A Suckling Babe In The Grave Of Abu Jafar Kulaini (r.a.)

The tomb of Shaykh Kulaini (r.a.), author of Kaafee, is situated near the bridge in Baghdad. A fellow from the oppressor rulers thought of destroying the Holy shrine of Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) so that people may stop visiting Kazimain. His minister was a Shia (in heart). He became restless to find out any way to stop that fellow from his evil intention. But he was unable to say anything openly because any doubt of his being a Shia was enough to put his life in danger. Anyway, they proceeded to Kazimain with the aforesaid evil intention. As soon as they approached the Baghdad bridge, the minister said: Here is the grave of a big Shia scholar who was one of the delegates of Imam Kazim (a.s.), and people say that his body is still fresh and that it will always remain fresh and safe. If the king agrees this may be checked. If it is found that what people say is correct then it would not be wise to touch the tomb of Imam Kazim (a.s.). The ruler agreed and, as per the king's command, the grave of Kulaini (r.a.) was opened. They saw that his body was quite fresh and not only that, more surprising was the existence of also the fresh and safe body of a little child by Kulaini's side. It could not be known whether the child was related to Kulaini (r.a.) or not. What is worth nothing is what can a soul do. If any other person also comes close to a pious soul it also is affected thereby. No doubt the Holy Progeny are the fountainhead of good and so their corpses are also alive and people can see occasional miracles from their graves.

Contrary to it, if somebody is a person of hell, the chastisement to his or her soul also affects the body. Accordingly, when Bani Abbas overpowered Bani Umayyah and destroyed them totally and even dug out their graves it was observed that nothing except some body traces could be seen in the grave of the cursed Yazeed.

Fire Of Barzakh Leaps Out Of A Grave

Quoting narrations of some reliable and trustworthy people, the late Shaykh Mehmood Iraqi has mentioned in Daar-us-Salaam that once we went to the graveyard of Imamzada Hasan (Tehran). Sun had not yet set. One of our companions sat down on the stone of a grave. Suddenly he shouted: Please lift me up. When we lifted him we saw that the stone was almost red hot.

Just think. How great is the chastisement meted out to the soul that even gravestone also becomes so hot. He says: I recognized the owner of that grave but I would not disclose his name so that he may not be defamed among people.

Also it is said about another man who was buried in Qum. Flames of fire were leaping out of his grave which had burnt down carpets over there.

Shaykh Shoostari (r.a.) mentioned in his Fire Hotter Than The fire Of This World

admonitions that the Lord of the worlds has said: Naaarun Haamiyah meaning: Hot fire. Is there, then, any cold fire also? Yes. If it is possible to make comparison, the fire in our world is cold compared to the fire of Barzakh. Nature makes us a comparison between the two fires and to understand which one is really hot.

Saaiqah (The Lightning In Space) Is The Biggest Worldly Fire

Shaykh Shoostari (r.a.) says that if a comparison is made between the fire of wood and charcoal and the fire of Saaiqah (lightning in the sky) it will be known that Saaiqah is a thin (fine) fire which is created by the bouncing and hissing of clouds. It is so hot that it burns out everything it touches and then slips away instantly. It neither returns nor stays anywhere. Nothing can make it cold. If it falls on a tree it turns it into coal at once. If it falls on an ocean it burns it upto its bottom and fries even the fish in the bottom of the sea. Only Saaiqah is the real fire. The embers in a hearting also is fire but that fire can be put off by shedding a little water or some dust on it. Its heat and burn has some limitations.

Now you will have understood that the fire of Barzakh cannot be compared with the fire of this world, not even with Saaiqah (lightning). If someone's allegorical body and his soul is under torture in Barzakh, it is possible (though not always necessarily) that his or her material earthly body may also get affected. What is contrary to it is also observed. Pleasing and sweet fragrance spread in the absence of any scent, or flowers or burning of aloes wood from the graves of some dear servants of God.

Those Who Do Not Experience Fear

In the news and hadiths of Holy Imams there are tidings showing that some good servants of God are protected by God from the fear and punishment in the grave during the period of Barzakh. Some of them are those to whom Talqeen was recited. Here we mean the third Taqleen which is recited after burial.

