The Good Deeds which Reach the Dead after Death

Among the beneficences of good deeds, which benefit one in the grave, are the good deeds, which are being performed in this world by proxy or the reward of such good deeds, which is being given to the dead as a gift. The foremost among them is the repayment of his debts and the performance of the missed prayers and fasts. Similar to it is the performance of the Hajj, which the dead could not or did not undertake, and also to give charity in the way of God and to pray and seek pardon for the dead. There are many narrations by Ahle Bayt on this subject. (Interested persons may refer to Wasaelush Shia, Kitabut Taharat, Abwaab-e-Ehtezaar, Baab 27, and Abwaab-e-Qazaae Salaat Baab 12 wherein there are 26 traditions. They may also study Baab-e-Hajj-va-Waqf in the same book). The summary of these narrations is that if someone performs good deeds like Prayers, Fast, Hajj and alms-giving etc for a deceased person, the Lord of the Universe makes its reward reach the dead and also grants a manifold reward to the performer of such good deeds. Numerous Gifts as Reward of Charity on behalf of the Dead Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) says, "It also happens that a body is under squeeze in grave and then he is given ease and comfort. Angels tell him or her that this is the result of such and such good deed sent to you by your such and such well wisher in the world. Such rewards are very big in proportion to the good deeds performed for them." Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has been quoted in Wasaelush Shia that Almighty God commands seventy thousand angels to proceed towards the grave of that fortunate person. Every angel has, in his hand, a plate full of heavenly bounties of Paradise. They tell the dead, "Be you in peace and safety, O servant of God! O friend of God! This gift has been sent to you by such and such friend." Then his grave lits up brightly and God the merciful grants him a thousand cities, a thousand houries and a thousand precious robes and fulfils one thousand of his wishes.

Request of the Dead to the Living It is mentioned in Maniul Akhbar that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "Go on sending gifts to your dead." The companions asked, "O Messenger of God! What can be a gift for the dead?" The Prophet said, "Supplications and alms." Then he added, "Every Friday eve, the spirits of the dead come to the nearest sky and, standing in front of their homes, cry out weeping sorrowfully, 'O my family members! O my children! O my parents and O my near and dear ones! Be kind to us. God will be kind to you. We have to account here for what wealth and property we had in the world and by which others benefit there. Please do us some favour, be it through a dirham or bread or a cloth. God will adorn you with heavenly dress…'"(Upto the end of narration). Barzakh is Veiled in this World Some may think as to where such a vast world of Barzakh is situated? Our intellect is unable to comprehend it. We will only say that the realm of Barzakh is in a veil and hence invisible to the physical eye. There are many narrations to make us understand this matter. For example: This world of ours, along with its vast lands and skies, if compared with the realm of Barzakh, is like a tiny spot in an endlessly big forest. So long as a man lives in this world, he is like a silk worm or like an unborn child in mother' s womb. When he dies, he becomes free. Of course, he remains in this very world and does not go away and out of it, but now he has no limitations like time and space because these things are limited only to this material world. The Realm of Barzakh Encircles this World If it is said to a baby in the womb that there is a very vast world beyond your present station, which is nothing in comparison with that one he would be unable to comprehend it. Similarly, we, who are able now to see only through the physical eyes, cannot comprehend the other world, which is hidden, from our eyes. Almighty God says in the Holy Quran: So no soul knows what is hidden for them of that which will

refresh the eyes; a reward for what they did . (32:17) That is, nobody knows what things have been provided for him or her that can cool their eyes. This is the reward of the good deeds done by them in the world. We only know that as the Trust Informer (Prophet) has informed us of it and we testify to it. The realm of Barzakh has encircled and covered our present physical and material world just as this world has covered the world in womb. No other example is more explanatory. Souls are Friendly with One Another and Please One Another Asbag bin Nubatah says, "I saw my master, Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) standing at the gate of Kufa looking towards the desert. It appeared that he was busy talking with someone but there was no one. I also stood up. After a long time I felt tired. So I sat down and got up again after a while. But Ali (a.s) was still busy talking. I went a step forward and asked, 'O Amirul Mo-mineen! Who is it you are talking to?' He said, 'This talk of mine was to please the spirits of the faithful.' I asked, 'Which faithful? No one from those who have passed away is present here.' He said, 'Yes, they are present here.' I again asked, 'Are they present here physically or in spirit?' He replied, 'Their spirits. Had you been able to do so, you could have seen how they gather at a place, talk mutually and please one another remembering the gifts and bounties of God.'" The Valley of Peace is the Station of the Spirits of the Faithful It is mentioned in other traditions that any faithful person who passes away either from the east or the west of this world finds that his spirit or soul which, remains in his facsimile body has its place in the Valley of Peace in the neighbourhood of Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.). In other words, Najaf-e-Ashraf is an exhibition of the higher world. Likewise, for unbelievers their abode is Wadi-e-Barhoot, which is situated in Yemen in a fearful and barren land where even birds do not venture. This is a place for the appearance of mean souls.

