Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Hereafter (Ma'ad)

Author(s): Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dastghaib Shirazi

Translator(s): Sayyid Athar Husayn S.H. Rizvi

Publisher(s): Ansariyan Publications – Qum

www.alhassanain.org/english

A detailed account of humanity’s experience of death, and the stages beyond it, including the status in one’s grave, Barzakh, the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah), and the final recourse in Heaven or Hell.

Notice:

This work is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english.

The typing errors are n’t corrected.

Table of Contents

Preface 11

Some Convincing Things about the Hereafter 11

His Blood Proved More Effective Than His Speech 11

The Precious Pearl which could not be Appreciated 11

A Strange Request 12

Double Burial 12

Two Other Persons also had that Dream 12

A Story More Revealing Than a Book 13

Ocean in a Nutshell 13

Note 14

Death 15

No Other Source of Knowledge Except Revelation 15

Characteristics of the Hereafter have nothing to do with Intellect 15

Does a Dead Body Talk? 15

Talking is not Limited to the Tongue 16

Death: The First Station 16

What is Death? 16

The Soul Neither Enters the Body nor Gets Out of it 17

How the soul is taken 17

Who causes death? God, Izra'eel or the angels? 17

The Lord of the Universe has fixed Some Causes for Death 18

Appearance of Izra'eel According to the Deeds of the Dying Person 18

Arrival of Angels and Satans at the time of Death 18

Comfort and Discomfort at the Time of Death 19

Sometimes Discomfort at the Time of Death Redeems Sins 19

Comfort on Deathbed, Reward of Good Deeds of the Dying Disbeliever 20

Confiscating a disbeliever's Soul through Torture 20

A Student of Fuzail who Died the Death of a Disbeliever 20

Dying in Disbelief Due to Sinning 21

Being Pleased with Death 21

Love for the World-Condemned by reason and Shariat 22

Love for this World is an Attribute of Infidels and a Source of Sins 22

Dislike for Death and Weeping Over Demise of the Beloved 23

Expression of Impatience is the Result of Carelessness about the Hereafter 24

Divine Mercies and Bounties 24

The Arrival of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) at the Moment of Death 24

Even After Death 25

Questioning of the Grave 25

Questioning about Beliefs and Deeds 26

Why this Questioning? 26

Unbelievers will see the Divine Punishment and the Beginning of their Pains 27

The Disbeliever will Fail to Reply all Questions 27

There will be Questioning about Deeds too 27

Deeds are the Companions in Grave 28

The Lord of the World Warns 28

The Disbeliever will be accompanied by a Fearsome Face 29

Squeeze of the Grave is a Fact 29

Squeeze of Grave is Possible Everywhere 30

Reasons of Squeeze of the Grave 31

Notes 31

Barzakh (Purgatory) - The Stage Between this World and the Hereafter 32

Halfway between Reward and Punishment 32

The Facsimile World and the Facsimile Body 32

Picture in the Mirror, with Two Stipulations 33

All Food Articles and Fruits Combined in Only One Thing 33

The Degree of Effects 33

A Man in the Grave Who Hosted Others 34

Reward of Fair dealing and Offering Prayers in Time 35

Lasting Pleasure in the Realm of Barzakh 35

A Cloak Full of Rice in the Valley of Peace 35

Animals Hear the Voice of the Dead 36

Cries Raised by a Hashimi Murderer in his Dream 37

Advice of a Perfumer and Demand by a Jew of His Trust 37

Can Such Things be Denied Absolutely 38

Three Kinds of News 39

There is no Logical Argument against Resurrection 39

Burial of Fatima BintAsad, Mother of Amirul Mu’minin (A.S.) 39

Fatima BintAsad was much Fearful about the Events after Death 40

Effectiveness of Soul in Physical Body 40

The Body of Shaykh Sadooq Found Fresh 40

The Fresh Body of Hurr and the Handkerchief on his Head 41

A Suckling Baby in the Grave of Abu Ja'far Kulaini (r.a.) 41

Fire of Barzakh leaps out of a Grave 42

Fire Hotter than the fire of this World 42

Lightning is the Biggest Fire in the World 42

Those who do not Experience Fear 43

Death at a Time of the Descent of Mercy 43

Two Green Branches and Testimony of Forty Persons 43

Prophet Dawood did not offer Burial Prayer for a Worshipper 44

Testimony of Believers by Dust of Karbala’ on the Shroud of Allamah Majlisi (r.a.) 44

