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, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes after it is harder

When the Commander of the Believers, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him), would stand by a grave, he would weep until his tears would wet his beard. It was said to him: You remember Paradise and Hellfire and you do not cry out of longing for Paradise or fear of Hellfire, but you weep because of the grave?!

So he said: Verily, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter; if one is saved and delivered from it, then what comes next will be easier. But if one is not saved from its torment, then what follows of the punishment will be even more severe than what is in it.