Munkar and Nakeer

Munkar and Nakeer are the angels who test the faith of dead in their graves, according to teachings of Islam. The literal meaning of Munkar and Nakeer is of ‘the Denied and the Denier’ in Arabic.

According to Quran and Islam, one’s soul passes through a stage called Barzakh after death. The soul exists in grave during stage of barzakh. The soul will remain in grave even if the body is destroyed completely. The questioning of soul starts immediately after funeral is over and all people leave the grave.  Munkar and Nakeer come to the grave and prop the departed soul upright in the grave. They will ask three questions from the soul, “Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet and What is your religion?”. If the person is righteous, the soul will answer the questions correctly that “Allah is my lord, Muhammad (SAW) is my Prophet and Islam is my religion.” Those who answer the questions correctly will spend their stage of Barzakh pleasantly but if the questions are answered incorrectly the time in grave will be harsh.

According to teachings of Islam and Quran, the angels are described as having solid black eyes, carrying hammers, tongue slashing fire flames as they speak and their shoulder span measured in miles. Those who answer the questions incorrectly are beaten and tortured everyday until Allah Almighty order for punishment to stop.