Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) - Sahih al-Bukhari 1375

This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) concerns the punishment of the grave, a fundamental Islamic belief. The Prophet heard a dreadful sound after sunset and attributed it to Jewish people being punished in their graves.

Context and Meaning

The timing "after sunset" is significant as it's when darkness begins, often associated with the unseen realm. The "dreadful voice" indicates the severity of grave punishment, which serves as either a disciplinary measure for believers or actual punishment for disbelievers.

The specific mention of Jews refers to those who rejected Prophet Muhammad's message despite having previous scriptures that foretold his coming. This serves as a warning about the consequences of rejecting divine truth.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Qurtubi explains that grave punishment can affect both believers and disbelievers - for believers it's purification from sins, while for disbelievers it's actual punishment.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes the Prophet's ability to perceive unseen matters through divine revelation, and that this incident served as both a warning and confirmation of the reality of the afterlife.

Scholars emphasize that this narration doesn't imply all Jews are punished, but specifically those who knowingly rejected truth after it became clear to them.

Legal and Theological Implications

This hadith confirms the reality of the punishment of the grave (adhab al-qabr), which is established through numerous authentic narrations.

It reminds Muslims to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave in their daily prayers and supplications.

The narration serves as a reminder of the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and the importance of preparing for the afterlife through righteous deeds.