The authentic hadith of the Ascension also relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw Adam with the souls of his descendants to his right and left. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When we ascended to heaven, there was a man with figures to his right and figures to his left. When he looked to his right, he laughed, and when he looked to his left, he wept. He said, ‘Welcome to the righteous Prophet and the righteous son!’ I asked, ‘O Gabriel, who is this?’ He replied, ‘This is Adam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. These figures to his right and left are the souls of his descendants. Those on his right are the people of Paradise, while the figures on his left are the people of the Fire. When he looks to his right, he laughs, and when he looks to his left, he weeps.’”

It has also been established that the souls of believers, martyrs and others, are in Paradise. Imam Ahmad said, as transmitted by Hanbal:

“The souls of unbelievers are in the Fire, and the souls of believers are in Paradise, while their bodies remain in this world. Allah punishes whom He wills and, through His pardon, shows mercy to whom He wills.”

‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad said:

“I asked my father about the souls of the dead: ‘Are they in the spaces surrounding their graves, or in the crops of birds, or do they die as bodies die?’ He replied, ‘It has been narrated from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he said:

“‘“When a believer dies, his soul is a bird that feeds among the trees of Paradise until Allah returns it to his body on the day He resurrects him.”

“‘It has also been narrated that ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr said: “The souls of believers are inside green birds like starlings. They recognize one another there and are provided with the fruits of Paradise.”’

“He said, ‘Some people said: “The souls of martyrs are inside green birds that take shelter in lamps in Paradise suspended from the Throne.”’”

Muslim also narrated in his Sahīh from Masrūq, who said:

“We asked ‘Abd Allah—meaning Ibn