Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The slaughtering of death takes place after the people of Paradise have entered Paradise and the people of Hell have entered Hell, and after those sinful monotheists whom Allah wills to bring out of Hell have been brought out.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Death will be brought in the form of a black-and-white ram. Then a caller will call out: ‘O people of Paradise... O people of Hell...’ Then it will be slaughtered, and it will be said: ‘O people of Paradise, there is everlasting life and no death; O people of Hell, there is everlasting life and no death.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Another narration states: “When the people of Paradise have gone to Paradise and the people of Hell have gone to Hell, death will be brought...” and then it will be slaughtered.
This indicates that the slaughtering of death occurs after those who are destined to enter Hell among the monotheists have reached their eventual destination, and after the people of Paradise and Hell have settled in their respective abodes.
A Muslim who commits major sins does not thereby cease to be a Muslim. Therefore, it may be hoped that he will be able to answer the questions of the two angels concerning his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet ﷺ, even if he is sinful because of his deeds.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami رحمه الله indicated that the apparent meaning of the reports concerning the questioning of the two angels is that a believer—even if sinful—may answer them.
However, answering the questions in the grave does not necessarily mean that a sinful believer will be free from punishment for his sins. He may be punished in the grave according to what Allah wills, and such punishment may continue until the Day of Resurrection or may end before then.
There are authentic reports concerning the punishment of some Muslims because of particular sins, such as spreading malicious gossip and failing to protect oneself from urine.
It is authentically reported from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When one of you dies, his place is shown to him morning and evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, then it is the place of the people of Paradise; and if he is among the people of Hell, then it is the place of the people of Hell. It is said to him: ‘This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Regarding the sinful believer, scholars have mentioned more than one possible interpretation. Among these is that he may be shown his place in Paradise because he is ultimately among its people, even if he is punished before entering it.
Another possibility mentioned by some scholars is that he may be shown the place in Paradise that he would have attained, while also being shown what he faces because of his sins.
The precise reality of this matter is known to Allah alone. What can be affirmed is that a sinful believer may be punished in the Barzakh, but this does not necessarily mean that he will remain in Hell forever. If he dies upon pure monotheism, his ultimate destination is Paradise, if Allah wills.
We ask Allah to pardon us, keep us firm at death and in the grave, and make us among the people of Paradise.
And Allah knows best.