By G.M.Shakir (Adv.)

From the time of death of a person, until the Day of Judgment is a period which has been named by the Quran “Barzakh”.The Quran says, “so that I may do good deeds in the world that I have left behind." Never! This is just a statement which carries no value, it will be too late because there will be a barrier between them and the world they have just left till the Day they are raised to life again.          ”This word has been translated as barrier, curtain, rampart and partition. The reason being that human beings, during the mundane life, are unable to see what happens to an individual during this period. This is a barrier against free mixing of the persons living in this world and who have left it. The Quran has used it as barrier and hindrance to mixing in the following verse:  “He is the One Who has made the two seas rolling, the one sweet and fresh, the other salt and bitter, and set a rampart between them, an insurmountable barrier.  Furqan: 53”. It has again been used in the same sense in the verse      “He has made the two oceans apparently meeting together, yet between them is a barrier which they cannot cross.  Chapter 55”.
Since we cannot perceive the happenings of a person in the place and time, behind the curtain, we have to rely on Quran and Hadith on the subject. At this time, it may be pertinent to mention that Semitic tribes named the places of burial of their dead  “Qabar”.That is the reason we also call the places of burial as  “grave ”. The Quran has used the word “Barzakh” which covers all the persons who are dead be their bodies buried, cremated, drowned or disposed off in some other manner. So by Azab / reward of Qabar  is not meant what becomes to person in the grave but extends to that universe where such incident of good or bad treatment takes place. For the sake of convenience, we divided this period under two headings, according to the qualities of persons. a ,Those who spend their lives as per the commands of Allah (Pious souls) and those who spent it against the commands of Allah ( evil doers).

As far as the evil doers and disbelievers are, concerned the Quran clarifies that their punishment starts from the time the angles come to take their souls and it continues until the day of resurrection. As a proof for the beginning of punishment from the time of withdrawal of soul, the following verse is sufficient: “If thou couldst see how the angels receive those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs and (saying): Taste the punishment of burning! AlAnfal-50”.This verse, on the one hand lays down that the disbelievers are beaten at their backs, at the time of death and on the other hand that they are informed of tasting the fire. The tasting of fire is not said to be given after the day of resurrection. The beating at the time of the death has further been described in the verse 27 of chapter Mohammad “Then how (will it be with them) when the angels gather them, smiting their faces and their backs!” .These verses make it clear that the disbelievers and those who made the Allah displeased are beaten at the time of death. The Quran also makes it clear that the punishment is also awarded to hypocrites after the death but before the day of judgment in the following verse 101 of chapter Tauba “And among those around you of the wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the townspeople of Al-Medina (there are some who) persist in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad) knowest not. We know them, and we shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom”

This verse lays down that  the hypocrites will be punished twice .It is clear that first time they were punished when they lost the power as they enjoyed  by them in Medina, This includes the down fall of the scholarly leadership of Abdullah Bin Ubbay and insults which he received in the world even through the hands of his son. His son once prevented him from entering the city as he had used contemptuous language for the Prophet (SAW) and his followers (RA).The last type of punishment (third) is surely on the day of judgment. The Question arises about the second punishment. It is definitely between the death and day of judgment. The period between the judgment and death is definitely Barzakh .This is an instance of the torture during the life after the death but before the day of the judgment. This idea becomes stronger by reading the verse “    So Allah warded off from him the evils which they plotted, while a dreadful doom encompassed Pharaoh's folk. The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening; and on the day when the Hour upriseth (it is said): Cause Pharaoh's folk to enter the most awful doom.” Moomin.    “In this verse it is categorically mentioned that Pharaoh and his associates are presented before the fire each morning and evening and on the hour (when it arises) they will be entered in the most awful doom. In other words they are presented before the fire as punishment and the punishment will be severe on the day of judgement.Definitely before the day of judgment they are given punishment as per this verse. Another verse, which lays down clearly that there is punishment for the evil doers and unbelievers before the judgment is In the case of the persons who belied Prophet Noah (AS) they were given the punishment of the fire soon after they died. “  Because of their sins they were drowned, then made to enter a Fire. And they found they had no helpers in place of Allah.    Noah 25.  ”This verse is in unambiguous words lays down that  as soon as the people of Noah (AS) were drowned  they were entered made to enter fire. After their drowning and before they entry in the hell the word “Fa” has been used.  “Fa” is used to denote an immediate act, which followed an act already, mentioned. The translator has used the word then almost in the same meaning. At the same time Quran has used the past tense in this verse which also signifies that act of  entry to hell has already taken place after  the act of drowning. Lastly It may be pertinent to refer to another verse of Quran.According to this verse the wives of two Prophets (AS) due to their conduct  Were directed to enter the hell with others who enter the hell. “Allah citeth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, who were under two of our righteous slaves yet betrayed them so that they (the husbands) availed them naught against Allah and it was said (unto them): Enter the Fire along with those who enter Tehrim 10.” The words used are, again in present form and not in future.
As far as the pious personalities are concerned, those are found enjoying the respectable life after their death. No matter a believer and pious personalities are as group or individuals. This is clear from the verse of Nahal “Those whom the angels cause to die (when they are) good. They say: Peace is unto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do.Nahal 33”.This verse also lay down that when the angels withdraw the soul of good they direct them to go to heaven. There seems no period of waiting or delay for them. Similar is the case of the Martyrs .They have been declared living .The Quran reads “And call not those who are slain in the way of Allah "dead." Nay, they are living, only ye perceive not.Al Baqra-154, Martyrs are not only living but “Never think of those who are slain in the cause of Allah as dead. Nay they are alive, and well provided for by their Rabb; they are pleased with what Allah has given them and they are happy to think that there is nothing to fear or to regret for those believers whom they have left behind and who have not yet joined them in their bliss.  Verse 3.169-170“.Martyres receive “Riziq” from Allah and they are pleased on what they have been given to by Allah. The verse is in present form and nothing is found as suggesting that the martyres will get “Riziq “after the judgment day.
     Last but not the least is the verse of Chapter yaseen which says a person who was killed in the path of Allah was sent to paradise after his assassination and he thanked the Allah for this.” It was said (unto him): Enter Paradise. He said: Would that my people knew with what (munificence) my Lord hath pardoned me and made me of the honored ones!” What was given to this noble man is before the Day of Judgment and hence it is cleared that human beings are treated good or bad in the Barzakh also according to his deeds in this world.
What Hadith contains regarding the barzakh will be discussed in some other article.