The Good Deeds which Reach the Dead after Death 44

Numerous Gifts as Reward of Charity on behalf of the Dead 45

Request of the Dead to the Living 45

Barzakh is Veiled in this World 45

The Realm of Barzakh Encircles this World 46

Souls are Friendly with One Another and Please One Another 46

The Valley of Peace is the Station of the Spirits of the Faithful 46

Nearness to Amirul Mu’minin ‘Ali (a.s) Attainable through Knowledge and Virtues 46

A Dead Body which was brought from Yemen to Najaf al-Ashraf 47

One who gave Shelter to Locusts around his Tent 47

Close Relation between the Soul and the Grave 48

Reflection of Sunrays in a Mirror 48

Why no Reward or Punishment is Given to this Earthly Body? 48

Every Soul has Two Kinds of Bodies 48

The Soul is either Punished or Rewarded 49

Qur’anic Description of Reward and Punishment in Barzakh 49

In Comfort or in Pain so long as Days and Nights endure 49

Habib Najjar in the Paradise of Barzakh 50

Hard Life and Punishment in the Grave 50

Barzakh till everyone would be raised from the Graves on the Day of Judgement 50

Personality of Man Due to his Spirit or Soul 51

Paradise in Barzakh for the Content Soul 51

Rewards and Punishments of Barzakh as Mentioned in Reports and Traditions 51

Faces in Barzakh would be like People's Faces in this World 53

New arrivals questioned about Others 53

Spirits Meet their Worldly Relatives and Friends 53

The Pool of Kauthar in Barzakh 53

Kauthar and Hameem at the Moment of Death 54

Barhoot - A Sample of Hell in Barzakh 54

Notes 55

Day of Judgement (Qiyamat) 56

Qiyamat from viewpoint of Logic 56

Unbelievers of Hereafter do not understand God's Wisdom 56

Nail as a Support 56

Exit of Excessive Matter through Hair 57

Medicine from Cow dung Beetle Proved Effective for Eye Trouble 57

Is the World's Existence Void of Wisdom? 57

Not a Single Tooth is Without Wisdom 57

Creation would have been Aimless had there been Only Happiness 58

Every Gulp after Thousands of Stings 58

For the Sake of a Joy which will be Without Sorrow or Pain 59

Qiyamat Cannot be Doubted 59

Divine Justice Demands a Day of Judgement 59

True People have Informed about Qiyamat 60

The Best Proof of Resurrection is the Possibility of its Coming 60

There is no Return of a Perished Thing in Qiyamat 61

The Strongest Argument is the Possibility of its Occurrence 61

He will Gather them for the Third Time too 62

Dead Coming to Life in the World 62

Uzair (a.s.) Remained Dead For a Hundred Years 62

Four Birds whom God Made Alive after Dissection 63

Almighty Allah has Power over Everything 64

Fire and Water Together 64

How will the Powdered Bones Become Alive? 65

No Scope for Doubt in Divine Knowledge 65

Creation of Skies is More Difficult and Important than Creation of Man 66

It is obligatory to remove the Harm if there is any Likelihood of it 66

If Mind Hints at a Danger or Harm, Attention Must be Paid 66

All Prophets and Messengers Warned People 67

Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) Admonishes an unbeliever of Resurrection 67

