“I do not know. I used to hear people saying something, so I said it.” The two angels say, “We knew that you would say that.” Then the earth is told, “Close in upon him.” It closes in upon him until his ribs interlock, and he continues to be tormented until Allah raises him from that resting place.’”

This hadith mentions his ribs interlocking, along with other details that make clear that the body itself is tormented.

Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When a person is dying, the angels come to him with a white silk cloth. They say, ‘Come out with a fragrance like the finest musk.’ They pass the soul from one to another until they bring it to the gate of heaven. Those there say, ‘How lovely this fragrance is! When did it come to you from the earth?’ They then bring it to the souls of the believers, who rejoice at its arrival more than any of you rejoices when someone absent returns to him. They ask him, ‘What has so-and-so done?’ Then they say, ‘Leave him, for he is in the distress of worldly life.’ When he says, ‘He has come to you,’ they say, ‘He has gone to his mother, the Abyss.’

“When a disbeliever is dying, the angels of punishment come to him with a cloth of wool or hair. They say, ‘Come out, under Allah’s wrath, to Allah’s punishment.’ The soul comes out smelling like the foulest carcass, and they bring it to the souls of the disbelievers.”

This was narrated by al-Nasā’ī and al-Bazzār. Muslim narrated an abridged version from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. At the mention of the disbeliever and the foul smell of his soul, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, drew a wrap he was wearing over his nose, like this. A raytah is a thin, soft cloth, like a sheet.

Abū Hātim also included it in his Sahīh, with the wording:

“When death comes to a believer, the angels of mercy attend him. Once his soul is taken, it is placed in a white silk cloth, and they carry it to the gate of heaven. Those there say, ‘We have never encountered a fragrance lovelier than this.’ Then it is said, ‘Leave him