Yahya Bin Abdullah says: I have heard from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that: What prevents you from reciting the words which protects your dead from seeing Munkar and Nakeer in their graves? I asked: Maula! What should we do? He said: When the dead has been buried, its guardian should sit near the grave and taking his mouth nearer to the head of the dead, recite loudly: Yaa Fulaan…Quboor. Then he said: Munkar and Nakeer tell one another to return as Hujjat (argument) has been taught to this dead. (Vasaail-us-Shia, Book of Cleanliness, chapter 35). (The first Taqleen should be recited at the last moments of the dieing person and the second at the time of lowering the body in the grave.

It is likely that some one may say: What can a dead person understand? But, as we have described earlier, the soul (spirit) of the dead remains near its body and hears better than we can. Some may also ask: How can an admonition (taqleen) recited in the Arabic language be understood by a non-Arab body? The reply is that, when one goes away from this material world of water and earth all languages are equally comprehensible for him or her. Linguistic limitations belong only to the material world.

Death At A Time Of When Mercy Is Rising

Another group of people who are protected from the squeezing of grave and fear and Barzakh torture are those who die between time of Zuhr on Thursday and Friday, as these are the hours when divine mercy rains allowing such persons its full benefit. God covers them in His kindness. This is also a kind of divine kindness that he showers on His servants.

Jareedatain And Testimony Of Forty Persons

The burying of Jareedatain (meaning: Two green branches of date tree or plum or pomegranate) along with the body of the dead is one of the things about which it is promised that these things come in the way of the chastisement in grave. Of course date branches are the best and they must be green.

There are many narrations on this matter in Vasaail-us-Shia, Kitaabut Tahaarat, Baab: 13). One by Imam Baqir (a.s.) is as follows: The Imam (a.s.) says: The body is not punished until the said branches remain green and God wiling, it will not even after the branches become dry.

One more protecting thing is the testimony of fourteen or more persons about the true belief of the dead and their prayer for the forgivance of the dead. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is quoted in Anwaa Re Nomaaniyah. He said: If forty persons gather near a dead and say: Allahumm… meaning: O God! We know nothing except the good deeds done by this person. God responds: I have accepted your testimony and have forgiven all of his sins not known to you.

Hazrat Dawood Did Not Offer Burial Prayer For A Worshipper

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is also reported to have said that there was a worshipper among Bani Israel about whom God revealed to Dawood (a.s.) that he (said worshipper) was a hypocrite. When he died, Dawood (a.s.) did not offer prayer on his body. Others went and forty persons prayed for the salvation of the dead, saying: O Lord! We know nothing about this man except that he was doing good deeds and you know better. So kindly forgive him (Allaahumm Ma…Lahu). Then when that body was given a wash another group of forty persons arrived and they also uttered the same words as they did not know about the hidden matters of that deceased. Then it was asked through revelation to Dawood (a.s.): Why did you not pray for him? Dawood (a.s.) replied: O Lord! I did not pray You had informed me that he was a hypocrite worshipper. A voice came from heaven: Though it is true, a group of people has testified that he was a good man so I also confirmed it, accepted their testimony and forgave him. It also is a very great kindness of the Almighty that He pardons His servants and does not punish them even though they were not eligible for such salvation.

Testimony Of Momins By Khaake Shifa (healing earth) On The Shroud Of Allamah Majlisi (r.a.)

It was because of this that pious people, especially earlier religious ulema (scholars) used to keep their coffin cloth (shrouds) ready before hand and to request their friends and the faithful people to write their testimonies of that coffin cloth. Muhaddis Jazaairi (r.a.) writes: That his teacher Allamah Majlisi (r.a.) use to request his Momin friends to write their testimonies with the earth of Karbala on his shroud and they used to comply, by recording: Laa Raib Fee Eemaaniri meaning: Doubtlessly he was a faithful person and put their seal under it.

Among all such things done for protection from the chastisement in grave effectively is to place (put) the Holy earth of the grave of Abu Abdillah al Hussein (a.s.) in one's grave and also to annoint the forehead and both palms of the dead with it.

The Good Deeds Which Reach The Dead After Death

Among the beneficences of good deeds which benefit one in his grave are the good deeds which are being performed in this world under the nayabat (succession) or the reward of such good deeds which is being given to the dead as a gift. The foremost among them is the repayment of his loans (debts) and the performance of the prayers and fasts left out by the dead. Similar to it is the performance of the Haj pilgrimage which the dead could or did not undertake. Thereafter to spend money on poor in the way of God as Sadaqah and to pray and seek the pardoning of the dead. There are many narrations by Ahle Bayt on this subject. (Interested persons may refer to Vasaail-us-Shia, Kitaabut Tahaarat, Abwaab-e-Ehtezaar, Baab 27, and Abwaab-e-Qazaae Salaat Baab 12 wherein there are 26 hadiths. They may also study Baab-e-Hajj-va-Waqf in the same book). The summary of these narrations is that if some one performs good deeds like Namaz, Roza, Hajj and Sadaqah etc for a deceased person, the Lord of the Universe makes its reward reach the dead and also grants a manyfold reward to the performer of such good deeds.

