Admonition is to remind people of such things that soften their hearts, either by making them hopeful about something good or fearful of something evil. The best source of admonition, with the best effect on the heart, is the noble Qur’an. {O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.} [Yūnus: 57]
945/1 - ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were accompanying a funeral procession in Baqī‘ al-Gharqad (cemetery in Madīnah). The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and sat down and we sat around him. He had a small stick in his hand. He lowered his head and scraped the ground with his stick, then said: “There is none among you but has a place assigned for him either in Paradise or in Hellfire.” The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah, should we not depend upon what has been written for us?” He said: “Carry on doing good deeds. Everyone will find it easy to do the deeds for which he was created...” To the rest of the Hadīth. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Gharqad is a known type of trees. The burial ground of the residents of Madīnah is called Baqī‘ al-Gharqad given the abundance of this kind of trees there. So, it is called Al-Baqī‘ or Baqī‘ al-Gharqad.
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1) It is recommended to sometimes give admonition at the grave in a way that softens hearts and reminds people of the Hereafter.
2) The writing down of fates has already been done in the knowledge of Allah Almighty. This does not mean, however, that we rely upon our fate. Rather, we should work and seek what we want, for our written fate is unknown to us.
3) A scholar should correct the mistakes and misconceptions of lay people, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to do with his Companions.
Note: Every admonition should be given in a way that suits its circumstances. At the grave, the preacher should have a sense of solemnity, calmness, and fear, and he should be brief. Moreover, the grave should not be taken as a pulpit. We should follow the Prophet’s Sunnah, in which all goodness lies, and not swerve from it. Indeed, guidance of the Sunnah provides protection and mercy.