Hawzah News Agency – The merciful prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his household says:
إنّ القَبرَ أوَّلُ مَنازِلِ الآخِرَةِ، فإن نَجا مِنهُ فما بَعدَهُ أيسَرُ مِنهُ، وإنْ لم يَنجُ مِنهُ فما بَعدَهُ لَيسَ أقلَّ مِنهُ.
'The grave is the first station of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, whatever comes after it is easier. And if he is not saved from it, whatever comes after it is no less difficult than it.'
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, v. 6, p. 242, no. 64