When A Person Dies, Does He Or She Go To Paradise Or The Hellfire Right Away?
By Imaam Muhammad Bin Saalih ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)
Q: When a person dies, does he go to Paradise or the Hellfire right after, or does he remain in the grave until Yawmul Qiyaamah? We request Clarity with additional details concerning this, Thank you.
A: As for the body of the dead, then it will remain in the earth where it was buried until the Day of Judgment, Allah (The Most High) says:
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُمْ مِنَ الأَجْدَاثِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَنْسِلُونَ
"And the Horn will be blown; and at once from the graves to their Lord they will hasten." (Yasin: 51)
And He (the Most high) says:
وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
"And behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” (Al-Muminoon: 100)
So it (i.e. the body) will remain in the earth, but as far as his spirit (ar-Ruh) then it will be in Jannah or the Hell fire as Allah (Most High) says:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, ‘Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do.’ " (An-Nahl: 32)
So it is clear that this statement is at (the time of his) death, it means they will enter Paradise the day of their death, but this is only the Spirit and not the body. It is authentically reported on the Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said:
"Verily the dead in his grave who is a believer will have a door opened to Paradise, from it will come a fragrant breeze and blessings; but as for the Kafir (disbeliever) then the foul stench (of Hell) will come to him and there will enter upon (him) Punishment."
And Allah (Most High) says:
النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ
"The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears the people of Pharaoh will enter the severest punishment." (Ghafir: 46)
In another recitation:
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ وأُدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ
"And the Day the Hour appears and it will be said, "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment." (Ghafir: 46)
And His (Most High) saying:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنْتُمْ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً
"Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination" (Nisaa: 97)
And His (Most High) saying:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْمَلائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ* ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ
"And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire. That is for what your hands have put forth [of evil] and because Allah is not ever unjust to His servants." (Anfal: 50-51)
So this is evidence that the dead from the Believers will be rewarded in Paradise from the day of his death, and the Disbeliever will meet his punishment in the Hellfire from the day of his death. And this as it relates to the Spirit (Ar-ruh), but as for the body, then it will remain in the earth until the day of Standing. Thus, the Spirit (Ar-Ruh) will either be subjected to torment or pleasure/ease as is demonstrated in the Hadeeth.
Source: www.ibnothaimeen.com
‘Aqeedah And Fiqh Adapted From The Saudi Curriculum https://www.salafyinkmarket.com/product/aqeedah-and-fiqh-adapted-from-the-saudi-curriculum/3
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