another route of transmission from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, among a number of other hadiths, all of which—like this one—indicate that whoever died a polytheist in the pre-Islamic period is in the Fire and is not among those who lived in an interval between messengers, as many people suppose—especially the Shi'a among them, and those Sunnis who have been influenced by them. Among these hadiths is what Hammad ibn Salamah narrated from Thabit, from Anas: A man said, “Messenger of Allah, where is my father?” He replied, “In the Fire.” When the man turned away, he called him back and then cited the hadith under discussion verbatim. It was recorded by Muslim (1/132–133), Abu Awanah (1/99), Abu Dawud (4718), al-Jurqani (1/233), who declared it authentic, Ahmad (3/268), Abu Ya'la (6/229/3516), Ibn Hibban (578, al-Ihsan), and al-Bayhaqi (7/190), through various chains from Hammad ibn Salamah transmitting it thus.

Another is the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, cited earlier in the first volume, no. 18, with the wording: “Whenever you pass by the grave of a disbeliever, give him tidings of the Fire.” Refer there to its occasion, for whoever reflects upon it will see that it conveys the same meaning as the hadith under discussion.

Also relevant to this subject is what he, peace and blessings be upon him, said when he visited his mother’s grave: “I asked my Lord’s permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not permit me. Then I asked Him for permission to visit her grave, and He permitted me...” This hadith was narrated by Muslim and others, and its sources are documented in Ahkam al-Jana'iz (Funeral Rulings), pp. 187–188, from the hadiths of Abu Hurayrah and Buraydah; whoever wishes may consult them. There are many hadiths on this subject, and in what we have mentioned there is abundant goodness and blessing.