Nearness to Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s) Attainable through Knowledge and Virtues Whatever you have heard about importance of nearness to Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) is about spiritual neighbourhood, whatever one's physical distance from Najaf-e-Ashraf. In fact nearness to Ali (a.s) is attainable through knowledge and actions. When a man commits a sin he becomes away from Ali (a.s) in proportion to the seriousness of his sin. Very nice if the soul is with Ali (a.s) and body also gets buried near him in Najaf-e-Ashraf. It is indeed a very big fortune. But if, God forbid, one is physically buried in Najaf-e-Ashraf but his soul is under torture in Wadi-e-Barhoot, it is a terribly bad luck. So all of us should try our best to make our spiritual relation with Ali (a.s) more and more strong and close. Doubtlessly, physical burial in Najaf-e-Ashraf also is not without benefits and has perfect effectiveness because being buried there, is in a way, a means to nearness to the Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.). A Dead Body which was brought from Yemen to Najaf-e-Ashraf It is mentioned in Madinatul Ma'ajiz that, one day, Ali (a.s) was sitting with his companions at the back of the gate of Jufa. Looking up he said, "Do you also see what I am seeing?" People said, "No, O Amirul Mo-mineen!" He said, "I can see two persons who are bringing a dead body on a camel to bury it here. It will take three more days for them to reach here." On the third day thereafter Ali (a.s) went again with the companions to see who comes. First people could see that a camel was coming towards them with a body on its back. A man was holding the rein of that camel in his hand. Another man was walking behind. When they came nearer, Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) asked, "Whose body is it? Who are you and from where do you come?" They replied, "We are from Yemen and this is the body of our father who had willed that his body should be carried to Iraq for being buried in Najaf-e-Ashraf." Ali (a.s) asked, "Did you ask him the reason for it?" They replied, "Yes, Our father was saying that a man will be buried there who will be able, if he likes, to make intercession for the entire gathering on the Day of Resurrection." Ali (a.s) said, "By God. I am indeed that man."

One who gave Shelter to Locusts around his Tent In connection with benefits for those who are buried near Ali (a.s)'s tomb Muhaddith Qummi (r.a.) has given a very appropriate example in Mafatihul Jinan. There is an Arabic proverb meaning: Such and such person is superior than the one who gives shelter to locusts. The story is as follows: A man named Madlaj bin Suwaid who belonged to the tribe of Tai was, one day, sitting in his tent. He saw that a group belonging to the Tai tribe was approaching his tent holding huge bags and many utensils. He asked their condition. They said: Many locusts have descended around your tent. We want to catch them. Hearing this, Madlaj got up, took a spear in his hand and ascending his horse declared, "By God, I will kill anyone who even touches these locusts. These grasshoppers are my neighbours and they have come in my shelter. How can you catch them? It will never be allowed." Then he defended his locusts till the sun rose and it became hot and the locusts flew away. Then he said, "Lo. Now the locusts have left my neighbourhood. Now it is your look out to deal with them." In short, it is obvious that if someone comes in the neighbourhood of Ali (a.s), thereby taking his shelter will surely benefit by his support. Close Relation between the Soul and the Grave Muhaddith Jazaeri (r.a.) mentions at the end of Anwarun Nomaniya: If you ask when souls live in facsimile bodies in the Valley of Peace, why we have been asked to visit graves (for reciting Fatiha and prayers)? And how do the souls understand that a visitor has arrived when they are not present in the graves? The reply is that it has been narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) that though the souls live in the Valley of Peace, their relations with graves remain intact and they know about the visitors and recognize them. The Holy Imam has said that souls are like sun. The sun remains in the sky but its rays cover the whole earth. Likewise, the souls' covering or encirclement is concerned with knowledge and comprehension.

Reflection of Sunrays in a Mirror Just as the appearance and reflection is relatively much more at a mirror the attention of souls and their covering is more at their graves. It is so because the soul had lived in those bodies for several years and gained much favours due to them. That is why they will focus their attention there. This also provides an answer to the one who asks as to why we should go to the grave when the Imam is present at every place and thus, there is no difference in one place and the other. Doubtlessly the graves of Holy Imams and religious leaders are the centres of the attention of Holy souls and the places where divine favours keep raining. Angels come and go there. So, if anybody wants to get full benefit from those Holy personalities he should never give up visiting the Holy shrines and must try their best to go there.