2140 – Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-ʿAbbās informed us; he said: Yaḥyā ibn Muḥammad ibn Ṣāʿid narrated to us; he said: al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Ḥasan, Abū ʿAbd-Allāh al-Marwazī, in Mecca, narrated to us; he said: Abū Muʿāwiyah the Blind narrated to us; he said: al-Aʿmash narrated to us, from al-Minhāl ibn ʿAmr, from Zādhān Abū ʿUmar, from al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib, who said:

“We set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the funeral of a man from among the Anṣār. When we arrived the grave had not yet been prepared. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down, and we sat around him so still that it was as though birds were perched upon our heads. In his hand was a small stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, ‘Seek Allah’s protection from the torment of the grave,’ twice or three times.

He then said: ‘When a believing servant is at the point of leaving this world and entering the Hereafter, angels descend to him with faces gleaming white, as though their faces were the sun. They carry with them a shroud from Paradise and perfume from Paradise, and they sit from him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes ⦗1208⦘ and sits by his head and says, “O good soul, come out to Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure.”

It then leaves the body, flowing out like a drop of water from the mouth of a waterskin. He takes it, and no sooner has he taken it than they seize it and place it in that shroud and that perfume. From it issues a fragrance finer than the sweetest musk ever found upon the face of the earth.

They ascend with it, and whenever they pass by a company of angels they ask, “Whose good soul is this?” They reply, “It is So-and-so, son of So-and-so,” calling him by the finest names with which he was known in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven and ask for it to be opened. It is opened for him, and the angels of every heaven close to him escort him to the next, until he is taken up to the seventh heaven. Then Allah the Exalted says, “Record the book of My servant in ʿIlliyyīn (the highest register) and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, into it I shall return them, and from it I shall bring them forth once more.”

His soul is then returned to his body, and two angels come to him and make him sit up. They ask, “What is your religion?” He replies, “My religion is Islam.” They ask, “Who is this man who was sent among you?” He says, “He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” They ask, “And what knowledge do you have?” He answers, “I read Allah’s Book, believed in it, and affirmed it.”

A caller then calls out from heaven: “My servant has spoken the truth. Spread out for him bedding from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.” Its breeze and fragrance come to him, and his grave is made spacious as far as his sight reaches. Then there comes to him a man of handsome face and pleasant scent who says, “Rejoice in what delights you; this is the day you were promised.” He asks, “Who are you? Your face is one that brings good.” He replies, “I am your righteous deeds.” The believer then says, “My Lord, let the Hour come; my Lord, let the Hour come,” three times, “so that I may return to my family and my property.”

‘But when an unbelieving servant is at the point of leaving this world and entering the Hereafter, ⦗1209⦘ angels descend to him from the sky with dark faces, carrying coarse sackcloth. They sit from him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death ﷺ comes and sits by his head and says, “O vile soul, come out to Allah’s wrath and anger.” It disperses throughout his body, and he pulls it out as a three-pronged iron hook is dragged through wet wool, tearing the veins and sinews. He takes it, and no sooner has he taken it than they seize it and place it in that sackcloth.

A stench issues from it like the foulest corpse ever found on the face of the earth. They ascend with it, and whenever they pass by a company of angels they ask, “Whose vile soul is this?” They answer, “It is So-and-so, son of So-and-so,” calling him by the ugliest names with which he was known in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven and seek that it be opened, but it is not opened for it.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then recited: “The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle” (al-Aʿrāf 7:40).

He continued: ‘Then Allah says, “Record his book in Sijjīn (the lowest register on earth).” His soul is flung down.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then recited: “Whoever associates partners with Allah is as though he had fallen from the sky, the birds snatch him away or the wind sweeps him down into a distant place” (al-Ḥajj 22:31).

‘His soul is then returned to his body. Two angels come to him, make him sit up and ask, “Who is your Lord?” He says, “Alas, alas, I do not know.” They ask, “What is your religion?” He says, “Alas, alas, I do not know.” They ask, “Who is this man who was sent among you?” He says, “Alas, alas, I do not know.” A caller then calls out from heaven: “He has lied. Furnish for him bedding from the Fire, clothe him from the Fire, and open for him a gate to the Fire.” Its scorching heat and hot wind reach him, and his grave is constricted until his ribs interlock.

Then there comes to him a man of repulsive face and foul stench who says, “Receive the tidings that grieve you; this is the day you were promised.” He asks, “Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil.” He replies, “I am your wicked deeds.” The man then says, ⦗1210⦘ “My Lord, do not let the Hour come.”"