Barzakh - What the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw in Meraj

Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran:

 

And (nothing) has prevented Us from sending down the Signs (on their demand even now) except that the bygone people denied the same (Signs. Thereupon, they were immediately seized by destruction and were not granted any respite. O Beloved, We do not want to repeat that with your people after We have raised you as Our Messenger.) And We gave the people of Thamud an open Sign (of) a she-camel (of Salih) but they did her wrong. And We do not send Signs but to rouse fear (for the last time before the torment arrives. Then, when that Sign is rejected, the devastating torment is sent forthwith).  Surah Isra (17:59)

 

For the sake of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Allah Ta'ala has granted countless favors to this Ummah.  The Lord Almighty has granted uncountable ni’mah to this Ummah.  Difficulties have been removed and the Ummah has been granted ease and convenience in every matter.

 

Among these matters of ease and convenience, one is that we are not taken to task the moment the sin is committed, but we are given a chance to repent from the sins.  A general punishment is not sent on the Ummah.

 

Time and again, many signs are revealed.  Sometimes, it is an eclipse and some other times, it is an earthquake.  Somewhere in the world an epidemic starts and somewhere else, people are in the grip of the storm and yet somewhere else, a tsunami batters the coastlines.

 

Why are these signs of nature, these signs of the wrath of Allah Ta'ala, sent?  Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran:

 

And (nothing) has prevented Us from sending down the Signs (on their demand even now) except that the bygone people denied the same (Signs. Thereupon, they were immediately seized by destruction and were not granted any respite. O Beloved, We do not want to repeat that with your people after We have raised you as Our Messenger.) And We gave the people of Thamud an open Sign (of) a she-camel (of Salih) but they did her wrong. And We do not send Signs but to rouse fear (for the last time before the torment arrives. Then, when that Sign is rejected, the devastating torment is sent forthwith). Surah Isra (17:59)

 

All these signs are revealed so that the heedless humans are shaken out of their heedlessness, so that those who are steeped in sins become pious, so that those who are immersed in seeking this world, start seeking the hereafter, so that people repent their sins and perform the dealings of this world also with piety.

 

Please note that in the heavenly journey of Meraj, there are 2 messages for the Ummah:

 

(1)  Correction of beliefs.

(2)  Correction of deeds.

 

We will see what the heavenly journey of Meraj says about correction and enhancement of the deeds.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw many things in the journey of Meraj.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw the pious in a good condition and the sinners in the worst condition.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) related this for the sake of the Ummah.  There are lessons for us in these anecdotes.  Looking at the examples of the pious, we should try to perform good deeds.  Keeping the condition of the sinners, we should make a firm resolve to stop sinning.

 

The examples of the pious are highly effective in doing good and are beacons of guidance for this world and the next.  The condition of the sinners is a warning for us and there are lessons in them for us.

 

While going from Masjid Haraam to Masjid Aqsa, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw these conditions of Barzakh (the netherworld).  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw good deeds and bad deeds as they appear in the Barzakh and described them for the sake of the Ummah, so that the beautiful forms of the good deeds encourage the Ummah to perform good deeds and the hideous forms of the bad deeds turn them away from the bad deeds.

 

The netherworld (Barzakh) has been most concisely explained by Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan Abul Hasanaat Syed Abdullah Shah Sahab (May Allah shower His mercy on him):

 

Translation:  Every deed, whether good or bad, leaves its effect on the heart and the soul and gets imprinted into the netherworld.  Every deed appears in its form in the netherworld.  This netherworld is called as Qabr (i.e. the grave) also.  The form the deeds take in the netherworld remains the same until the Qiyamah.  Then in the Qiyamah, when this world and the netherworld are both destroyed, the material veil (Kasafat) is removed and the whole world will become fine and radiant, then the form which the deed had taken in the netherworld will emerge in its full form.

 

Every good and bad deed will be present in 3 forms:

 

(1)  Its performance.

 

(2)  Its virtual emergence.

 

(3)  Its actual emergence.

 

This can be understood with the example of recording.  The words uttered are recorded and when the record is played the words are heard.

 

When the words are uttered, it is the actual performance of the act.  When the words/voice is recorded, it is the example of their being imprinted in the netherworld.  When the record is played, the same voice/words are heard, this is what will happen in Qiyamah.

