November 2009 version

Many religions, not just Islam, teach about torment in Hell for the wicked after death. However, Islam also has a different concept, that can easily be confused with torment in Hell. It is torment in the grave itself.

A Jewish woman told Mohammed "May Allah protect you from the torment of the grave." After that, Mohammed prayed for refuge from the torment of the grave. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.1479 p.281-282

"’Amra reported that a Jewess came to ‘A’isha to ask (about something) and said: May Allah protect you from the torment of the grave! … I heard ‘A’isha say: I listened after this to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) seeking refuge from the torment of Fire and the torment of the grave." Sahih Muslim vol.2 book 4 no.1973,1974 p.428

One night Mohammed saw that Moses was praying in his grave. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.1637 p.1640

However, inconsistently, Adam and Moses argued in Heaven. Ibn-i-Majah vol.1 book 1 no.80 p.47-48

Once Mohammed passed by a dead Jewish woman’s grave whose family was weeping over her. Mohammed said, ‘You are crying over her, and she is being tormented in her grave. ‘Aisha said that did not necessarily mean the dead are tormented by the weeping of the living. Muwatta’ Malik 16.12.37

A Jewish woman died, and Mohammed said her relatives’ lamenting was tormenting her in her grave. Ibn-i-Majah vol.2 book 6 no.1595 p.446

A Jewish woman allegedly said people were tortured in the grave due to soiling themselves with urine. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.1348 p.217

Mohammed said a person was tortured in their grave for soiling themselves with urine. Bukhari vol.1 book 4 no.215,217 p.141,142. Ibn-i-Majah vol.1 book 1 no.347-349 p.198-199

Mohammed putting a fresh twig on a grave can benefit the unbelieving dead Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 2 no.575,576 and footnote 496 p.171-172

Alleged miracle of Mohammed telling which grave to dig up to get treasure. Also, it is OK for Muslims to dig up the graves of non-Muslims if they will get some benefit by it. Abu Dawud vol.2 no.3082 and footnote 2556 p.878

The torment of the grave is a fact. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.1311 p.199

"I once prayed behind Abu Hurayra over a child who had never done a wrong action and I heard him say, ‘O Allah, give him protection from the torment of the grave.’" Muwatta’ Malik 16.6.18

A Jewess told either Mohammed or a Muslim man they would be put to trial in the grave. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.2068 p.537

There is some torment for Muslims in their graves. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.2066 p.536

Mohammed heard two dead people being tormented in their graves. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.2072A, vol.2 no.2072B p.539

"’A’isha reported: The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) entered my house when a Jewess was with me and she was saying: Do you know that you would be put to trial in the grave? The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) trembled (on hearing this) and said: It is the Jews only who would be put to trial. ‘A’isha said: We passed some nights and then the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do you know that it has been revealed to me: ‘You would be put to trial in the grave’? ‘A’isha said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) seeking refuge from the torment of the grave after this." Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.1212 p.290

Mohammed sought refuge from the torment of the grave. Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.1214 p.290

Abu Huraira reported: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) seeking refuge from the torment of the grave after this (after the revelation)." Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.1213 p.290

"Masruq reported this hadith on the authority of ‘A’isha who said: Never did he (the Holy Prophet) say prayer after this in which I did not hear him seeking refuge from the torment of the grave." Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.1215 p.291

Mohammed sought refuge from the torment of the grave. Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.2065 p.535; vol.2 no.2069 p.537; vol.2 no.2071 p.538

"She (‘Ai’isha) said : Never did I see him (the Holy Prophet) afterwards but seeking refuge from the torment of the grave in prayer." Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.1214 p.290

The Bible speaks with great seriousness of Heaven and Hell, but it does not teach anything about harm to a person due to their physical body, or anything about their grave, or lack thereof, after death. Whether a Christian is buried, cremated, eaten by wild beasts, or martyred by being burned to ashes, that has no effect on their soul. It is the soul that is immortal, not our current bodies. But regardless of what happens to our "tents" after we die, we will be physically resurrected with new, better physical bodies. Now, here is a secret, a mystery, that early Christians were taught.

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NIV)