Torment in grave due to tale-telling

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that we were walking along with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم when we passed by two graves. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stopped and therefore, we also stopped with the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. His blessed colour started to change, to the extent that the sleeve of his blessed Qamees [long shirt] started to move. We humbly asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah
صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What is the matter?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Are you also hearing the voice that I hear?’ We humbly replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What are you hearing?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Both of them are subject to severe torment in their graves. That too because of such a sin that is inferior (i.e. they both considered it to be inferior or it was easy for them to refrain from it).’ We humbly asked, ‘What sin is it?’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘One of them did not protect himself from urine, and the other would harm others with his tongue and tell tales.’ Then Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked for two date twigs and placed each on each grave. We humbly asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Will this benefit them?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes! As long as these twigs remain moist, their punishment will continue to decrease.’^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! We attained three Madani pearls from this blessed Hadith:

1.   Our Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has knowledge of the unseen, with the bestowal of Allah Almighty. That is why he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not only observed the torment that both of them were undergoing, but also mentioned the sins which lead to this punishment.

2.   It is not a innovation (bid’ah) at all to place fresh flowers and green leaves on graves. Rather, it falls under acting upon this very blessed Hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Therefore, it is proven from the Sunnah.