Abu Dharr told that God’s Messenger addressed him by name and he replied, "At your service and at your pleasure, Messenger of God.” He said, "How will you do when death [1] smites people and a house, meaning a grave, will cost as much as a slave?” On his replying that God and His apostle knew best, he said, "Show endurance.” Hammad b. [Abu] Sulaiman said that the hand of one who rifles a grave [2] should be cut off because he had entered the deceased’s house. Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. Here "death” is used as a figure for a severe pestilence. 2. <i>Mirqat</i>, iv, 59, say this is done to steal the shroud.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ» قُلْتُ: لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَسَعْدَيْكَ قَالَ: «كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا أَصَابَ النَّاسَ مَوْتٌ يَكُونُ الْبَيْتُ فِيهِ بِالْوَصِيفِ» يَعْنِي الْقَبْرَ قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: «عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّبْرِ» قَالَ حمَّادُ بنُ أبي سُليمانَ: تُقْطَعُ يَدُ النَّبَّاشِ لِأَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى الْمَيْتِ بيتَه. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