(82) Deaths and Resurrections
[This chapter provides] evidence that the saying of the Almighty, “It is He Who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life” (Q 22:66) does not negate that Allāh will bring mankind back to life more than two times. This disproves the view of those who reject the possibility of punishment in the graves and think that Allāh will not bring back anyone to life in his grave before the Day of Judgment. These people adduce the following verse: “They will say: Our Lord! Twice hast Thou made us without life, and twice hast Thou given us Life!” (Q 40:11)
This verse uses a kind of expression in which something is said to occur a given number of times but it does not mean that it cannot possibly happen more than that particular number of times. I have explained this on many occasions in my books. Therefore, understand and do not fall into error.
Allāh says: “Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: Oh! How shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death? But Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, and then raised him up (again).” (Q 2:259)
Allāh has returned this servant twice to life before the resurrection of the Day of Judgment and He will resurrect him on the Judgment Day as well. This verse makes it clear that Allāh gave this person life twice, the second time after he had been dead for a hundred years. He will give him life again on the Day of Judgment. He will resurrect him. This means he will be given life three times. Allāh also declares: “Did you not turn by vision to those who abandoned their homes, though they were thousands (in number), for fear of death? Allah said to them: Die: Then He restored them to life.” (Q 2:243)
I have explained it in my first book, Maᶜānī al-Qurᵓān (Meaning of the Qurᵓān) that such happenings are cosmic matters. Allah caused them to die by His command, “Die,” as the context of the verse makes clear. The bringing back to life was accomplished after their death. The Divine statement “Then He restored them to life” proves that they were dead and Allāh brought them back to life after their death. This is a group of people to whom Allāh gave life twice before the resurrection and Allāh will give them life again on the Day of Judgment. Thus the Book of Allah proves that Allāh will give them life three times.
How, then, can the claim of these ignorant people that Allāh will not give life to anybody in the grave before the time of resurrection be true? It cannot be. The clear statements of the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Prophet disprove their false claim.
Allāh has declared that the family of Pharaoh is thrown into the Fire every dawn and dusk, and it is clear from the context of the verse that the Fire is brought to them every morning and every evening before the Day of Judgment. It is improbable that the Fire should be applied to a lifeless body without the body knowing that the Fire is being applied to it. The Prophet also has stated that the Fire is presented to every dead man who deserves it. He also told us that Paradise is presented to every dead man morning and evening if he deserves it.
(….) Yaḥyā b. Ḥakīm → Yaḥyā b. Saᶜīd → ᶜUbayd Allāh → Nāfiᶜ → Ibn ᶜUmar → the Prophet:
When any one of you dies, he is shown his place both in the morning and in the evening. If he is from the people of the Fire, it is said to him: This is the place to which you will be resurrected.
Abū Bakr said: I have collated different versions of this narrative in Kitāb al-Janāᵓiz (Chapter on Funerals) in the sections on punishment in the graves. This narrative explains and clarifies that the ones buried in the graves are given life therein. It also explains and clarifies that Paradise and Hell have been created, contrary to the belief of the Jahmīs who say that Heaven and Hell have not yet been created.
Now note a narrative that proves, in accordance with the verses I have recited, that Allāh brings back to life the people in their graves before the final resurrection on the Day of Judgment. I have not produced this narrative in the chapter on punishment in the graves for it does not contain a mention of the punishment in the graves. On the contrary, it relates to bringing humans back to life in the graves and not punishment therein.
592. (10) Yūsuf b. Mūsā → Jarīr → Sulaymān al-Taymī → Anas → the Prophet:
I passed by Moses who was offering Prayer in his grave.
The above passage is translated from Kitāb al-Tawḥīd by Imām Abū Bakr Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311 AH). English translation by Dr Tariq Mahmood Hashmi.
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