Allamah Naraqi relates in ‘Khazaen’: In the days of my youth in Isfahan, one day I accompanied my respected father and companions to a friend’s place on the day of ‘Naoroz’ to meet him. The friend lived near a cemetery. To relieve ourselves of fatigue, and also with the intention of getting reward, we stopped by the graveyard to recite ‘fateha’ for the departed mo’meneen. One of our friends who was humorous turned towards a grave and said, “O occupant of the grave! will you accept us as your guests today on this day of Idd”? Back came the reply, “Sure, next week on Tuesday you all will be my guests.”
We were horrified and concluded that only some days of our lives were left. We started performing good deeds and rectifying the bad ones. We also started writing our wills. The day of Tuesday dawned but none of us died. We met together and went to the cemetery. One of us went forward and called to the grave, “O occupant of the grave! Please do as you had promised”, and back came the reply, “Welcome.” Suddenly we realized that the curtains of the hidden were lifted off our eyes, and we saw a green and beautiful garden in which were flowing streams of cool and pleasant water. The gardens were laden with colourful fruits, and beautiful birds were praising Allah on the trees. We reached a mansion in the midst of the garden. When we entered therein, we saw a handsome man surrounded by servants. When he saw us he got up to welcome. Different types of fruits and sweets were served, the likeness of which cannot be imagined nor described. We ate to our full, but were still not satiated, and wished to eat more. After finishing the meals we sat for sometime, then we got up to ask the person’s permission to leave. He bade us farewell and came to leave us till the door. My father asked him as to who he was, and why did Allah bestow His blessings on him so that he had got the capacity to feed the whole mankind, and also asked him as to what the place was. The man replied that, “I am a native of your town, a butcher by profession, and the reason for these blessings to be bestowed on me are:
(1) I never weighed less at the time of sale, and
(2) I always recited the Prayers (Namaz) on time all throughout my life. As soon as the voice of ‘Takbeer’ reached my ears, I left my work and proceeded for Namaz in the Mosque. Hence I am offered this position here.
Last week when you requested me for a feast, I had not obtained permission for it, while this week I have got the permission and hence invited you.” Then we individually asked him our ages and he answered. I asked him my age and he said that I would live for another fifteen years. Then he wished us farewell, and we reached the same place in the cemetery. (Ma’ad) Reference:Manazelul Akherah Shk Abbas Qummi (ra)