THE NATURE OF BARZAKH -No:13 - Horrible afflictions of five dead bodies in the grave which moved the sinners to make repentance of sins

Horrible afflictions of five dead bodies in the grave, which moved the sinners to make a repentance of their sins.

It has been reported in a tradition that a grief-stricken young man came to Abdul Malikرضي الله عنه. The latter enquired of him the cause of his grief. The young man said that he was aggrieved on account of the sin committed by him. Abdul Malik asked if his sins were bigger than the earth and the heavens. He said: Bigger than these. Abdul Malikرضي الله عنه asked if his sins were greater than those of the Empyrean. He said: Even more huge than that. Abdul Malikرضي الله عنه asked if his sins were so grievous that even God’s mercy could not absolve him from them. The young man kept quiet. 

Then Abdul Malikرضي الله عنه asked what sin he had committed. He said that he was a thief stealing the shrouds. The horrible condition of five dead bodies in the graves inclined him to repent for his sins. He said, ‘“‘I disinterred a grave and saw that the face of the dead body was turned aside from the Holy Qibla, and he was being tortured. I was terrified and turned back. A voice from the invisible speaker fell on my ears, urging me to ask the dead body why punishment was being inflicted on him. I expressed my inability to do so. The invisible speaker said that he was being tortured as he looked upon prayer as something insignificant.

I disinterred the second grave and saw that the dead body had transformed into a pig and was fettered. J was terrified to see it. No sooner did I turn back than I heard a voice from the invisible speaker urging me to ask the dead body why punishment was being inflicted on him. I expressed my inability to do so. The invisible speaker said that he was a drunkard and failed to abstain from its use, though it is strictly prohibited by God. I disinterred the third grave and saw that the dead body was tied to the nails of fire, and its tongue was pulled from the nape. I was terrified, and scarcely had I turned back when I heard a voice from the invisible speaker urging me to ask the dead body why he was being tortured. I expressed my inability to do so. The invisible speaker said that he was dishonest in his dealings with other men.

I disinterred the fourth grave and saw that the dead body was being roasted in a burning fire, and the angels were giving it a sound beating, and it was screaming. I was terrified and turned back. The Invisible speaker urged me to ask why punishment was being inflicted on him. I expressed my inability to do so. The invisible speaker told that he was a liar and used to swear upon false oaths.

I dug the fifth grave and saw that the angels were beating him with a column of fire, and the dead body was crying loudly. I was terrified, and hardly had I turned back when the invisible speaker urged me to ask the dead body why it was being tortured. I expressed my inability to do so. The invisible speaker said that he was frolicsome and used to play chess, which the Holy Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم has forbidden.

To conclude, the tortures of the grave are inflicted as a result of the sins committed by the heart, eye, ear, tongue, the belly, the private parts of the body, hand, foot, and by all other parts of the body. Those parts of the body that do good works get a reward for the same.