Shaikh Sa’eed Qummi narrates in “Arba’eenat” from a trustworthy authority, who told him that Shaikh Bahauddin Ameli once went to visit a wise man who lived near a cemetery in Isfahan. The wise man told Shaikh Bahai: Some days back I witnessed an astonishing incident, which I would like to tell you. Some people came here with a dead body, buried it and went away. Suddenly I smelt a fragrance the likeness of which I had never smelt before. I turned towards the left and right to see where it came from. I saw a handsome young man wearing splendid clothes going towards the newly made grave. He went and sat near the grave. I was all the more surprised when I saw the young man disappear into the grave. After sometime I smelt a bad odour the likeness of which too I had never smelt before. I saw an ugly dog going towards the grave and disappear in it. My astonishment knew no bounds. I was wondering about what actually was happening, when I saw the young man coming out of the grave in a bad state. His whole body was bruised. He started running away from the grave and I followed him. I stopped him and asked him the reason for running fearfully. The young man replied, “I am the dead man’s good deeds, and was commanded to accompany him in his grave. Suddenly the dead man’s evil deeds came in the form of a dog. I tried to keep him away from the dead man, but it bit me and wounded me all over. He made a bad state of me and I could no longer remain in the grave. Hence I have come out leaving the dead man to the mercy of his evil deeds.” (The dead man’s evil deeds were stronger than his good ones).
When Shaikh Bahai heard this incident, he told the wise man, “Verily the incident is true, because it is narrated that the deeds (good or bad) that a person performs in his lifetime, are given a physical form.”
Shaikh Sadooq in his book ‘Amali’ narrates that once Qays bin Asim Minqari came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) accompanied by some people of Bani Tameem. He requested the Prophet to advice him. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied,
“O Qays! When you die, a companion will also be buried along-with you, who will be alive while you will be dead. If the companion would be blessed, you will get peace, and if he would be accursed, you will fall in anguish. Compel your companion to become good, because if you will be good, you will love him and respect him. While if you will be bad, you will hate him and neglect him. Verily this companion are your good deeds.”
Qays said, “ O Prophet of Allah! I wish that this advice be framed in a beautiful couplet, so that it could become the reason for our honour.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) sent someone to fetch Hisan bin Sabit, a poet. At that moment Salsal bin Walahmas was present there, and he compiled fine beautiful couplets expressing the idea.
Shaikh Sadooq relates from Imam Ja’far-as-Sadiq (a.s.) who says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said,
“Once Prophet Eesa (a.s.) was passing by a grave which was engulfed in the wrath of Allah. After one year when he again passed that same grave, he saw that the punishment had been stopped. He asked Allah the reason for such a change. Allah revealed to him: O Isa! The dead man has left behind him a virtuous son, who when he reached adolescence, rectified the mistakes done by his father. He helped the orphans and sheltered them. Hence I have forgiven him because of his son’s good deeds.”