 

Similarly, no Muslim should have any doubt in that whatever they do, be it good or bad, that act will not get imprinted in the netherworld and will not emerge fully in Qiyamah, as the laws of nature cannot be violated.  In the same way the system of good and bad deeds cannot be done away with.  (Merajnama, Pg. No. 44/45)

 

Reward for those who strive on the path to Allah Ta'ala

 

It is mentioned in Majma ‘Uz Zawaid about those who strive on the path to Allah Ta'ala:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that a mount was presented to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), which would place its first step on the last limits of sight.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) rode it.  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) was also with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw a community who would farm for a day.  When they would reap the crop the next day, the crop would again be ready.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O Jibreel (May peace be upon him), who are these people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  These are those who strive in the path of Allah Ta'ala.  The reward of their virtues will be given to them 700-fold.  Whatever they spend Allah Ta'ala will give them the best return of what they spend.  (Majma ‘Uz Zawaid, Hadith No. 235)

 

We know that Jihad is permitted only in special circumstances and is subject to conditions.  However, a believer can perform Jihad against his/her lower self each and every day.  This is the Jihad Akbar.  Through this, we can get a 700-fold reward.

 

Palaces in Jannah for those who master their anger and forgive people

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given glad tidings for those who control their anger and forgive people.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation:  In the night of Meraj, I saw in Jannah palaces of the same height.  I asked Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  For whom are these palaces?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  These palaces are for those who control their anger and forgive people.  (Kanzul Ummal, Hadith No. 7016)

 

Punishment for those who don’t offer Salaat

 

Salaat is the foremost form of worship in Islam.  It is given in Majma ‘Uz Zawaid:

 

Translation of Hadith:  An unlucky group was embroiled in terrible difficulties.  Their heads are crushed with huge, heavy stones.  The moment the head is crushed, it again reverts back to its normal size and it is again crushed.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  Who are these unlucky people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  These are those people whose heads did not bow to Allah Ta'ala.  (Majma ‘Uz Zawaid, Hadith No. 235)

 

Those who don’t pay Zakaat will never be satiated

 

An essential article of Islam is Zakaat.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw in the night of Meraj:

 

Translation of Hadith:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) passed a group who were nude.  There were rags covering their private parts and Satar.  Their condition was that they would eat the thorny bushes and trees of hell, hot stones and embers, but they would not get satiated.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked: O Jibreel (May peace be upon him)!  Who are these people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  These are those who wouldn’t pay Zakaat of their wealth.  Allah Ta'ala did not oppress them and Allah Ta'ala doesn’t oppress anybody.  (Majma ‘Uz Zawaid, Hadith No. 235)

 

Stomachs filled with snakes

 

Those who exploit the need of the poor folk and take usury, will be given terrible punishments.  It is mentioned in a Hadith:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  In the night of Meraj I passed a group whose stomachs were (huge) like houses.  Snakes and scorpions were visible from the outside.  I asked Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  Who are these people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  These are those who consume usury.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 2359)

 

Greater reward for those who give loans

 

On one hand, where the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw this punishment for usurious people, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw in the night of Meraj the reward for those who give loans to people to help them out without charging usury.  There is a Hadith:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  In the night of Meraj, I saw written on the gates of Jannah, “The reward of Sadqa is 10-fold and the reward for loan is 18-fold.”  I told Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  O Jibreel!  What is this that the reward of loan is greater than the reward of Sadqa?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  This is because the one who asks does so even when there is no need whereas the one who takes a loan does so only out of need.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 2525)

 

Punishment for those speakers who don’t act upon what they say

 

Doing good oneself and exhorting others to do good are both necessary.  However, exhorting others but forgetting one’s own self is dangerous.  There is a Hadith about this:

 

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The night when I was given a tour, I passed by a group whose lips were cut with fiery scissors.  I asked Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  O Jibreel!  Who are these people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  These are those speakers of your Ummah who loved the world.  They would enjoin others to do good and would forget themselves although they would read the book of Allah Ta'ala.  Don’t they have sense?  (Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal, Hadith No. 13193)

 

Punishment for those who backbite

 

Backbiting (Gheebah) is a great sin.  Just see what punishment is in store for those who backbite.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When I was taken on Meraj, I passed a group whose nails were of bronze with which they were scratching at their face and chests.  I asked Jibreel (May peace be upon him):  Who are these people?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  These are those who would eat the flesh of other people (backbite) and attack others’ dignities.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 4880)