Sayyiduna ‘Alī and the Dead

Al-Bayhaqī narrated with his chain up to Sa‘īd b. al-Musayyib who said:

“We entered the graveyard of Madīna with ‘Alī–may Allah be pleased with him– and he called out: ‘Oh inhabitants of the graves! Peace be upon you all and the mercy of Allah! Shall you inform us of your news or shall we inform you of our news?’ [Sa‘īd] said: ‘We heard a voice call out: ‘And upon you be the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah oh leader of the believers! Inform us of what has happened after us.’ ‘Alī said: ‘As for your wives, they have all remarried. As for your wealth, it has all been divided. Your children are now gathered in the ranks of the orphans, and the dwellings you built are now all inhabited by your enemies. This is the news that we have, so what news do you have?’ One of the deceased replied: ‘The burial shrouds have all but torn to shreds, our hair has fallen out and dispersed, and our flesh has decomposed. Our eyeballs have withered down our cheeks and the worms have deposited their pus and fecal matter. What we sent forth, we have found, and what we left behind, we have lost; we are now responsible.”‘