Dead People Visit Their Families

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a believing deceased person visits his family. He observes such matters that he loves and what he dislikes is kept hidden from him. A deceased unbeliever person also visits his family but observes what he dislikes and things that he loves are kept hidden from him. Certain ones of these people visit his family every Friday and others visit proportionate to their deeds.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that every believing and unbeliever person visits his family everyday just after midday. If he finds his family performing good deeds, he praises and thanks Allah for this. When an unbeliever finds his family in good deeds, he laments and regrets (for his lost opportunities).”

“I (the narrator) asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), about a deceased person’s visiting his family. He replied, ‘Yes, (this is a fact).’ I then asked, ‘How often do such visits take place?’ He replied, ‘In a Friday (week), in a month and in a year, depending upon his status.’ I then asked, ‘In what form does he visit his family?’ He replied, ‘He visits them in the form of a fine bird. He drops on their walls and oversees them. If he finds them in good deeds, he becomes happy, and if he finds them in evil deeds or in need, he becomes depressed and sorrowful.’”

Abdul Rahim al-Qasir asked the Imam (as), "Does a deceased believing person visit his family?’". He replied, "Yes, he asks his Lord for permission; then by His permission with two angels he comes to his family in the form of some kind of a bird. He turns around his house and observes his family and hears whatever they say.’”

“I asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), ‘Does a believing deceased person visit his family?’ He replied, ‘Yes, he does.’ I then asked, ‘How often does he visit them?’ He replied, ‘It depends upon their merits. Certain ones among them visit every day, others visit every other day, and still others among them visit after every three days.’ I then found in the course of his conversation indications that said, ‘The least among them in merits visit their family once every Friday.’ I then asked, ‘What time of the day do such visits take place?’ He replied, ‘It takes place very soon after midday or so.’ I then asked, ‘In what form does he come?’ He replied, ‘He comes in the form of a sparrow or smaller than a sparrow. Allah sends with him an angel who shows what he likes and hides from him what he dislikes. He then observes what makes him happy and returns very much delighted.’”