Numerous Gifts As A Reward Of Spending (Sadaqah) For The Dead

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says: It also happens that a body is under pressure in grave and then he is given ease and comfort. Angels tell him or her that this is the result of such and such good deed sent to you by your such and such well-wisher in the world. Such rewards are very big in proportion to the good deeds performed for them. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has been quoted in Vasaail-us-Shia that Almighty God commands seventy thousand angels to proceed towards the grave of that lucky person. Every angel has, in his hand, a plate full of heavenly bounties of paradise. They tell the dead: Be you in peace and safety, O servant of God! O friend of God! This gift has been sent to you by such and such friend. Then his grave becomes brightly lit up and God the merciful granted him one thousand cities and also one thousand houries and a thousand precious robes and fulfils one thousand of his wishes.

Request Of The Dead To The Living

It is mentioned in Jaani-ul-Akhbaar that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Go on sending gifts to your dead. The companions asked: O Messenger of God! What can be a gift for the dead? The Hazrat said: Dua (prayer) and Sadaqah (spending money for poor). Then he added: Every Friday night, the spirits of the dead come to the first (nearest) sky and, standing in front of their homes, cry out weeping sorrowfully: O my family members! O my children! O my parents and O my near and Dear ones! Be kind to us. God will be kind to you. We have to account here for what wealth and property we had in the world and by which others are being benefited there. Please do us some favour, be it through a dirhams (coin) or bread or a cloth. God will adorn you with heavenly dress…(Upto end of hadis).

Barzakh Is In The Veil Of This World

Some may think as to where such a vat world (realm) of Barzakh is at all situated? Our brain (intelligence) is unable to comprehend it. We will only say that the realm of Barzakh is in a veil and hence invisible to the physical eye. There are many narrations to make us understand this matter. For example: This world of ours, along with its vast lands and skies, if compared with the realm of Barzakh, is like a tiny spot in an endlessly big forest. So long as a man lives in this world, he is like a silk worm or like an unborn child in mother' s womb. When he dies, he becomes free. Of course, he remains in this very world and does not go away and out of it, but now he has no limitations like time and space because these things are limited only to this material world.

The Realm Of Barzakh Has Encircled This World

If it is said to a baby in the womb is told that there is a very vast world beyond you present station which is nothing in comparison with that one he is unable to understand or comprehend it. Similarly, we who are able now to see only through the physical eyes cannot comprehend the other world which is hidden from our eyes.

Almighty God says in the Holy Quran: Fa Laa…Ya'Maloon (Surah Sajdah: 17) meaning: No body knows which things have been provided for him which can cool their eyes. This is the reward of the good deeds done by them in the world. We only know that as the trust informer (s.a.w.s.) has informed us of it we testify to it. The realm of Barzakh has encircled and covered our present physical and material world just as this world has covered the world in womb. No other example is more explanatory.

Souls (Spirits) Are Friendly With One Another And Please One Another

Asbag bin Nabatah says: I saw my leader Amirul Momineen (a.s.) standing at the gate of Kufa looking towards the desert. It appeared that he was busy talking with some one but there was no one. I also stood up. After a long time I felt tired. So I sat down and got up again after a while. But Ali (a.s) was still busy talking. I went a step forward and asked: O Amirul Momineen! Who is it you are talking with? He said: This talk of mine was to please the spirits of the faithful. I asked: Which faithful. No one from those who have passed away is present here. He said: Yes, they are present here I again asked: They are present here physical or in spirit? He replied: Their spirits. Had you been able to do so, you could have seen how they gather at a place, talk mutually and please one another remembering the gifts and bounties of God.

Waadiyus Salaam Is The Station Of The Spirits Of The Faithful

It is mentioned in other hadiths that any faithful person who passes away either from the east or the west of this world finds that his spirit or soul which remains in his allegorical body have their place in Waadius Salaam near (in the neighbourhood of) Amirul Momineen (a.s.). In other words, Najaf-e-Ashraf is an exhibition of the higher world. Likewise, for the Kafirs (unbelievers) their stations in Waadiy-e-Barhoot which is situated in Yaman (Oman) in a fearful and barren land where even birds do not venture to go. This is a place for the appearance of mean souls.

