to songs and music, etc., should especially learn an admonitory lesson from this parable.

Horrible scene of grave!

Once Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم went to a cemetery in Kufa to visit graves. Seeing a newly-prepared grave, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ desired to get to know of its internal state, so he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ implored          Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ humbly, ‘Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ reveal to me the condition of the deceased buried in this grave.’ Immediately, all the veils between him and the deceased were lifted. What he saw was a horrific scene; the deceased was being burnt in fire and screaming out for help from Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ:

يَا عَلِيُّ! اَنَاغَرِيۡقٌ فِي النَّارِ وَ حَرِيۡقٌ فِي النَّارِ

O ‘Ali! I am drowned in fire and I am burning in fire.

The dreadful scene of the grave and the screams of the deceased person saddened Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم. He lifted his hands in the court     of his merciful Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and began to pray with utmost humility for the forgiveness of the deceased. A voice from Ghayb echoed, ‘O ‘Ali                              (کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم)! Do not intercede for him as he used to disrespect Ramadan in spite of observing Sawm, he did not refrain from committing sins even in Ramadan, he used to observe Sawm during the day but would indulge in sins at night.’

Listening to this voice, Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم became even more sad; he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ prostrated and began to cry. (With tears in his eyes) he said, ‘Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Please accept my supplication, this man has called out           to me for help with high hopes, O Creator عَزَّوَجَلَّ do not disappoint me in front of him, have mercy on him and forgive this helpless man.’ Sayyiduna ‘Ali             کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم continued to pray in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He then heard a voice say, ‘O ‘Ali (رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ)! We have forgiven him for the sake of your grieved heart.’ The man was then relieved of punishment.

(Anees-ul-Wa’izeen, pp. 25)