36/5. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2308 — The Grave and Hereafter
What Has Been Related About The Grave's Horror And That It Is The First Stage Of The Hereafter
Hadith About the Grave as the First Stage
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2308
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2308
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَحِيرٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ هَانِئًا، مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ قَالَ كَانَ عُثْمَانُ إِذَا وَقَفَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ بَكَى حَتَّى يَبُلَّ لِحْيَتَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ تُذْكَرُ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ فَلاَ تَبْكِي وَتَبْكِي مِنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا رَأَيْتُ مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَالْقَبْرُ أَفْظَعُ مِنْهُ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ هِشَامِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ .
Hani Narrated from:
When 'Uthman Would Stop At A Grave He Would Cry Until His Beard Was Soaked (In Tears). It Was Said To Him: 'The Paradise And The Fire Were Mentioned And You Did Not Cry, Yet You Cry Because Of This?' So He Said: 'Indeed The Messenger Of Allah Said: "Indeed The Grave Is The First Stage Among The Stages Of The Hereafter. So If One Is Saved From It, Then What Comes After It Is Easier Than It. And If One Is Not Saved From It, Then What Comes After It Is Worse Than It." And The Messenger Of Allah Said: "I Have Not Seen Any Sight Except That The Grave Is More Horrible Than It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2308In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2308
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2308
This Hadith shows why the grave moved Uthman to tears. When asked why he cried at a grave while not crying when Paradise and Fire were mentioned, he replied with the words of the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet said that the grave is the first stage among the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what follows is easier; if not, what follows is worse. The Prophet also said he had not seen any sight except that the grave was more horrible than it. This hadith about the grave teaches serious reflection. It does not give detailed descriptions here, but it makes clear that the grave is not a light matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- The grave is called the first stage among the stages of the Hereafter.
- Being saved from the grave is described as making what follows easier.
- If one is not saved from it, what follows is described as worse.
- The sight of the grave is presented as a powerful reminder.