Nearness To Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s) Attainable Through Knowledge And Virtues

Whatever you have heard about importance of nearness to Amirul Momineens (a.s.) is about spiritual neighbourhood, whatever one's physical distance from Najaf-e-Ashraf. In fact nearness to Ali (a.s) is attainable through knowledge and actions. When a man commits a sin he becomes away from Ali (a.s) in proportion to the seriousness of his sin. Very nice if the soul is with Ali (a.s) and body also gets buried near him in Najaf-e-Ashraf. It is indeed a very big fortune. But if, God forbid, one is physically buried in Najaf-e-Ashraf but his soul is under torture in Waadiy-e-Barhoot, it is a terribly bad luck. So all of us should try our best to make our spiritual relation with Ali (a.s) more and more strong and close. Doubtlessly, physical burial in Najaf-e-Ashraf also is not without benefits and has perfect effectiveness because of being buried there is, in a way, a means to nearness to the Amirul Momineen (a.s.).

A Dead Body Which Was Brought From Yaman To Najaf-e-Ashraf

It is mentioned in Madinat-ul-Ma Aajiz that, one day, Ali (a.s) was sitting with his companions at the back of the gate of Jufa. Looking up he said: Do you also see what I am seeing? People said: No, O Amirul Momineen! He said: I can see two persons who are bringing a dead body on the back of a camel for so that it may bury here. It will take yet three more days for them to reach here. On the third day thereafter Ali (a.s) went again with companions to see who comes. First people could see that a camel was coming towards them with a body on its back. A man was holding the rein of that camel in his hand. Another man was walking behind that camel. When they came nearer, Amirul Momineen (a.s.) asked: Whose body is this? Who are you and from where are you coming? They replied: We are from Yaman and this is the body of our father who had willed that his body should be carried to Iraq for being buried in Najaf-e-Ashraf. Ali (a.s) asked: Did you ask him the reason for it? They replied: Yes. Our father was saying that a man will be buried there who will be able, if he likes, to make intercession for the entire gathering on the Day of Resurrection. Maula-e-Kaainaat Ali (a.s) said: By God. I am indeed that man.

The One Who Gave Shelter to Grass Hoppers Around His Tent

In connection with benefits for those who are buried near Ali (a.s)'s tomb Muhaddis Quni (r.a.) has given a very appropriate example in Mafatee-ul-Jinaan. There is an Arabic proverb: Ahmaa…Jaraad meaning such and such person is superior than the one who gives shelter to grasshoppers who took his shelter. The story is like this: A man named Madlaj bin Suwaid who belonged to the tribe of Tay was, one day, sitting in his tent. He saw that a group belonging to the Tay tribe was approaching his tent holding big bags and many utensils. He asked their condition. They said: Many grasshoppers have descended around your tent. We want to catch them. Hearing this, Madlaj got up, took a spear in his hand and ascending his horse declared: By God, I will kill anyone who even touches these grasshoppers. These grasshoppers are my neighbours and they have come in my shelter. How can you catch them? It will never be allowed. Then he defended his grasshoppers till the sun rose higher and it became hot and the grasshoppers flew away. Then he said: Lo. Now the grasshoppers have left my neighbourhood. Now it is your look out to deal with them.

In short, it is obvious that if some one takes himself in the neighbourhood of Ali (a.s), thereby taking his shelter will surely be benefited by his support.

The Relation Of Soul With Grave Is Very Close

Muhaddis Jazaairi (r.a.) mentions at the end of Anwaar-e-Nomaaniyah: If you ask when souls live in allegorical bodies in Vaadiyus Salaam, why we have been asked to visit graves (for reciting Fatihaa and prayers)? And how do the souls understand that a visitor has arrived when they are not present in the graves? The reply is that it has been narrated form Imam Sadiq (a.s) that though the souls live in Waadiyus Salaam, their relations with graves remain intact and they know about the visitor and they recognize them. The Holy Imam has said that souls are like sun. The sun remains in the sky its rays cover the whole earth. Likewise, the souls covering or encirclement is Ilmi (concerned with knowledge and comprehension).

