but what has been written for him overtakes him, so he performs the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it. And one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Fire until there is only a cubit between him and it, but what has been written for him overtakes him, so he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it.”

Through another chain of transmission, and in another version:

“Then Allah sends an angel, who is commanded to record four things. He is told, ‘Write down his deeds, his lifespan, his provision, and whether he will be wretched or blessed.’ Then the soul is breathed into him.”

This authentic hadith does not mention when the body is fashioned. It does, however, state that the angel records his provision, his lifespan, his deeds, and whether he will be wretched or blessed before the soul is breathed into him and after he has become a lump of flesh.

The hadith of Anas ibn Mālik recorded in the Sahīh agrees with this. It is traced back to the Prophet, who said:

“Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has appointed an angel over the womb. The angel says, ‘My Lord, a drop of fluid! My Lord, a clinging mass! My Lord, a lump of flesh!’ When Allah wishes to complete its creation, the angel says, ‘My Lord, male or female? Wretched or blessed? What will its provision be? What will its lifespan be?’ These things are thus recorded while it is in its mother’s womb.”

This makes clear that the recording takes place after it has become a lump of flesh. As for the hadith of Hudhayfa ibn Asīd, it is recorded by Muslim but not al-Bukhārī. Its wording is:

“I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say:

‘When forty-two nights have passed over the drop of fluid, Allah sends an angel to it, who fashions it and creates its hearing, sight, skin, flesh, and bones. Then he says, “My Lord, male or female?” Your Lord decrees whatever He wills, and the angel records it. Then he says, “My Lord, what will his provision be?” Your Lord decrees whatever He wills, and the angel records it. Then he says, “My Lord, what will his lifespan be?” Then He decrees