Question:

In what way do the deceased stay alive until the Last Day?

Response:

Durais Al-Kinani reported that he asked Imam Al-Baqir (a.): ,,What is the state of the Muslims, who profess unity (tawhid) and bear witness of Muhammad (s.) as a prophet and die while they neither have an Imam nor realize the closeness (wilayah) to you?” He said: ,,As for these people, they are in their graves, which they do not leave. Whoever had a good deed to show and from whom no enmity was visible, a furrow is prepared for him to Paradise, which God created in the West, so that the spirit enters there in his grave until the Day of Resurrection, until he meets God, Who will call him to account according to His reckoning and misdeeds. So it goes with him to the paradise or to the fire. These are the people, who are set aside for the command of God and the same will be done with those, who are considered weak (Mustad’af) and with the mentally challenged and children and offspring of the Muslims, who did not reach puberty. But as for the inciters of enmity (Nasib) who turn to the direction of prayer (Qiblah), a furrow is prepared for them to the fire that God created in the east, so that to them, the flame, the spark, the smoke, and the blazing heat that erupts will enter until the Day of Resurrection. After that, their outcome ends in hell: ﴾In the fire they are lit. Then they say to them: ﴾Where are those, whom you associated besides God?﴿ (40:72-74) By which is meant: ﴾Where is your Imam, whom you chose instead of the Imam, whom God appointed as the Imam for the people?﴿ Then God said to His Prophet (s.): ﴾So be patient, the promise of God is true. So whether We will show you some, of what We threaten them with.﴿ So regarding the punishment: ﴾..or We will let you die, to Us they will be brought back.﴿” (40:77) [Tafsir-ul-Qummi, Volume 3 page 916]

عن ضريس الكناني عن الإمام الباقر عليه السلام قال: قلت له جعلت فداك ما حال الموحدين المقرين بنبوة محمد صلى الله عليه وآله من المسلمين المذنبين الذين يموتون وليس لهم إمام ولا يعرفون ولايتكم؟ فقال: اما هؤلاء فإنهم في حفرهم لا يخرجون منها فمن كان له عمل صالح ولم يظهر منه عداوة فإنه يخد له خدا إلى الحنة التي خلقها الله بالمغرب فيدخل عليه الروح في حفرته إلى يوم القيامة حتى يلقى الله فيحاسبه بحسناته وسيئاته فاما إلى الجنة واما إلى النار فهؤلاء الموقوفون لامر الله قال: وكذلك نفعل بالمستضعفين والبله والأطفال وأولاد المسلمين الذين لم يبلغوا الحلم، واما النصاب من أهل القبلة فإنهم يخد لهم خدا إلى النار التي خلقها الله في المشرق فيدخل عليهم اللهب والشرر والدخان وفورة الحميم إلى يوم القيامة ثم بعد ذلك مصيرهم إلى الجحيم في النار يسجرون ثم قيل لهم أين ما كنتم تشركون من دون الله أي أين إمامكم الذي اتخذتموه دون الامام الذي جعله الله للناس إماما، ثم قال الله لنبيه فاصبر ان وعد الله حق فاما نرينك بعض الذي نعدهم أي من العذاب أو نتوفينك فالينا يرجعون

Muhammad ibn Husain reported, that Imam Ali (a.) said: ,,The person is not considered weak (Mustad’af), whom the proof reached, so that he heard it and he became aware of it to his heart. Our matter is heavy and troublesome. None endures it, except for a believing servant whose heart God tested for faith and none internalizes our saying except for faithful breasts and calm minds.” [Nahj-ul-Balaghah of Ar-Radi, page 129 Sermon 189]

عن محمد بن الحسين عن الإمام علي عليه السلام قال: ولا يقع اسم الاستضعاف على من بلغته الحجة فسمعتها أذنه ووعاها قلبه إن أمرنا صعب مستصعب لا يحمله إلا عبد مؤمن امتحن الله قلبه للايمان ولا يعى حديثنا إلا صدور أمينة وأحلام رزينة