He replied:

“This grave called out to me and said: 'Why don't you ask me what I do to the people who come into me.' I said to the grave, 'Do tell me.' The grave said: 'When a person comes inside me, I rip off his shroud and then rip the person’s body to pieces and eat his meat. Are you not going to ask me what I do with the joints?' I said: 'Do tell me.' The grave said: 'I separate the hands from the wrists, the knees from the calves and the calves from the feet'.”

After saying this, Umar began to cry. When he stopped crying, he said:

“My dear brothers! We are to live in this world for a short period. Those who are sinners in this world and still hold high status will be disgraced in the Hereafter. Those who are envied in this world because of their wealth will be hated in the Hereafter due to their actions.

The one who is young will grow old and the one who is alive will die. This world will deceive you because you are aware that it will soon depart. Where are those individuals who recited the Qur'an? Where are those who went to the house of Allah to perform Hajj? Where are those who fasted in Ramadan? What did the earth do with their bodies? What did the insects of the grave do to their flesh? What happened to their bones and joints? I swear in the name of Allah! In the world, they slept on soft beds but now they have left behind their families, their wives have remarried, their children are suffering in the streets and their families have shared the inheritance amongst themselves. Amongst these are those fortunate ones who are successful in their graves and some are being punished.

How sad! Oh foolish! Today at the time of your fathers, your sons or brothers death, you close their eyes, you bathe them, you wrap them in a shroud, you carry their body on your shoulder, you go along with the funeral procession and you bury them in the grave. (Remember! This will soon be happening to you.) How I wish I knew which cheek would rot first (in the grave).”

After saying this ‘Umar started crying until he fell unconscious. He departed from this world a week later.

[Journey to the Heavens - Muhammad al-Arifi]