Resurrection is Great 67

Amr Became Frightened by Qiyamat 68

Red Hot Earth Under the Unbeliever's Feet 68

Fate of Backbiters, Usurers and Corrupt People 69

Those who Harassed Their Neighbours, the Oppressive Rulers and the Proud 69

Offenders will be Recognised by their Faces in the Grand Gathering 70

How will they Walk with their Disfigured Faces? 70

Hearts will Stick to Throats 70

The Fortunate Ones who will be Safe from the Fear of Qiyamat 71

Masjid will be the Ark of Salvation in Qiyamat 71

Death in or En-route to Mecca 71

Patience in Passion and Anger 72

The Love and Guardianship (Wilayat) of ‘Ali is a Guarantee of True Safety and Protection 72

The Absolute 'Hasana' (Good) is the Wilayat of ‘Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) 72

Precaution or Preparation for the Future 73

Efforts for Betterment of Future and Entanglement in Greed 73

The True Savings Account is with God 73

Israfil will Blow the Trumpet 74

Four Favourite Angels and their Responsibilities 74

Noise in Skies at the Thought of Qiyamat 74

Only God will be there 75

Wonders before the Arrival of Qiyamat 75

Blowing of the Second Trumpet 75

Thank God who Fulfilled His Promise 76

How will they Raise their Heads from Graves? 76

Two Contradictory Hopes about Qiyamat 76

All Secrets will become known 77

The Dress on the Day of Judgement will be Piety 77

Adam (a.s.) Covered his Body with Leaves 77

The Sinners will be Recognized 78

Scene of a Drunkard in the Gathering 78

Faces of Usurers and Musicians 78

The Musician's Instruments will be with him 78

The Condition of Double Talkers 78

Arrogant People and Adulterers 79

Day of Fifty Thousand Years' Duration 79

Why Qiyamat is Called a 'Day'? 79

Sun of truth will shine in Qiyamat 79

The Station of Fear in Qiyamat 79

Flying Away from one another like Locusts 80

Their Fleeing will be of no Use 80

They will beg even for a Single Good on the Day of Judgement 80

Records of Deeds 81

The Fragrance of Good Intention Alerts the Angels 81

Respite in Recording Good and Evil 81

They Note Even the Blowing at Fire 81

Amirul Mu’minin ‘Ali (a.s.) Addresses Indecent Youth Talkers 82

Wisdom Behind Record of Deeds 82

Come! Look at My Mark sheet 82

I Wish they had not Given me my Record of Deeds 83

How the Record will be Given from Behind 83

Severe Pain after Reading the Record 83

No Suspension or a Suspension for a Thousand Years 84

Good Tidings for the Friends of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) 84

