Praise be to Allaah.
We have found three opinions concerning this issue.
1 – That they will be questioned in Syriac.
This was the view of al-Balqeeni, as was narrated from him by
his student al-Suyooti in his essay Sharh al-Sudoor fi Ahwaal al-Mawta
wa’l-Quboor – but he did not give any reliable evidence for that.
2 – That they will be questioned in Arabic.
This was stated by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy
on him). Evidence of that may be seen in the apparent meaning of the
ahaadeeth, because they describe what will happen in al-Barzakh in Arabic,
and there is no reason why this should not be true, and Allaah will inspire
everyone who is tested in the grave so that he will understand this language
and answer in it.
Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
With regard to the questioning by the two angels, the
apparent meaning of the saheeh hadeeth is that it will be in Arabic, because
it says that they will say to him: “What do you know about this man?” etc.
However it may also be understood as meaning that each person will be
addressed in his own language. End quote.
Al-Imtaa’ bi’l-Arba’een al-Mutabaayinatu’l-Samaa’
(p. 122).
3 – That he will be questioned in a language that he
understands.
This was mentioned by Ibn Hajar as a possibility, as stated
above.
This was also stated in fatwas by the Standing Committee, and
by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on them).
It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (3/450): When
a person dies and is buried, two angels come to him and ask him about his
Lord, his Prophet and his religion in a language that he understands. End
quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
One of the scholars said: He will be questioned in Syriac.
Subhaan-Allaah! Syriac is the language of the Christians. It seems – and
Allaah knows best – that this idea was taken from the Christians, so that
they could boast and say, Our language is the language of questioning in the
grave for everyone who dies.
What appears to be the case is that he will be questioned in
whatever language he understands. If he is an Arab then he will be
questioned in Arabic and if he is a non-Arab then he will be questioned in
his own language. End quote.
Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Safaareeniyyah
(p. 435), Dar al-Watan.
In our opinion it is better to refrain from commenting on
that because there is no saheeh text on this issue, and concerning oneself
with these details is something which will not benefit the questioner in
either religious or worldly terms. It is sufficient for him to believe that
he will be questioned in his grave, and to ask Allaah to help him to obey
Him and to inspire him with the right answers, and to make him steadfast
when he is questioned.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was asked the following question:
How will the people be addressed on the Day of Resurrection?
Will Allaah address them in Arabic? Is it true that the language of the
people of Hell will be Farsi and that the language of the people of Paradise
will be Arabic?
He (may Allaah have mercy on him) replied:
It is not known which language the people will speak on that
Day or in which language they will hear the words of the Lord, may He be
glorified and exalted, because Allaah has not told us anything about that,
and neither has His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him). It is not true that Farsi is the language of the people of Hell or
that Arabic is the language of the people of Paradise. We do not know of any
dispute concerning that among the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with
them); rather they all refrained from discussing that, because discussing
such matters is unnecessary talk. But there was a dispute concerning that
among later scholars.
Some people said that they will speak in Arabic, and others
said: Except the people of Hell, who will answer in Farsi, which will be
their language in Hell. Others said: They will be speak in Syriac, because
it is the language of Adam, and from it all other languages stemmed. Others
said: Except the people of Paradise, who will speak Arabic.
None of the proponents of these arguments have any evidence,
whether based on reason or textual evidence. Rather they are claims that are
devoid of any evidence. Allaah knows best and is Most Wise. End quote.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (4/300).
And Allaah knows best.
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