Verily, the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what comes after it is easier, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes after it is harder

Arabic text

عَن هَانِئ مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: كَانَ عُثْمَانُ إِذَا وَقَفَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ بَكَى حَتَّى يَبُلَّ لِحْيَتَهُ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: تُذْكَرُ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ فَلَا تَبْكِي، وَتَبْكِي مِنْ هَذَا؟ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنْزِلٍ مِنْ مَنَازِلِ الْآخِرَةِ، فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَيْسَرُ مِنْهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْجُ مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ».

Translation

Hāni’, the freed slave of ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with him), reported: Whenever ‘Uthmān stood by a grave, he would cry until he would wet his beard. It was said to him: You remember Paradise and Hellfire and you do not cry, and yet you cry because of this? So he said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily, the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what comes after it is easier, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes after it is harder."

Explanation

When the Commander of the Believers, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him), would stand by a grave, he would weep until his tears would wet his beard. It was said to him: You remember Paradise and Hellfire and you do not cry out of longing for Paradise or fear of Hellfire, but you weep because of the grave?! So he said: Verily, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter; if one is saved and delivered from it, then what comes next will be easier. But if one is not saved from its torment, then what follows of the punishment will be even more severe than what is in it.

Benefits

• Highlighting ‘Uthmān's fear of Allah Almighty although he was one of those given the glad tidings of entering Paradise.
• It is legitimate to weep upon remembering the horrors of the grave and the Day of Judgment.
• Establishing the bliss and torment of the grave.
• A stern warning against the torment of the grave.

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Heart-Softeners and Sermons
• Terrors of the Graves