What lightens the punishment of the grave

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a grave and stood by it, then said: "Bring me two palm stalks." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) planted one palm stalk by its head and the other by its feet. It was said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), will this benefit him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Perhaps some of the punishment of the grave will be lightened because of them, as long as moisture remains in them (as long as they are fresh)."

Bahr bin Marar narrates from his grandfather Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I was walking with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "These two are being punished. Who will bring me a palm stalk?" Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah said: Another man and I hurried and brought him a palm stalk. He (peace and blessings be upon him) split the stalk from its top into two parts and planted one on one grave and the other on the other grave, and said: "Perhaps, as long as there is moisture in these stalks, their punishment will be lightened because of it. They are being punished for backbiting and urine (for not guarding against its drops)."

Sayyiduna Ya'la bin Siyabah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a grave whose occupant was being punished. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The occupant of this grave is not being punished for something major." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) called for a palm stalk and planted it on his grave and said: "Perhaps his punishment will be lightened because of it as long as the palm stalk remains fresh."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves and said: "These two are being punished, and they are not being punished for something major. One of them did not guard himself against drops of urine, and the other was a tale-bearer." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) took a fresh palm stalk, split it in two and planted one on each grave. The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), why did you do this?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Perhaps their punishment will be lightened as long as these remain fresh."

Something similar is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), except that Waki' said: "So he called for a fresh palm stalk."