Download PDF: [S] Du’as of Daughters help Father in the Grave (Islamic story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith bin Nabaani – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates:

 

I always visited the cemetery. I used to make Du’a for the deceased in the cemetery and also ponder upon the lives they lived in this world. I also gathered guidance from their lives as well. I pondered upon the fact that they remained silent and never spoke.

 

At the same time, even the family of these deceased people never used to come and visit their families. The ground were their bed and the sand were their blanket. I used to also inform him, “O people of the grave! Your sign and symbols have been destroyed in this world. However, your sins and transgression still remain.”

 

I wept a lot thinking about the state that some of these people were in their graves. I used to then go to one corner of the cemetery where there was some shade and have a small nap in this area.

 

One day, I was sleeping near one grave when I saw the person in a dream. Around his neck, there were chains, his eyes were blood shot and his face was black. He was saying, “How unfortunate that I am in such a bad state. If the people of the world were able to see me, they would never commit any sin or transgression. By Allah Almighty, I was questioned about those deeds of mine and because of this, these chains have been placed around my neck. I have been drowned in punishment. If there no one that will come to my help. Who is there that can inform my family of my state?”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – further narrates:

 

When I awoke from this sleep, I was in a state of terror. In fact, it was like my heart was about to leave my body.

 

When I went home, I spent the entire night thinking about this. When morning arrived, I said to my family that I wished to return to the same place where I had been yesterday. Perhaps someone will come to visit this person who I can meet and inform them of what I had seen. However, when I arrived in the cemetery, I could see no one present.

 

I then dozed off near this same area. I then saw that the face of this person was being dragged on the ground and he was saying, “How unfortunate I am. My actions in the world were not noble even thought my life span was long. There is no doubt that Allah Almighty is angry with me. If Allah Almighty does not show me Divine Grace, then indeed I will be forever destroyed and punished.”

 

When I awoke, again I was in a state of terror. I then returned home and spent the entire night thinking about what I had seen. Again the morning, I decided to return to the same grave to see whether perhaps a family member of this person had come to visit so that I could inform them of what I had seen twice already.

 

However, sadly, again I did not meet anyone. Again, I dozed off near this grave and again I saw this person in my dream. I noticed that this time, the two feet of the person had been tied and he was saying, “How oblivious have the people of the world become of me. Punishment is increasing on me every day and all excuses are fast disappearing. There is no doubt that Allah Almighty is angry with me. All the doors of Divine Grace have become closed to me. There is indeed destruction for me if Allah Almighty does not bless me with His Divine Grace.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – continues:

 

I awoke in great fright and terror and I wanted to leave when I suddenly saw three pretty girls who arrived in the cemetery. I then hid from them to see where they were going and also be able to hear their conversation. They had arrived at the same grave. The smallest among them then approached the grave and said, “I convey my Salaam upon you, O beloved father! How have you been this morning? How is the place where you rest? How is your state at this moment? You have left with your love for us. At the same time, we have also forgotten to visit you. Now we are very sad and wish to meet you.” She then wept a lot and moved back.

 

After her, the other two girls also came forward and after making Salaam, they said, “This is indeed the grave of our father who was extremely kind and generous to us. May Allah Almighty keep him happy with through His Divine Grace. May Allah Almighty also protect him against all punishment. O beloved father! After you had left us, we experienced such difficulty that if you had seen this, certainly you would have felt sorry for us. Certainly people have made us lose our pardah which you had covered us with.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – continues:

 

When I heard these words of theirs, I also began to weep. I then went quickly to them and after making Salaam, I said to them, “O blessed females! There is no doubt that at certain times, the deeds of people are certainly accepted. At times, it is refused. I have indeed seen the deeds of your father who is in this grave and I have also seen the pain and trouble in which he finds himself in. There is no doubt that the state in which I have seen him is something which has greatly saddened me and also disturbed me.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that when these girls heard his story, they said, “O pious servant of Allah! What have you seen?”

 

I then mentioned that I have come here for three days in a row and from this grave, I can only heard the sound of chains, iron and fire.

 

When they heard this, the replied, “Is there something more tragic than this that we have forgotten to visit this grave and busy ourselves with house work. We will never leave this place until and unless our Creator does not free our father from this punishment and listens to our pleas. Perhaps, through this, he will be able to bless our father with Divine Grace.”

 

They then wrapped themselves in their shawls and went home.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – continues:

 

I then returned home and spent the night there.

 

In the morning, I went to the same grave and pondered on the state of this person. Suddenly, I felt extreme drowsiness and fell asleep. Suddenly I saw this same person who was looking very handsome and comfortable. He was wearing shoes of gold and he was also surrounded be servants. I then greeted him and asked him who he was. He replied. “I am the same person whom you saw initially and became very sad. May Allah Almighty give you immense Barakah and blessings.”

 

I then asked him how his state had transformed to this. He replied, “When you saw what my state was and when you revealed this to my daughters, and when they went home, they continued to make Du’a for me and weep in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty. The fell on the floor and continued to plead in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty asking Him to pardon me. With the result, Allah Almighty has pardoned me and forgiven me and has also given me freedom from the Fire of hell. He has also blessed me with being the neighbour of Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. When you meet my daughters, you must inform them of my state so that they can stop being sad. Please inform them that Allah Almighty has pardoned me, I have many mansions, and Hurs of Jannah and I am surrounded by sweet fragrance.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Haarith – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that when he returned home, he was overjoyed by what he had seen.

 

Early next morning, he again returned to same grave and was surprised to see the same girls standing next to the grave without shoes. They were also looking extremely sad and troubled. I then informed them what I had seen in my dream and mentioned that their father was indeed in a very comfortable state. He mentions, “Allah Almighty has indeed accepted all your Du’as and has completely pardoned your father and He has certainly not rejected your Du’as on behalf of your father. Because of the three of you, Allah Almighty has also fully pardoned your father.”

 

When they heard this good news, the smallest sister among them then began to make Du’a, she said, “O Allah Almighty! O that Divine Being Who is able to make the hearts of people joyous and keeps secret the faults of people, the One who removes our sadness. The One Who pardons sins”. The second daughter also made a special Du’a. And after her, the other daughter. There is no doubt that the Divine Grace of Allah Almighty only looks for an excuse to forgive and pardon His slaves. (Ar Rouadul Faa’iq)