Once Hazrat ‘Ali (a.s.) had sore eyes. The pain was so severe that he was groaning loudly. The Holy Prophet (S) came to visit him and said:
“Is this sighing and groaning due to the restlessness or due to severe pain?”
‘Ali (a.s.) replied:
“I have never had such severe pain.”
The Holy Prophet (S) related to him a tradition which was so frightening that ‘Ali (a.s.) forgot his pain. The tradition is as follows.
A Frightening Tradition
The Holy Prophet (S) says:
“O! ‘Ali, When the Angel of Death (Israel) comes to a disbeliever he will come with a mace of fire. He will extract his life painfully. Seeing this, Hell will scream loudly (so that it may take this disbeliever to itself soon).”
Hearing this ‘Ali (a.s.) sat up abruptly and said:
“O Messenger of Allah (S), repeat to me this tradition. I have forgotten my pain after listening to it.” Then he enquired, “Will anyone’s soul from your Umma be also extracted in this way and will anyone be subjected to such a severe punishment?”
The Holy Prophet (S) said:
“Yes! There are Three types of people among the muslims whose souls shall be taken out this way. First group is of the unjust rulers. The second is of those who unjustly appropriate the wealth of orphans and the third is of those who give false witness.”