Reflection Of Sunrays In A Mirror

Just as the appearance and reflection is relatively much more at a mirror the attention of souls and their covering is more at their graves. It is so because the soul had lived in those bodies for several years and gained much favours due to them. That is why they will focus their attention there. This also provides an answer to the one who asks as to why we should go to grave when the Imam is present at every place and thus, there is no difference in one place and the other. Doubtlessly the graves of Holy Imams and religious leaders are the centres of the attention of Holy souls and the places where divine favours keep raining. Angels come and go there. So, if anybody wants to get full benefit from those Holy personalities he should never give up visiting the Holy shrines and must try their best to go there.

Why No Reward Or Punishment Is Given To This Earthen Body?

Some people raise here a weak doubt and say: The soul after one's death gets connected with a fine body called allegorical body which is just like this earthen body, as has been described earlier, and also sees (tastes) reward or torture with the same allegorical body. Now here arises a question: When man had worshipped God in this earthen body how reward is given to the other body? Or man had committed sins in the material body which has been disintegrated now after death then how is it that the punishment is meted out to the other body? There can be several answers to this question.

Every Soul Has Two Kinds Of Bodies

As Alamah Majlisi (r.a.) has written, allegorical body is not any outward thing which may be brought near the grave after one's death and then, for example, it may be said to it: O soul! Now live in this body. Rather, an allegorical body is a fine ody which lives even now in this world living with man' earthly body. Every soul has two bodies: A fine (thin) body and a tough foul body. Man has prayed and sinned in both these bodies. This matter must be well understood. So we are giving the example of a dream. During a dream, these two bodies get separated. What a man sees in his dream is the behaviour or deed of this allegorical body which walks, talks etc. Within twinkling of eye man reaches Karbala-e-Moalla, Holy Mashad, tours from east to west. This shows that the allegorical body remains with man always but after death; it separates from the material earthen body. This statement of Majlisi (r.a.) is a very studied one. There also is many more witness.

Anyhow, It Is The Soul Which Gets Either Punishment or Reward

Another answers it that, after death, human soul turns into the same earthen form of body. It does not get connected with any outside body. Rather the soul takes up the form of material body. Now, you may call it an allegorical body or Barzakhi body or soul/spirit. But, as it is fine, elemental or material eyes cannot see it. Summarily speaking, it was only the soul/spirit which had committed sins in the world and hence it is only the soul/spirit is being punishment after death. Now, it may be chastised either by getting it connected with the allegorical (Misaale) body or it may be getting punishment absolutely by itself, constantly. Of course, on the Day of Judgement, all will rise and gather only in this very worldly and material body form.

Description Of Reward And Punishment In Barzakh In The Holy Quran

'An naaru…azaab' (Surah Mominun 40:46) meaning: They will be thrown in fire in the morning and in the evening and when Qiyamat will occur (it will be ordered) “Inflict the severest punishment on Aale Firon.”

This is one of those verses of Quran which testify to punishment in Barzakh. The above ayat refers to those people of the Pharoah who died of drowning in the Nile. Ever since that day, they are regularly brought near fire every morning and every evening. This will continue till the Day of Judgement where after they will be given the severest chastisement.

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) says that there is no morning or evening in the Hereafter, that the said punishment in morning and evening refers to the realm of Barzakh.

They Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: If the dead person is one of the people of hell, his place in hell is shown to him every morning and every evening in his grave (Barzakh period). If he or she is of the people of paradise, he or she is shown his or her palace in paradise and told that this will be your station in the Hereafter.

People Will Lies Either In Comfort Or In Pain So Long As There Are Days And Nights

'Fa Amal…Arz (S. Hud 11:106-108) meaning: Those people who are unfortunate will burn in fire until this earth and sky are in place. They will cry and shriek heartrendingly except those whom your Lord likes. Verily your Lord does what He likes and those who are lucky and fortunate will live in paradise so long as the earth and the sky remain.

The Imam (a.s.) says that this verse also refers to the realm of Barzakh and the reward and punishment mentioned in it is also the consequence in Barzakh because, there is no question of earth or sky in the Qiyamat as the Holy Quran mentions: Izas Samaaun Shaqqat (sky will get torn) and this earth will also be there. It will also be changed: Yaw Ma…Qahhar' (Surah Ibrahim 14:48).

Habeeb Najjar (A Faithful In Pharaoh’s People) In The Paradise Of Barzakh

'Queelad Khulil…Mukrameen' (Surah Yaa-seen: 26-27). This Holy verse refers to Habeeb Najjar who was Faithful despite belonging to Aale Phiraun. When he invited his people (community) to put faith in God's messengers, people threatened him (as described at length in the explanation of Surah Yaa-Seen) in Qalb-e-Quran by martyr Dastgaib). Finally they hanged him on an impaling stake and beat him to death. After his death, when he got his reward he said: I wish my people (community) would have known that I have been pardoned by God and that my Lord has placed me among the respected.

