Sahih Muslim — Hadith #15081

We set out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) until we reached a wide valley. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to relieve himself, and I followed him with a water jug (made of leather). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) looked around and saw nothing that he could avoid. Two trees appeared on the edge of the valley. He went to one of them and took hold of one of its branches and said, "By Allah's command." So it obeyed him like a camel that has been beaten. Then he came to another tree and took hold of one of its branches and said, "By Allah's command." So he followed him in the same way until he reached halfway between them. Then he bent them down and brought them together. He said, "Both of you, by Allah's command, come before me." So they both went together (and provided him with a veil). Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I ran away from there in fear that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) might feel close to me and move away (further). Muhammad bin Ibad (in his narration) said: You had to bother moving away. I sat down (at a place) and started talking to myself. Suddenly I looked up and saw that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) was coming and I saw that the two trees had separated. Each tree had stood upright on its trunk. Then I saw that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) stopped once and pointed with his blessed head like this. Abu Ismail (Hatim bin Ismail) pointed to the right and left with his head. Then he came forward and when he reached me he said: "Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him)! Did you see where I stood?" I said yes. He said: "Go to the two trees and cut a branch from each of them until you come and stand in my place, then put one branch to your right and one branch to your left." Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I picked up a stone or broke it and ground it. When it became sharp for me, I came to the two trees and cut a branch from each, then dragged them until I came to the place where the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had stood before, then I put one branch to my right and one to my left. Then I came to you and said: Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! What was the purpose of what I did? He said: "I passed by the graves and they were being punished. I wanted to intercede for them so that their punishment might be reduced for as long as these branches remained wet.