First: It has not been disclosed to us that this particular person is being punished, unlike the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to whom the condition of the two graves was disclosed.

Second: If we were to do this, we would wrong the deceased, because we would be harboring an evil assumption about him—that he is being punished. Yet what do we know? Perhaps he is being blessed. Perhaps this deceased person is among those upon whom Allah bestowed forgiveness before death, due to one of the many causes of forgiveness; thus he died after the Lord of all servants had pardoned him, in which case he would not deserve punishment.

Third: It contradicts the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for he did not do this at every grave.

Fourth: It contradicts the practice of the righteous predecessors, who had the greatest knowledge of Allah’s law. None of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did this.

Fifth: Allah Most High has opened for us something better than this. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had finished burying the deceased, he would stand by the grave and say: “Seek forgiveness for your brother, and ask that he be granted steadfastness, for he is now being questioned.” (1)

The sixth point: Is the punishment of the grave among matters of the unseen or matters that are witnessed?

The answer: It is among matters of the unseen. How many people in these graveyards are being punished while we are unaware of it, and how many of their neighbors are being blessed, with a gate opened for them leading to