Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that once, during extremely hot weather, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by Baqi’ Gharqad. Some people were walking behind the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard the sound of their shoes, a thought arose in his heart. So, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down and sent them ahead so that no thought of pride would enter his heart. After that, while passing by, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves where two men had been buried. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped there and asked, “Who have you buried here today?” The people replied, “O Messenger of Allah! So-and-so and so-and-so.” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “At this moment, they are being punished in their graves and are being tested.” The noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason for this?” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “One of them did not protect himself from urine drops, and the other used to engage in tale-bearing.” Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a fresh branch from a tree, broke it into two pieces, and placed them on both graves. The noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked, “O Prophet of Allah! Why did you do this?” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “So that their punishment may be lessened.” The noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked, “O Prophet of Allah! For how long will they remain in punishment?” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “This is a matter of the unseen, which no one knows except Allah. If confusion would not arise in your hearts or there was no fear of you disputing among yourselves, then you would also hear the sounds that I am hearing.”