The grave’s reply

Sayyidunā Mālik b. Dīnārرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  once visited a cemetery for the purpose of reflection on death and gaining admonition. There, he recited these verses:

اَتَیْتُ الْقُبُوْرَ فَنَادَیْتُھَا فَاَیْنَ الْمُعَظَّمُ وَ الْمُحْتَقَر
وَ اَیْنَ الْمُدِلُّ بِسُلْطَانِہٖ وَ اَیْنَ الْعَزِیْزُ اِذَا مَا افْتَخَر

I came to the graves and called out to them: Where are those people who were honoured in the world, and those who were considered lowly in the world? And where are those kings who had great hope in their rule? Where are those honourable ones who used to boast?

Sayyidunā Mālik b. Dīnārرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  mentions that a voice came from a grave, saying:

All of them have perished and become a sign of admonition. Now, there is no one to give news of them, and they have presented themselves before Allah. O questioner about past people! Have the admonitory circumstances and incidents of those who have passed not reached you?^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Reflect upon the way our pious predecessors took admonition. These individuals would visit graveyards, remember their death, and learn lessons from it. Would that we also become those who take admonition, visit graveyards, reflect on the matters that occur in the grave, and remember our death.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد