While in Egypt, Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah sanctify his soul—was asked about “punishment in the grave”:

“Does it affect both the soul and the body, or the soul alone, without the body? Is the deceased punished in his grave while alive or while dead? Whether the soul returns to the body or not, do they both share in punishment and bliss, or does this affect one without the other?”

He replied—may Allah be pleased with him and make the Garden of Firdaws his final abode and dwelling place. Amen:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Rather, punishment and bliss affect both the soul and the body, according to the agreement of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah. The soul experiences bliss and punishment independently of the body, and it is punished while joined to the body. The body is joined to it, so in this state both experience bliss and punishment together, just as the soul experiences them independently of the body. As for whether the body experiences punishment and bliss without the soul, there are two well-known views