"The Prophet passed by two graves. He said: 'These two are being punished. And they are not being punished for something major. As for this one, he would not protect himself from his urine. As for this one, he used to spread Namimah (slander).'"
Hadith Commentary: The Punishment in the Grave
This profound narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 70) in "The Book on Purification" serves as a grave warning regarding two seemingly minor sins that carry severe consequences in the afterlife.
The First Sin: Negligence in Urine Purification
The failure to properly cleanse oneself from urine indicates carelessness in matters of ritual purity (taharah). Scholars explain that urine is among the strongest impurities, and Islam emphasizes thorough cleansing from it. This punishment demonstrates that negligence in purification - though seemingly minor - violates the sanctity of prayer and worship, as purity is a condition for their validity.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim commented that this punishment serves as a lesson that what people consider insignificant in matters of religion may be grave in the sight of Allah. The Companions thereafter exercised extreme caution in cleansing themselves from urine.
The Second Sin: Spreading Namimah (Slander)
Namimah refers to the evil practice of circulating speech among people to create discord and break relationships. Scholars classify this as among the major sins due to its destructive nature to Muslim society. The Quran repeatedly condemns backbiting and slander, equating it to eating the flesh of one's dead brother.
This punishment highlights that sins affecting social harmony and brotherhood are particularly severe. The scholar al-Munawi explained that namimah corrupts hearts, spreads hatred, and destroys communities - thus deserving of such severe punishment.
Scholarly Conclusions
This hadith teaches us that no sin should be considered "minor" if committed persistently without repentance. The punishment in the grave is real and affects both the body and soul. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining both physical purity and social harmony within the Muslim community.
The scholars derive from this that we must be meticulous in matters of purification and guard our tongues from harmful speech. Continuous minor sins, when taken lightly, can lead to major consequences in the hereafter.