They take proof from this statement of Allah Almighty, who says:
«لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتَ إِلَّا الْمَوْتَةَ الْأُولَى وَوَقَاهُمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ»”They will not taste there except the first death, and [Allah] will protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.” They argue from this verse that: If the dead [in the grave] are resurrected [and are tormented], they should taste two deaths, not one.
Another reason that the deniers argue, is the Quranic verse:
«قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَا» “They say: Woe to us, who woke us up from our dormitories? Mu’tazila say: It is clear from this verse that there is no grave punishment and if they were punished, they would not have said that.
Mu’tazila argue from reason and say: “Sometimes we see a dead or hanged person who is not punished, and it is also possible that a person is torn to pieces and eaten by predators. In this case, what is being punished?
Answer to the reasons of Mu’tazila:
The scholars have answered the first doubt of the Mu’tazila in this way that the meaning of this verse is the description of the people of Jannah and the pronoun in the word “فیها” refers to Jannah. It means that the people of Jannah will not die in Jannah.
“In Paradise, after the death they tasted in the world, they will not suffer death; because its people do not grow old, nor do they get sick, nor do they die.
In response to the second doubt, Allamah Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “These words of theirs do not contradict their punishment in the grave; Because this stage is like sleep in intensity and difficulty compared to the stages that come after it.
Allama Taftazani, may Allah have mercy on him, in response to the doubt of the Mu’tazila who say that the dead body is inanimate and there is no life in it, writes: “It is possible that the Almighty Allah creates some kind of life in all the parts of the dead body or in some of it, to the extent that understands the pain of torment or the pleasure of blessing. This perception of pain or pleasure does not require the return of the soul to the body, nor does it require that the dead move or shake, or that the effect of torment be evident on him. Even one who is drowned in water or torn to pieces by wild beasts or hanged will suffer, although we do not know about it.
