Allah, glorified be He, brings forth two clouds. Likewise, he said in another hadith: “The words with which you remember Allah’s majesty—glorifying Him, praising Him, and declaring His oneness—circle around the Throne, buzzing like bees and mentioning the person who uttered them.” Ahmad related it.
Likewise, in speaking of punishment and bliss in the grave, he described the form seen by the deceased: “He asks, ‘Who are you?’ It replies, ‘I am your righteous deeds,’ and, ‘I am your evil deeds.’” This is real, not imaginary. Rather, Allah, glorified be He, brings forth from the believer’s deeds a beautiful form, and from the evildoer’s deeds an ugly form.
And is the light distributed among the believers on the Day of Resurrection anything other than their very faith, from which Allah, glorified be He, brings forth a light that shines ahead of them? This is rationally conceivable even without a revealed text establishing it; thus, the revelation concerning it exemplifies the agreement between reason and revelation.
Sa‘īd narrated from Qatādah: “We have been told that the Prophet of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘When the believer is brought out of his grave, Allah gives his deeds a beautiful form bearing glad tidings. He asks it, “Who are you? By Allah, I see that you are indeed an upright man.” It replies, “I am your deeds.” It then becomes a light for him and a guide to Paradise. As for the unbeliever, when he emerges from his grave, his deeds are given an ugly form bearing evil tidings. He asks, “Who are you? By Allah, I see that you are indeed an evil man.” It replies, “I am your deeds.” It then takes him away until it brings him into the Fire.’” Mujāhid said something similar.
Ibn Jurayj said: His deeds take on a beautiful form with a pleasant fragrance, coming alongside him and giving him every good tiding. He asks, “Who are you?” It replies, “I am your deeds.” A light is then provided ahead of him until it brings him into Paradise. This is the meaning of His words: “Their Lord will guide them because of their faith” (10: 9). As for the unbeliever, his deeds take on an ugly form with a foul stench. It clings to its companion and yulayyiluhu until it casts him into the Fire.
Ibn al-Mubārak said: Al-Mubārak ibn Fadālah narrated to us from al-Hasan that he mentioned this verse: “Are we then not to die, except for our first death, nor are we to be punished?” (37: 58, 59). He said: They knew that any bliss followed by death would be cut short by it, so they said: