Don’t Abuse the Dead

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Do not abuse the dead, for they have discharged (met the result of) what they have done (sent forward of good or bad deeds).” [Sahih Bukhari]

A certain Governor-General died and was buried. When his will was read, it was discovered that he had instructed to be buried in a particular graveyard. So his grave was opened in order to shift his body to the stipulated place.

When his body was uncovered a thick black snake was seen to be encircling him, coiling and twisting around his body with lightening speed. Since it was the Governor-General whose will’s execution was in question, they tried to get rid of the snake to shift his body. They first hit the snake with sticks. Then they tried shooting at it. But nothing would cause the snake to slow down or go away.

Finally, a very toxic chemical was sprayed into the grave and the grave closed. A little while later the grave was reopened, with the expectation that the snake would at least be unconscious if not dead. To everyone’s amazement the snake was seen to be completely unaffected by the spray; encircling the Governor-General’s body just as speedily as before. The execution of his will was declared unachievable and his grave shut.

Snakes are one of the punishments of the grave on the Kuffar and Munafiqeen. May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) save us from the punishment of the grave. Whoever is spared this will find the following stages to be even easier.