Hadith: Verily, the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what comes after it is easier than it is. And if one is not saved from it, then what comes after it is harder than it is

عن هانئ مولى عثمان قال: كان عثمان إذا وقف على قبر بَكى حتى يَبُلَّ لحيته، فقيل له: تَذْكُر الجنة والنار فلا تَبكي وتبكي مِن هذا؟ فقال: إن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «إنَّ القبرَ أولُ مَنْزِل من منازل الآخرة، فإنْ نجا منه فما بعده أيسر منه، وإنْ لم ينجُ منه فما بعده أشد منه».
[حسن] - [رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه وأحمد]

Hāni’, the freed slave of ‘Uthmān, reported: Whenever ‘Uthmān stood by a grave, he would cry until his beard became wet. It was said to him: "You remember Paradise and Hell and you do not cry, and yet you cry over this?" So he said: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Verily, the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter. If one is saved from it, what comes after it is easier than it is. And if one is not saved from it, then what comes after it is harder than it is.'"
[Good hadith] - [Narrated by Ibn Majah - Narrated by At-Termedhy - Narrated by Ahmad]

Explanation

‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) used to cry whenever he stood by a grave until his beard became wet with his tears. It was said to him: "You remember Paradise and Hell and you do not cry, and yet you cry over this." He said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say that the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter. If a person passes the trial, distress, and punishment of the grave peacefully, what comes after it is easier. This is because, if he has sins, they will be expiated by means of the punishment of the grave. If, however, he does not pass this stage safely, is not saved from the punishment of the grave, and his all sins are not forgiven, then what comes after it is harder, because the punishment of Hell is more severe than the punishment of the grave.