Here comes the Divine Word: “He was told: Enter paradise.” Imam (a.s.) says: Here paradise means the paradise of Barzakh (pre-resurrection). In another narration, it is mentioned that it means worldly heaven which is lower than the paradise in Hereafter.

In short, this Holy verse shows that as soon as the Momin (Faithful) of Aal-e-Firaun was martyred he entered paradise instantly. Since his community till then was in the world, he wished that they might know how many bounties the Most Merciful Lord had given to him (so that they too would have stopped disobedience and repented for their misdeeds and turned towards God).

Hard Life And Punishment In The Grave

“Wa man…A'maa” (Surah Tahaa 20:124) meaning: The one who will turn away his face God verily will live a hard and painful life and he will be raised blind on the Day of Resurrection.

Most of the commentators are of the opinion that here 'Hard Life' means chastisement in the grave. Sayed-us-Saajideen (a.s.) also is reported to have taken this meaning.

Barzakh To Last Till All Will Be Made To Rise From Graves On The Day Of Qiyamat

“Hattma…Yub Asoon” (Surah Mominoon, V: 99-100) meaning: So much so that when death comes to any of them the disbelievers) he says: My Lord! Send me back to the world so that I may perform some good deed to compensate what I left. In response, he will be told: Never (you cannot return). He says a fruitless thing. And after them is Barzakh till the Day when people will be made to rise and gather.

This verse shows it very well that man has a life after death and before the Day of Judgement. It is in between the two. It is known by the name of Barzakh.

Personality Of Man Due To His Spirit Or Soul (Rooh)

In short, thinking over this verse and many other ayats, it is clearly understood that human soul is a reality which is different from body. There surely is a connection between the spirit and the body. Soul governs the body through intention and intelligence and manages the latter's affairs. In fact, a man's personality belongs to his or her soul and not to the body which ends with death. (Every movement comes to end and body turns into a heap of dust). Following the disintegration of its parts, the body becomes dust. Man's reality and personality or individuality is his spirit which survives even after man's death and lives either in permanent happiness or eternal trouble depending on his pre-death intentions and performance, having nothing to do with the condition of his or her earthly (worldly) body. This is a universal truth.

Islamic scholars have, in order to prove that soul is something different from body and that it does not vanish due to death and that the rules governing it are different, put forth many arguments and logical evidences. But, after the presentation of the Word of God and the hadiths and statements of the holy Prophet and pious Imams (a.s.) there is no need of reiterating the said scholarly statements. This issue is now brighter than sun for us.

Paradise In Barzakh For The Satisfied Soul

One of the Barzakh related verses in the Holy Quran are the last ayat of Surah Al-Fajr: “Ya Aliutahann…Jannatee” (Surah Fajr: 89 V: 27-29). In this verse the satisfied soul is being addressed at the moment of death: “Enter My Paradise.” It has been explained as the paradise in Barzakh. Similarly it is said: “Join and enter the group of My servant” (meaning: Fee Muhammad Wa Aalihi). There are other verses also hinting at heaven and hell in Barzakh but what we have said is enough. (Ayatullah Dastgaib (r.a.), the martyr of alter, had explained these verses in dept which has been published in Nafs-e-Mutmainnah).

Barazakh Reward And Punishment As Mentioned In Akbaar and Hadith

There are many hadiths mentioning reward and punishment is Barzakh. Here we suffice with a few.

In Behaar-ul-Anwaar vol: 3 there is a quotation from the tafseer of Ali bin Ibrahim Qumi (who has quoted Ali a.s.) according to which the Holy Prophet said: When the offspring of Adam (man) enters the last day of this worldly life and the first one of the Hereafter, his wealth and children and his deeds appear before him. He turns his face towards his wealth and says: By God! I had too must lust and greed for you and was also very stingy. Now how much of mine is with you for me? The wealth responds: Take only that much which can suffice for your Kafan cloth (shroud). Then he looks at his children and says: By God. I loved you very very much and was always protecting and defending you. Show me how much of my portion is now with you for me. They reply: We only will take and bury you and that is all. Finally he turns towards his deeds and says: By God, I was very careless with regard to you and I had disliked you. Yet am I to get any share from you? The Aamal (deed) says: Yes. I will be your companion and friend in grave and will also remain with you in the Hereafter (Qiyamat) too, until both of us will be made to stand before Almighty Lord.

