the funeral of a man from the Ansār. We reached the grave before its burial niche had been dug. He sat down, and we sat around him, as though chunks of rock rested on our shoulders and birds perched on our heads. He remained silent for a short while—izmām means silence.

Then he raised his head and said:

‘When the believer is approaching the Hereafter and leaving this world behind, and the Angel of Death comes to him, angels descend to him from heaven, bringing a shroud from Paradise and burial perfume from Paradise. They sit around him as far as his eyes can see.

The Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, then says, “Come out, good soul! Come out to Allah’s mercy and pleasure.” His soul flows out as a drop trickles from a waterskin. When his soul departs, every angel between heaven and earth prays for him, except the two races of jinn and humankind. He is then taken up to heaven. Heaven is opened for him, and its angels who are brought near escort him onward to the second heaven, then the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, and on to the Throne, accompanied by the angels brought near in each heaven.

When he reaches the Throne, his record is entered in ‘Illiyyīn. The Lord, Almighty and Majestic, says, “Return My servant to his resting place, for I promised them that from the earth I created them, to it I shall return them, and from it I shall bring them forth once again.”

He is returned to his resting place. Munkar and Nakīr come to him, churning up the earth with their fangs and scraping it with their hair. They make him sit up, and he is asked, “Who is your Lord?”

He replies, “Allah is my Lord.” They say, “You have spoken the truth.”

Then he is asked, “What is your religion?”

He replies, “Islam.” They say to him, “You have spoken the truth.” Then he is asked, “Who is your prophet?” He replies, “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.”

They say, “You have spoken the truth.”

His grave is then expanded for him as far as his eyes can see. A man with a handsome face and a pleasant fragrance comes to him and says, “May Allah reward you with good! By Allah, as I have known you, you were indeed quick to obey Allah and slow to disobey Him.”

He replies, “And may Allah reward you with good! Who are you?”

He says, “I am your righteous deeds.” Then a door is opened for him to