Beliefs on Afterlife: Questions asked after a person’s death

According to Islamic beliefs, a person will be held accountable for all his deeds after the person moves on to the next life. According to hadith, the following are first of the many questions that a person will be asked.

First Stage of questioning (In the Grave)

A person’s first stage of reckoning will be in the grave where he will be asked three questions. Allah will help reinforce the person’s answers based on his deeds in this world. The three questions are the following:

• Who was your Lord?
• What is your religion?
• Who is this man who was sent amongst you? (referring to Prophet Muhammad (S))

[Based on the hadith Narrated by al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allaah be pleased with him), which was narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan (4753) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2979.]

Second Stage of questioning (On the Day of Resurrection)

The second stage of the person’s reckoning will be on the Day of Resurrection when he will be brought to account for every major and minor action, even though he has already been brought to account for that in the grave. The first thing for which he will be brought to account for then will be his prayer.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The first thing among their deeds for which the people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be prayer. Our Lord will say to His angels, although He knows best, ‘Look at My slave’s prayer, is it complete or lacking?’ If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete, but if it is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see whether my slave did any voluntary (naafil) prayers.’ If he had done voluntary prayers, He will say, ‘Complete the obligatory prayers of My slave from his voluntary prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be examined in a similar manner.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, 864; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 770).

— End 

Courtesy: Iqrasense.com

SHIRK (ASSOCIATION OF OTHERS WITH ALLAH IN WORSHIP)

SHIRK (ASSOCIATION OF OTHERS WITH ALLAH IN WORSHIP) Shirk is divided into two categories:

1. Major Shirk

2. Minor Shirk

1. MAJOR SHIRK (MAJOR POLYTHEISM) It necessitates the failure of deeds and remaining forever in the Hell-fire as per Qur’anic account. “But if they have joined in worship others with Allah, what they used to do would have been of no benefit to them”. Ch.6: V.88. Allah says, “It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheist, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building etc.,), while they witness against their own selves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide. Ch.9 V.17.

Whoever dies in a state of Shirk, will not be forgiven and will not be allowed into Paradise, pursuant to God saying, “ Verily Allah forgives not (the sign of) setting up partners in worship with Him but He forgives, whom He Pleases, sins other than that.” Ch.4: V.116 and Allah says: “ Verily whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah then Allah Has Forbidden Paradise for him and the Fire will be his abode; and for the Thalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” Ch.5: V.72. Shirk categorized under this type includes calling those who are dead, praying to idols for help and for relief, pledging to them and offering animals for slaughter as a sign of obedience to them etc.

2. MINOR SHIRK (MINOR POLYTHEISM) It is the type proved by the texts of Quran and Sunnah to be called Shirk, but it is not categorized under Major Shirk. Such as, hypocrisy in some deeds, to swear by those other than Allah and saying Allah Will and so and so will, and the like. Following are some pertinent Hadeeths of our Prophet (Peace be upon him). “What I fear most for you is the Minor Shirk”. When asked what is Minor Shirk, he said “Disguised Shirk”. Reported by Mahmoud ibn Labeed al Ansari (RAL) and narrated by Imam Ahmed, AtTabrani, and Al-Bayhaqi. “He who swore by something other than Allah shall be regarded as Mushrik.” Reported by Umar ibn al-Khatab (RAL) and narrated by Ahmed. ‘He who swore by other than Allah had fallen in Kufr or Shirk” reported by Ibn Umar (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi. “Do not say Allah wills (ordains), and so and so (too) wills, but say that Allah wills (ordains), and then so and so wills.” Reported by Huthayfah ibn al Yaman (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood. This type of Shirk (i.e. Minor Shirk) does not necessitate apostasy of remaining in Hell fire, but it lacks the perfection of the obligatory Tauheed.