the beliefs they held concerning the fundamentals of of the deen and their Aqeedah in the Lord of the worlds. "Up until when he said: "We have eemaan in the Angel of Death who is charged with taking the souls of all the worlds; and in the 'Punishment of the Grave for those who deserve it "('Aqeedatut-Taahaawiyah(nos 79-80)

7)Abdul-Hasan al-Asharee(d.324H)(rh) -said:  "The Mutazilah denied Punishment in the grave. It has been related from the Prophet (saw) by many ways and by his Companions (rta). Nothing has been related from a single one of them denying or negating this, to the point when there is ijmaa (comcensus) from the Companions of the Prophet (saw) "(Al-Ibaanah'an Usoolid-Diyaamah(p.201)He also said: "There is consensus that the Punishment of the grave is a true fact, and that people will be tested and questioned in their graves. So may Allaah, establish us with what He loves'( Risaalah ilaa Ahlith-Thaghr (p.279) of Abul-hasan al-Asharee.)

8)Imaam al-Aajuree(d.360H)(rh) said: "Chapter: tasdeeq (affirmation) and eemaan in the punishment of the Grave "In which he brings many of the ahaadeeth related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim and ends the chapter by saying: "So what is the condition of those who deny these ahaadeeth except that they have deviated very far and are in a huge loss"(Ash-Shareaah(pp.358-364) of al-Aajuree.)

9)Ibn Abee Haatim (d.327H)(rh) said: "Our chosen way is to follow the Messenger of Allah (saw), the sahaabah, the Tabieen and all those who followed them in goodness, along with abandoning looking into the innovated matters, to hold fast to the way of the Ahlul-Athar (People of narrations), such as Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem, Abu 'Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal,Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem ,Abu 'Ubayd al-Qaasim ibn Salaam and ash-Shafiee, to hold fast to the Book, the Sunnah and the way of the Imaams who follow the narrations of the Salaf ,adopting what was adopted by Ahlus-sunnah from the various cities" Up until his saying: "Faith increases and decreases and we have eemaan in the Punishment of the grave "(Ahlus-Sunnah waI'tiqaadud-Deen (no.14)

10)Imaam al-Barbaharee(d.329H)(rh) -said: "Eemaan in the punishment of the grave and Munkir and Nakeer" (Sharhus-Sunnah(no.18)

11)Al-Ismaeelee(d.371H)(rh)- said: "Know -may Allaah have mercy upon us and you-that the way of Ahlul-Hadeeth ,Ahlus-sunnah wal-Jamaah is to affirm belief in Allaah, His angels, His messengers and to accept whatever is recorded in the Book of Allaah-the Most high-and what is authentically related from the Messenger of Allaah (saw) until he said: "Punishment in the Grave is a true fact" (Itiqaad A'immatul-Hadeeth(no.22)

12)Al-Qayrawaanee(d.386H) (rh) said: Under the chapter: "What is related in the Sunnah about the Aqeedah of the heart from the obligatory matters of the Deen. From this is: Eemaan in the heart and pronouncing with the tongue that Allaah is the only deity worthy of worship, none has the right to be worshipped except Him" Up until his saying: "And punishment in the Grave is a true fact and the Believers will be tested in their graves" (Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ijtimaa 'ul-Juyooshil-Islmaayihah(p.152)

13)Ibn Abee Aamneen(d.399H)(rh) said:  "Ahlus-Sunnah have eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave, may Allaah protect us and you from this"(Usoolus-Sunnah(Q.7)

14)Imaam al-Laalikaaee(d.418H)-(rh) said: "Chapter: a report of what is related from the Prophet(saw) with regards to the fact that when the Muslims are lowered into their graves,they will be questioned by Munkar and Nakeer, and that Punishment in the grave is a true fact and eemaan in it is obligatory" (Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah (6/1127) of al-Laaliaaee.)

15)Imaam al-Bayhaqee(d.458H)(rh) said: "Chapter: Eemaan in the punishment of the Grave"(Al-Itiqaad(p.107) of al-Bayhaqee.)

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