Is the torment of the grave part of the creed, and what is the wisdom behind the Prophet’s – peace and blessings be upon him – delay in explaining it until the Jewish woman mentioned it, this being a response to those who deny the Sunnah and claim that the belief in the torment of the grave is derived from Judaism, and that the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – did not know of it until the Jews taught him?

In the beginning, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, knew about the punishment of the grave for non-Muslims. When a Jewish woman claimed that Muslims were included in this punishment, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, denied her claim and informed her that his nation would not be subjected to punishment in their graves.

Then, it was revealed to him, peace and blessings be upon him, in Medina, that his nation would be tested in their graves, and that punishment would befall whomever Allah wills to punish among them.

After that, the Prophet, peace and and blessings be upon him, informed Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, about this, after she had initially denied the punishment of the grave for Muslims based on what she had heard from Jewish women. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, confirmed the news after Allah revealed it to him, and he began to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.

Belief in the punishment of the grave is part of the creed of Ahlus Sunnah (definition) wal Jama'ah. As for the Companions who passed away before the revelation of this belief, they are not obligated by it; rather, they are obligated by what was legislated during their lifetime.