If this person was an obedient one and so a friend of God, his deed will approach him in beautiful and handsome shape adorned in the best attire full of pleasing fragrance and say: I give you good tidings that you will get Rowh and Raihaan (heavenly bounties) and divine graces. Welcome. He will ask: Who are you? He will reply: I am your good deed. Come, let us proceed towards paradise form this world. This body recognizes the one who gives a wash to it and asks him, giving him an oath, to carry it speedily to his destination. When this body enters grave, two angels who examine every dead, come to him in a fierce form dragging their lengthy hair on the ground and tearing the earth with their teeth. Their eyes dazzle like lightning and their voice furiously roaring. They ask the body: Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet? What was your religion? (Etc). The body says: My Lord is only one God who has no partner and my prophet is Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and my religion is Islam. Then the angels tell him: May God keeps you steadfast on the things which you like. It is the same thing his has been hinted at the Holy Quran: Yusabbitullaah…Aakhiram (Surah Ibrahim14, V: 27). Then they widen his grave as far as eyes can see and open therein a door in the direction of paradise, telling him: “Now you rest sleep restfully with cool eyes just as a lucky and successful youth goes to sleep”.

Similarly, God has given a hint in this verse also: Ashaabul…Maqueela (Surah Furqaan: 25, V: 24). But if the body is that of an enemy of God, his Amal-e-Bad (bad deed) approaches him in the worst kind of dress emanating foul smell and tell him: Take tidings of getting hot hell water as drink of entering hellfire. He also sees the one who washes him and tells on oath to the bearers of his body to leave him alone and not to take him to his grave. When they bury him, two examiner angels arrive. First they drag out his coffin cloth (kafan or shroud) and then asked him: Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet and what is your religion? He replies: I do not know. The angels tell him: May God not allowed you to know and to be guided. Then they hit him with a fire club so harshly that it frightens everything in the world except men and animals. Then they open up a door facing hell in his grave telling him: Now you may sleep in the worst condition. Then they squeeze his grave to such an extent that it is almost sandwitched, making his brain matter come out from his nails and flesh and God makes snakes and scorpions etc. attack him and to bite and sting painfully till the Day of Qiyamat (Resurrection). On that Day, he will be made to rise from his grave. The torture will be so severe that he will wish Qiayamat to comes soon.

Faces In Barzakh Will Be Like People’s Faces In This World

There is a narration from Imam Sadiq (a.s) in Amaali of Shaykh Toosi (r.a.). At the end of it, the Imam has said: When Almighty Allah recovers one's soul (Rouh), He send his soul in its worldly form and shape. There they eat and drink and when a new man (spirit of another dead) arrives to them they recognize him in his worldly face and form and shape. In another hadis the Imam has said that the spirits of the faithful meet one another and talk with one another and recognize one another so much so that if you happen to see any one of them you will say this is so and so.

Spirits Ask The Men Arrivals About Others

In another hadis, the Imam said: The spirits dwell in body forms in a garden in paradise. They recognize and known one another. They ask questions and get replies from one another. When a new spirit comes to them they say: Leave it (as it is) because it is arriving towards us after being freed from a great calamity (that is death). Then they ask it: What about so and so and such and such person? If he replies: He was alive until I came here, the spirits express their hope that (God willing, he will also come to us). But if the newly arrived soul says that he had already left the world they say: He has fallen down. It means that when he has not yet come here, he surely must have gone to hell.

Spirits Meet Their Worldly Relatives And Friends

There are some narrations in Behaar-ul-Anwaar, Kaafi and other books. Their gist is: The spirits living in Barzakh come to visit their near and dear ones. Some of them come daily, some once in two days, some once in three days, some on every Friday, some once in a month and some once a year. This difference depends on their condition, places of dwelling and their freedom or captivity.

According to a narration, a faithful soul sees nothing except the well-being and pleasing things about his or her near and dear ones. If there is anything contrary to it, that thing is not shown to him or her (soul in Barzakh). Such distributing things are being kept unknown for it so that it may not be come unhappy. The spirit of a Kafir (denier) sees nothing except bad and painful things about its near and dear ones.

