Islamic Creed
The Difference Between the Believer and the Disbeliever in the Grave
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen
Local English rendering of the selected Arabic question and answer. The Arabic source remains authoritative; this is not an official published English edition.
Question
May Allah bless you. This questioner, H.H. from Riyadh, says in his first question: it is said that when the disbeliever is placed in the grave and Munkar and Nakir come to him, they come in terrifying and frightening forms. Does the believer see Munkar and Nakir in the same form in which the disbeliever sees them? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer (English translation)
The Shaykh:
It is well known that the believer and the disbeliever are not equal regarding the punishment and bliss of the grave. The believer is blessed in his grave: it is expanded for him, illuminated for him, and a door to Paradise is opened for him. The disbeliever, on the other hand, is punished in his grave: it is constricted for him until his ribs interlock — we seek refuge in Allah — and a door to the Fire is opened for him.
As for the questioning itself: two angels come to the deceased and ask him about three things — his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. The believer says: 'My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my prophet is Muhammad.' The disbeliever says: 'Ah, ah, I do not know; I heard people saying something so I said it.' This is the extent of what I have at present regarding the answer to this question.