What is the Rationale Behind the Punishment in the Grave for Carelessness with Urine?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I happened to come across a hadith where the Prophet, peace be upon him, stated that most of the punishment of the grave is due to urine.

My question is why this would have been said, as it seems rather strange relative to almost anything else that could cause punishment in the grave. All I can find online are responses that simply repeat what the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, not the reason behind it.

Could you possibly offer a little bit more of the rationale of this hadith?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Allah reward you for your question.

Punishment in the Grave for Backbiting, Carelessness with Urine

Abu Bakra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by two graves, and he said, “Verily, they are both being punished, but not for a sin difficult to avoid. As for one, he is punished for the habit of soiling himself with urine. As for the other, he is punished for the habit of backbiting.” [Ibn Majah]

Purification and cleanliness are prerequisites and part of the prayer. One has to ensure one is clean before any prayer. Habitual carelessness in urine will effect one’s prayer. One is standing in front of Allah Most High for a considerable time throughout the day; similarly, when one sits down to read the Book of Allah, but with urine carelessness, it will effect one’s spirituality and will not attract the blessings of it through the angels, etc. [San‘ani, al-Tanwir Sharh al-Jami‘ al-Saghir; Ibn Adam al-Ityubi, al-Dhakirat al-Uqba Fi Sharh al-Mujtaba]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.

Related:

• How to Clean after Urinating and Emptying the Bowels?
• Purification in Islam: A Comprehensive Reader
• Is the Deceased Punished for Improper Burial or the Wailing of Relatives?

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.