Munkar and Nakir, (Arabic: منكر و نكير‎) in Islamic eschatology, are angels who test the faith of the dead in their graves.^[1]

According to Islamic legend, after death, a person's soul passes through a stage called barzakh, where it exists in the grave (even if the person's body was destroyed, the soul will still rest in the earth near their place of death). ^[2] The questioning will begin when the funeral is over and the last person of the funeral congregation has stepped 70 steps away from the grave. Nakir and Munkar prop the deceased soul upright in the grave and ask three questions: "Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet? What is your religion?". A righteous believer will respond correctly, saying that their Lord is Allah, that Muhammad is their prophet and that their religion is Islam. If the deceased answers correctly, the time spent awaiting the resurrection is pleasant. Those who do not answer as described above are chastised until the day of judgment. ^[3]

Muslims believe that a person will correctly answer the questions not by remembering the answers before death (compare with the Egyptian Book of the Dead) but by their iman and deeds such as salah and shahadah (the Islamic profession of faith).

Munkar is sometimes transliterated as Monkir.

[edit] Cultural references

But thou, false Infidel! shalt writhe

Beneath avenging Monkir's scythe;

And from its torment 'scape alone

To wander round lost Eblis' throne;

The Giaour - Lord Byron

[edit] See also

• Punishment of the Grave

[edit] References

1. ^ Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, Entry: Munkar and Nakir
2. ^ "Life after death" at www.al-islam.edu.pk
3. ^ The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, Entry: Islam