Was Sa'd ibn Mu'adh the only one to be spared the squeezing of the grave, and is the squeezing of the grave obligatory for every Muslim, even if he performs actions that save him from the torment of the grave?

The embrace of the grave (dhammat al-qabr) is the first thing the deceased encounters in the Barzakh (interim world). Authentic texts have indicated that it is a reality. Scholars have differed on whether it afflicts the believer and what their state will be within it, offering two opinions:

The first opinion: It afflicts every believer and is severe for them, but it is quickly relieved.

The second opinion: It is an embrace of gentleness and affection for righteous believers, while for disobedient ones, it is severe.

The first opinion appears to be the most preponderant: that the embrace of the grave is severe and afflicts everyone, with its intensity varying according to a person's deeds. Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah considered it one of the reasons for the forgiveness of sins. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh did not escape it, despite his virtue.