before they take it and place it in that shroud with that embalming perfume. From it comes a fragrance like the finest scent of musk ever found on the face of the earth. He said: They ascend with it, and whenever they pass a company of angels, they ask, ‘What is this pure soul?’ They reply, ‘So-and-so, son of so-and-so,’ using the finest names by which he was known in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask for it to be opened for him, and it is opened. He said: The angels nearest to Allah in each heaven escort him to the next, until they bring the soul to the seventh heaven.

Then He says, ‘Enter My servant’s record in Illiyyīn and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I return them, and from it I shall bring them forth once again.’ He said: His soul is returned to his body, and two angels come to him and sit him up.” He then mentioned the questioning as related above.

He said: “A man with a handsome face and a pleasant fragrance comes to him and says, ‘Receive glad tidings of what will delight you! This is the day you were promised.’ He asks him, ‘Who are you? Yours is a face that brings good.’ He replies, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’

Then he says, ‘My Lord, bring on the Hour! My Lord, bring on the Hour! My Lord, bring on the Hour, so that I may return to my family and my wealth!’”

He said: “When the disbelieving servant is approaching the Hereafter and departing from this world, angels with black faces descend to him from heaven, bringing cloths of hair. They sit at a distance from him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at his head, saying, ‘O wicked soul, come out to Allah’s displeasure and wrath.’ It then disperses throughout all his limbs, and he wrenches it out as a skewer is pulled from wet wool, tearing the veins and sinews along with it. He said: He takes it, and once he has taken it, they do not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye before taking it and placing it in those cloths of hair. He said: From it comes a stench like that of the foulest carcass ever found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it