37/32. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4267 — Grave as First Stage
The grave and disintegration (of the body)
The Grave Is the First Stage of the Hereafter Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4267
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4267
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَحِيرٍ، عَنْ هَانِئٍ، - مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ - قَالَ : كَانَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ إِذَا وَقَفَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ يَبْكِي حَتَّى يَبُلَّ لِحْيَتَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ : تَذْكُرُ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ وَلاَ تَبْكِي وَتَبْكِي مِنْ هَذَا قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ : " إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَيْسَرُ مِنْهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْجُ مِنْهُ، فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ " . قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : " مَا رَأَيْتُ مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَالْقَبْرُ أَفْظَعُ مِنْهُ " .
Hani Narrated from:
When ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan stood beside a grave, he would weep until his beard became wet. It was said to him: ‘You remember Paradise and Hell, and you do not weep, but you weep for this?’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. Whoever is delivered from it, what comes after it is easier. If he is not delivered from it, then what comes after it is harder.’” He said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I have never seen any horrible scene but the grave is more horrible.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4267In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 168English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4267
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4267
This hadith about the grave as the first stage of the Hereafter shows why Uthman wept when standing by a grave. He explained that the Prophet said the grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. If a person is delivered from it, what comes after it is easier. If he is not delivered from it, what comes after is harder. The narration also states that the Prophet had not seen any horrible scene except that the grave was more horrible. The lesson stays focused on the grave and its seriousness. It is not meant to create empty fear. It pushes the heart to remember death, prepare for the Hereafter, and take the first stage seriously.
What we learn from this hadith
- The grave is described as the first stage of the Hereafter.
- Being delivered from the grave is linked with what comes after being easier.
- Remembering the grave can move the heart toward serious preparation.
