Another such report is the hadith narrated by Ibn Abī Dhi’b, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Atā’, from Sa‘īd ibn Yasār, from Abū Hurayrah. Imam Ahmad related it in his Musnad, as did others.
The hadith scholar Abū Nu‘aym al-Asbahānī said:
“The uprightness of this hadith’s transmitters is agreed upon. Both imams, Muhammad ibn Ismā‘īl al-Bukhārī and Muslim ibn al-Hajjāj, accepted Ibn Abī Dhi’b, Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Atā’, and Sa‘īd ibn Yasār; these narrators meet their criteria. Leading early scholars narrated it from Ibn Abī Dhi’b, including Ibn Abī Fudayk, from whom Duhaym ibn Ibrāhīm narrated it.”
I say:
Several narrators related it from Ibn Abī Dhi’b, but the wording given here is that of Ibn Abī Fudayk’s narration, in view of his precedence.
Ibn Abī Fudayk said:
Muhammad ibn Abī Dhi’b narrated to me, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Atā’, from Sa‘īd ibn Yasār, from Abū Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Angels attend the dying person. If he is a righteous man, they say, ‘Come out, good soul that dwelt in a good body! Come out praiseworthy, and receive glad tidings of rest and provision, and a Lord who is not angry.’
“They continue saying this until it comes out. It is then taken up to the lowest heaven, and permission is sought for it to enter. It is asked, ‘Who is this?’
“They reply, ‘So-and-so.’ Then they say, ‘Welcome to the good soul that dwelt in a good body! Enter praiseworthy, and receive glad tidings of rest and provision, and a Lord who is not angry.’ This is said to it until it is brought to the heaven in which Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is.
“But if the man is evil,” he said, “the words are: ‘Come out, wicked soul that dwelt in a wicked body! Come out blameworthy, and receive tidings of scalding water, ghassāq, and more of the same kind