The Holy Prophet will Pay-Up for the Rights of the Shi’as 84

Thanks to God our Account has been Entrusted to Generous Persons 84

Peace and Comfort is Only for the Faithful 86

The Profit of Materialists is Doubtful 86

Four Groups of People according to their Accounting 86

Punishment for a Hundred Years due to One Sin 86

The Provision of Righteousness is to Die with Faith 87

Nullifying of Deeds and Expiation of Sins 87

Curtain between Hatim and Nausherwan and the Fire of Hell 88

Sins which make a Man Die Faithless 88

Faith is the Expiation of Disbelief and Repentance is the Atonement of Sins 88

Good Deeds which Remove Evils 89

Questions on the Day of Resurrection 89

Bounties would be Questioned 90

How was your Behaviour with the Bounty of Wilayat? 90

Everyone will be Questioned about Four Things 90

Questioning about Worship Acts 91

Sins are of Three Kinds 91

Mirsad or the Valley of People's Rights 91

Suspension for One Year because of a Straw 91

A Thousand Years in the Valley of Oppressions 92

Encroachment of Others' Rights 92

No Oppressor will Escape the Punishment due to Him 92

Repayment of Dues of Believers from Unbelievers and Vice Versa 92

Cut in Punishment Equal to Right 93

Fear of the Claim of Rights 93

Most Poor on the Day of Judgement 93

Dealing Based on Grace 93

The Cistern of Kauthar 94

Kauthar, Heavenly Wine - Springs of Milk and Honey 94

Kauthar becomes Happy with the Mourners of Husain (a.s.) 94

The Ears Acquainted with the Heavenly Song 94

Appearance of Muhammad and Aale Muhammad 95

‘Ali Ibne Abi Talib, the Distributor of Paradise and Hell 96

Sirat Bridge 96

A Thousand Bridles of Hell in the Hands of a Thousand Angels 96

The First Valley 97

Ties of kinship, trust and Wilayat 97

Dishonesty in Wealth and Talk 97

Permit of the Wilayat of ‘Ali (a.s.) for Crossing the Sirat 97

Second Valley -Prayer 97

Teach the Prayer to Children and make them Habituated to it 98

Reciting 'Bismillah' by a Child Ends the Chastisement of his father 98

Third Valley - Khums and Zakat 98

Fourth Valley - Fasting 99

Fifth Valley - Hajj 99

Sixth Valley - Ritual Purity 100

Seventh Valley - Oppression 100

Forty Years Imprisonment and Forty Years of Chastisement and Scolding 100

A Strange Story about Burning in Barzakh 101

Intercession 102

The Entire Creation including Messengers will need the Intercession of Prophet Muhammad 102

Greater Intercession is the Prerogative of Only Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.) 102

Intercession at Every Stage 103

Student who Became a Doctor 103

An Indian Sayyid Lady and Leprosy 103

You will Die after Ten Days 104

Double Life Due to Blessings of Husain (a.s.) 104

Our Hope is Closely Connected with the Intercession of the Holy Prophet 105

Intercession is the Anchor of Hope, not of Pride 105

Wall between People of Paradise and People of Hell 105

One's Radiance (Noor) will be of no use to others 106

Be Anxious about that Day's Noor only Today 106

Araaf, a Place between Paradise and Hell 106

Paradise, the Greatest and Everlasting Bounty 107

True Abode of Peace (Darus Salaam) is Paradise 107

Heavenly Rivers mentioned in the Holy Qur’an 107

Heavenly Dresses 108

Palaces and Precincts in Paradise 108

Sample of Heavenly Chambers 109

Chairs, Carpets and Vessels in Paradise 109

Heavenly Women and Houries 109

Houries are Very Far from Impurities 110

Heavenly Women are Much More Beautiful and Attractive 110

The Marriage of the Women of Paradise will be of their Own Choice 111

Flowers and Scents in Paradise 111

Light in Paradise 111

Songs and Voices in Paradise 112

Prophet Dawood (a.s.) and the Singing Houries of Paradise 112

Reward of Discarding Singing in this World 112

Spiritual Favours and Tastes 112

Greetings by Angels and the Honour of Communicating with the Lord of Universe 113

Neighbourhood of the Prophet and his Progeny 113

Daily Feasts Hosted by the Messengers (a.s.) 114

Admonition - Why Do We Not Try To Get Paradise? 114

The Hell 115

Punishment of Hunger and Thirst in Hell 115

Zaqqoom - Burning Food for Sinners 116

It will Melt the Outer and the Inner Bodies of the Offenders 116

Ghisleen, Zaree, Sadeed and Ghassaq 116

Dress of the People of Hell 117

Discharge, Shackles and Chains 117

Guardians of Hell 117

Hell and its Gates 117

Hellfire has Intelligence 118

The Light of the Faithfuls will Lower Flames of Hell 118

Sinners will Live in a Very Congested Place 118

Mental or Spiritual Torture 119

Unbeliever will not Enter Paradise 119

Deprivation from Divine Bounties is the Worst Punishment 119

Deadly Regrets in Hell 120

Scolding and Spiritual Punishment in Hell 120

Taunting by Satans and Withholding of Weeping by Hell Dwellers 121

You too Found it True what was Promised to you 121

Stay with the Satans in Hell will be a Painful Punishment 121

They will Deny one another 122

Blaming One Another in Hell 122

Will this Weak Body be able to bear such Punishments? 122

Man's Body will also become as Hard as his Heart 122

In the Hereafter, Truth will Overtake Appearance 123

Is Painful Punishment Becoming Divine Justice? 123

Self Prepared Punishment 124

Forced Repentance is Useless 125

A Short Lifespan and Permanent Punishment 125

Eternity will be Based on the Intention of Good or Evil 125

Notes 126