2146 – Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Sahl informed us; Ahmad ibn Jaʿfar ibn Salman narrated to us; Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Khaliq narrated to us; Abu al-ʿAbbas Muhammad ibn Ghalib al-Sunni narrated to us; Ibrahim ibn Bashshar related that Ibrahim ibn Adham told him:

“I accompanied a funeral procession along the seashore and said, ‘May Allah bless me in death.’ A voice from the bier replied, ‘And what about what comes after death?’ A wave of fear swept over me—so much so that I could no longer carry my corner of the bier. When the deceased had been buried and the people had left, I remained by the grave, pondering the words spoken to me from the bier: ‘And what about what comes after death?’ Sleep overtook me as I knelt there, and suddenly a figure emerged from the grave—of all people the most handsome in face, the sweetest in fragrance, and the cleanest in clothing. He said, ‘O Ibrahim!’ I replied, ‘At your service—who are you? May Allah have mercy on you!’ He said, ‘I am the one who spoke to you from the bier: “And what about what comes after death?”’ I said to him, ‘By the One who splits the seed, creates every soul, and is adorned with majesty, tell me who you are!’ He answered, ‘I am the sunnah. In this world I am for my companion a guardian and vigilant watcher; in the grave, a light and a comfort; and on the Day of Resurrection, a driver and guide leading him to Paradise.’”