and elsewhere, on the authority of al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
“We accompanied the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to the funeral of a man from the Ansār. We reached the grave before its burial niche had been prepared. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat down, and we sat around him, as still as though birds were perched on our heads. He held a stick with which he scratched the ground. Then he raised his head and said, ‘Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave,’ repeating this twice or three times. He described how the soul is taken, how it ascends to heaven, and then how it returns to the deceased, until he said, ‘He certainly hears the sound of their sandals as they turn and walk away, when he is asked, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?”’”
Another wording states:
“Two angels come to him, sit him up and ask him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies, ‘My Lord is Allah.’ They ask him, ‘What is your religion?’ He replies, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He replies, ‘He is the Messenger of Allah.’ They ask, ‘How do you know?’ He replies, ‘I read the Book of Allah, believed in it and affirmed its truth.’ This is what Allah means by His words:
‘Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.’”
He said:
“Then a caller from heaven proclaims, ‘My servant has spoken the truth. Prepare bedding for him in Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise.’”
He said:
“Some of its refreshing breeze and fragrance reach him.”
He said:
“His grave is expanded for him as far as his eye can see.”
He said, “As for the disbeliever…” and described his death. Then he said:
“His soul is returned to his body, and two angels come to him and sit him up. They ask him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies, ‘Hāh, hāh! I do not know.’ They ask him, ‘What is your religion?’ He replies, ‘Hāh, hāh! I do not know.’ Then a caller from heaven proclaims, ‘My servant has lied. Prepare bedding for him from the Fire, and clothe him from the Fire