Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) was once proceeding to a certain place for some task when he passed by a grave. On looking at the grave, Allah Ta‘ala showed him that angels of punishment were torturing the inmate of the grave.
Sometime later, when Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) had completed his task and was returning, he again passed by the grave. However, Allah Ta‘ala now showed him that instead of angels of punishment, there were angels of mercy at the grave, bearing platters of divine radiance!
Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) was surprised at this sudden change in condition. He thus performed salaah and engaged in du‘aa, begging Allah Ta‘ala to reveal to him what had caused the punishment of the inmate to cease and be replaced with His special mercy.
Allah Ta‘ala sent revelation to Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) informing him thus:
O ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam)! This servant led a life of disobedience and sin, and he has thus been engulfed in punishment from the time he passed away. However, when he passed away, he left a wife who was expecting a child. After the child was born, she raised him and saw to his upbringing until he grew into a young boy. She then made him over to the maktab (elementary madrasah) teachers. After entering the madrasah, the teacher made the child recite “Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem”. I thus felt ashamed to punish my servant with fire within the earth while his son is taking My name above the earth.
(At-Tafseerul Kabeer vol. 1, pg. 143)
Lessons:
1. One of the greatest investments for any parent is a pious child. As the parents were the means of the child entering the world, they have a share in all his good works and righteous deeds and are rewarded accordingly. However, for this investment to bear fruit, the seeds of piety and righteousness will have to be planted and nurtured in the child.
2. In order for the seeds of righteousness and piety to be planted in the child, it is essential that the child be enrolled into a maktab madrasah. It is in the maktab madrasahs that the children are taught the basics and fundamentals of Imaan and Islam, such as the oneness of Allah Ta‘ala, the prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), how to make wudhu, how to perform salaah, how to recite the Quraan Majeed, etc. Since many parents are unable to teach their children themselves (due to lacking the time or knowledge), enrolling the children into a maktab is a proven solution to ensuring that they are not deprived of the teachings of Islam.
3. We should regularly make du‘aa for the forgiveness of all those who have passed on with imaan, especially our parents, grandparents, asaatizah (those who taught us Deen), etc.