The traditions tell us that when a man is interred in his grave, two angels appear before him and question him about his belief, the tenets, the Tawhid, the Prophethood, the Succession, and according to some traditions about the way he spent his life, his way of income and how he spent it. He will answer truly if he is a true believer and be rewarded for his life but if he falters then he will be subjected to the punishment in purgatory.

Some traditions have named the angels as Nakir and Nakeer and some as Munkar and Nakeer. (1)

Imam Ali bin Hussein says:

“The Messenger used to give a sermon on every Friday and in such a manner that people could memorize and record what he said. He said:

“O people! Be pious and remember that you have to return to Him.”

And then the Imam spoke about the answers that the Messenger gave to the questions about the two angels appearing in the grave:

“Remember! The first thing that the two angels will ask you will be about the God you worship, the Messenger who has been sent you, your religion, the book that you recited, the Imam whose succession you had agreed upon. Then they will ask you about your age and where you died. They will ask you how you earned your wealth and where you spent it. Be cautious and think about yourselves. Be ready with your answers before the examination. If you have been the true follower of your religion, and those that are infallible then God will surely instill the answers in your mind. He will make you speak the truth and you will answer successfully. You will then be given the glad tidings of paradise and its great bounties and the angels together with the Spirit welcome you. If you are not like this then your tongue will falter, your answers will be wrong, you will be blind and then you will be told about the fire and the angels of torments will come for you.” (2)

The question that arises here is whether the question will be addressed to the symbolic body and the soul in purgatory of with this material body? The soul returns to it temporarily (but not totally just for the time he takes in giving the answers). And then the soul is questioned. From some traditions we understand the souls connect itself to this material to such an extent that it can hear, understand and answer the questions. (3)

Allama Majlisi has written about his research on the traditions connected with this issue:

Often the grave means the place where the soul will stay in purgatory.” (4)

The point to be mentioned here is that the traditions tell us that the questioning in the grave is not something ordinary that you may answer as much you please but they are the question the answer for which will come from deep within your soul and the Talqeen or reminder that is read is a helper and reminder and it is not that it has a independent effect. The answer will reflect the real hidden faith and the depth of belief.

1. Usul Kafi vol. 2 page 633 Hadith 26Behar-ol-Anwar vol. 6 page 222 and 223 Hadith 22 and 24.

2. Behar-ol-Anwar vol.6 page 223 Hadith 24. There are umpteen traditions in this regard. See Tafsir Burhan vol. 2 page 312 ( verse 27 of Surah Ibrahim) Tafsir Muhajat-ol- Baida vol. 8 page 309

3. Tafsir Burhan vol.2f page 314 verse 27 of Surah Ibrahim.

4. Behar-ol-Anwar vol. 6 page 271 hadith