Hauz-e-Kausar In Barzakh

Abdullah bin Sanaan has been quoted in several books of Akhbar and Hadith. He asked from Imam Sadiq (a.s) about Hauz-e-Kausar (a heavenly spring). He replied: Its length is equal to the distance between Basra and Yeman (Sanaa). When I expressed my astonishment he asked: May I show it to you? I said: Yes, O my Master! Then the Hazrat took me out of Medina. There he kicked the ground on one spot and told me: See (Veils before his eyes were removed by the order of the Imam so he said): I saw that a big spring is flowing, the shores of which are not visible except the spot on which we were standing and which was like a small island. I saw a spring at one bank of which snow white water was flowing in waves and on the other bank whiter than snow milk was waving and in between the two waved wine which had fine red colour that was more attractive than topaz both in shining and fineness. I had never before seen such a wine of the best quality flowing between pure milk and snow white water.

I said: O Master! I may be sacrificed on you. From where this spring flows! The Hazrat replied: As mentioned by Almighty Allah in the Holy Quran, there is a spring of milk, a spring of water and a spring of wine in paradise. All these three springs come from there. (The narrator says): I saw many trees on both the banks of this spring and a houri near every tree. She had so beautiful head hair the equal of which I had never seen before. There was a utensil in the hands of every fairy. The said vessels were so beautiful that I had never seen such utensils in the world. They did not belong to this material world. He hinted to a houri to serve water. She filled that utensil from that spring and presented it to the Hazrat. He drank from it. He asked her again to fill it. She complied with the command and the Hazrat gave that utensil to me. I drank from it and found that I had never tested such a nice and testy and pleasing drink ever before. It had a fragrance of musk. I said: May I be sacrificed on you. Whatever I observed today is such that I had not only never seen before but also never even imagined before, (that such things could ever be available in the world).

The Hazrat said: This is a small specimen of the bounties provided by God Almighty for our Shias, which you have seen now. When somebody leaves the world his or her spirit is being taken to this stream and around this garden of paradise. He eats its fruits and drinks its wines. Whenever our enemy dies, his soul is being taken to Vaadiy-e-Barhoot. He remains in its torture forever. He is forced to eat 'Zuqqoom' (a thorny cactus tree) and drink Maa-e-Hameem (hot hell water). So pray God for being protected from the said Barhoot valley.

Kausar And Hameem At The Moment Of Death

Among those people who were shown the paradise of Barzakh in this world are those companions of the chief of martyr Imam Hussein (a.s.) to whom the Holy Imam had shown their places and stations in Barzakh.

In Behaar-ul-Anwaar, Vol: 3, it is mentioned that Imam Baqir (a.s) said: No Momin leaves this world leaves this world unless, at his last moments, angels make him drink the Kausar water. Likewise no denier dies until he is made to drink Hameem.

Barhoot — A Sample Of Barzakh Hell

As has been stated earlier, 'Waaiy-us-Salaam' is the dwelling place of lucky souls who gather there. And Barhoot which is a barren waterless desert is the place where dirty and evil souls are put to torture. It is a specimen of Hell of Barzakh. This hadis will make the matter more clear: -

One day a man went to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) the last messenger of God, and, expressing his restlessness and anxiety, said: I have seen a very strange thing. The Holy Prophet asked: What is it? He replied: My wife became seriously ill. People told me: If you bring water from a well situated in the vale of Barhoot, her illness can be cured. (Some skin diseases are cured by mineral waters). So I got ready and proceeded towards that valley with a leather bag to fill that water and also a cup for fetching it from the said well. There I saw a very very frightening forest. Despite being afraid, I gathered courage and went on in search of that well (At last I found it). Suddenly I heard the voice of tinkling of a chain from above. That chain came down. I saw that a man is caught in that chain and requests me to give him some water as he was dying of thirst. When I raised my head to offer him a cup of water what I saw was that he was fastened to that hanging chain. Whenever I tried to give him water that fellow was dragged up to the red-hot sun. Then I tried to fill my bag with water. That man was again lowered by the dangling chain suddenly and complained bitterly about his deadly thirst. I tried to hand over water vessel to him but he was again pulled up right upto the sun. It happened for the third time too. At last I tied my water bag and could not give any water to him. I have become terribly frightened by observing all this and have come to your honour to ascertain the reason of this all. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied: That unfortunate man is Qaabeel, son of Adam (a.s.). He had killed his brother Haabeel.

Fa Taw Wa At…Khaasireen (Surah Maaidah: 5, V: 30). He will remain in this condition of torture till the day of Qiyamat and will finally fall in the painful punishment of Hell.