Fatwa no. 13059
Q: The noble Messenger (peace be upon him) stated: The grave is either a garden of Paradise or a pit of Hell-Fire Whether the person is destined to enter Paradise or Hell-fire, all we know is that the body decomposes in the earth and worms eat it. In the Hadith our noble Messenger stated that Allah forbade the earth to decompose the remains of Prophets. Is this regarding the prophets only? If the person is destined to Paradise, does his body decompose in the grave, or does it stay then he enjoys the smell of Paradise? We hope you will explain this
A: It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: When one of you dies, he is shown his place (in the Hereafter) morning and evening; if he is among the inmates of Paradise, he is (shown the place) among the inmates of Paradise; and if he is among the denizens of Hell, he is (shown the place) among the denizens of Hell, and it would be said to him: That is your abode until Allah raises you on the
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Day of Resurrection (and sends you to your place). This is the narration of Al-Bukhari. It is one of the tenets of faith for Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream) to believe that bliss and punishment are experienced by man’s soul, and that the body is affected by this during the life of Barzakh (period between death and the Resurrection) and that bliss and punishment are experienced by the person whether his body stays or decomposes. We do not know how this happens; because it is of the matters that belong to the realm of Ghayb (the Unseen) about which we know nothing. We just have to believe in this, based on the evidence from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Ijma‘ (consensus of scholars).
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta