Part 9

Jibri then ascended with me to the seventh heaven. He requested admission, and was asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” He was asked, “Who

accompanies you?” He replied, “Muhammad.” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was then said, “‘He is welcome; what an excellent visit his is!” When I entered I saw Ibrahim. Jibril said, “This is your father Ibrahim; give him salam.” 1 gave him salam. He responded to my salam and said, “Welcome, righteous son and righteous prophet.”

I was then shown Sidrat ul-Muntaha'. And behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajar ’, and its leaves were as big as elephants’ ears. Jibril said, “This is Sidrat ul-Muntaha.” There ran four rivers, two were concealed and two were visible. I asked, “What are these rivers, O Jibril?” He replied, “As for the two concealed ones, they are two rivers in Jannah; and as for the two visible ones, they are the Nile and the Euphrates.”

I was then offered a flask of wine, a flask of milk, and a flask of honey. I took the one that contained milk. Jibril remarked: “This is the fitrah * upon which you and your followers are.”

Fifty salahs (prayers) were then made obligatory for me each day. On my way back I passed by Misa, who asked me, “What have you been commanded?” I replied, “I have been commanded to perform fifty prayers each day.” Misa said, “Your Ummah (foliowers) cannot accomplish fifty prayers each day.

1 Sidrat ul-Muntaha: The Lotus Tree at the Farthest Limit, beyond which no one is allowed to pass.

2 Hajar: A village near al-Madinah where huge clay jars used to be made.

Al-Bayt ul-Ma mar: The Much-Frequented House in the heavens.

4 Fitrah: The pure nature according to which Allah created the people.

Life in Al-Barzakh 55 The Prophets and the Martyrs

By Allah, I have dealt with the people before you; and I tried my utmost with the Children of Isra'll. Go back to your Lord, and ask him to reduce the burden for your Ummah.”

I returned; and Allah reduced the required number of prayers by ten. Again, I came to Misa, who repeated his earlier advise to me.

I returned; and Allah reduced the number by ten. I came to Misa, who repeated his earlier advise.

I returned; and Allah reduced the number by ten. I came to Misa, who repeated his earlier advise.

I returned; and Allah reduced the number by ten, thus commanding me to perform ten prayers each day. And Miisa repeated his earlier advise.

I returned, and was commanded to perform five prayers each day. When I cam back to Misa, He said, “What have you been commanded?” I replied, “I have been commanded to perform five prayers each day.” He said, “Your Ummah cannot accomplish five prayers each day. I have dealt with the people before you; and I tried my utmost with the Children of Israil. Go back to your Lord, and ask him to reduce the burden for your Ummah.” 1 said, I have requested so much from my Lord that I now feel shy (to ask anymore of Him). I will just accept this and submit to Him. As I left, I heard a caller address me by saying, ““You have submitted to My command, and have reduced the burden for My worshippers.”> |

The companions of the Prophet (4%) who were martyred in the battle of Uhud are anxious to inform their brothers about what Allah (#8) has

1 Al-Bukhart, Muslim and others.

granted the martyrs. Ibn ‘Abbas (te) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (i$) said:

<When your brothers were killed in the battle of Uhud, Allah (88) cast their souls into green birds that frequent the rivers of Jannah, eat of its fruits, and rest in lamps of gold hanging in the shadow of the ‘Arsh '. When they found this pleasant food, drink, and repose, they said, “Who will inform our brothers, on our behalf, that we are alive in Jannah, and that we receive sustenance — so that they do not forsake jihad (fighting in Allah’s way) or turn back during the fighting?” Allah (3%) said, “I will inform them for you.”> *

1 Arsh: Throne. 2 Recorded by Ahmad, Abi Dawid and al-Hakim; verified to be authentic by alAlbani (Sahih ul-Jami‘ no. 5205).

CHAPTER 8 THE SINFUL IN AL-BARZAKH

1) We came upon a man lying flat on his back (on the ground). Another man was standing over his head with a boulder in his hand. He would hurl the boulder upon the (first) man’s head, causing it to split open. The boulder would then roll away, and he would go and retrieve it. By the time he returned to him, his head is restored as it was before, and he would hit him again (with the boulder). I said to them, “May Allah be exalted! Who are these two?” They said, “Come on, come on!”

2) We proceeded until we came upon a man sitting, and another man standing over him with an iron hook. He would approach him from one side, and rip open (with the hook) his face from the corner of the mouth to the back of the head, from the nose to the back of the head, and from the eye to the back of

1 The prophets’ dreams are all truthful; Satan cannot approach them even while they sleep.

the head. He would then move to the other side and do what he did on the first side. As soon as he finished with that side, the first side would be restored to what it was before, and he would move to it and do as he did the first time. I said, “May Allah be exalted! Who are these two?” They said, “Come one, come on!”

3) We proceeded until we came upon a hole that resembled a baking pit, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. Babbling and voices were issuing from it. We looked in and saw naked men and women. Underneath the pit was a raging fire; whenever it flared up, they screamed and rose with it until they almost fell out of the pit. As it subsided, they returned (to the bottom). I said, “Who are these?” They said, “Come on; come on!”

4) We proceeded until we reached a river of blood, with a man swimming in its center. On the bank of the river there was a man who had piled around him many rocks. The man in the river would swim for a while, and then approach the one who had gathered the rocks around him, trying to exit (from the river). He would open his mouth, and he (the one standing on the bank) would throw a rock into it, causing him to return to his original position (in the middle of the river). He would then resume swimming; and every time he made an effort to get out (of the river), he would throw a rock into his mouth, forcing him to fall back to the center. J said, “Who are these two?” They said, “Come on, come on!”

5) We proceeded until we came upon a garden dense with plantation, with all sorts of spring flowers, and with a very large tree in its center. Near the stem of the tree, there stood a very tall man — so tall that I could barely see his head in the sky. Around him

Life in Al-Barzakh 59 The Sinful in al-Barzakh

was the greatest number of children that I have ever seen. I said, “Who is this, and who are these?” They said, “Come on, come on!”

6) Near the tree, I saw a man with the most hateful appearance in any man. Before him was a fire, which he was kindling and trotting around. I said to them, “Who is this?” They said, “Come on; come on!”

7) As for the tree, never before had I seen a tree greater or more beautiful than this one. They instructed me, “Climb it.” We ascended, until we came upon a city that I have never seen one more beautiful. It was built with gold and silver bricks. We arrived at the gate of the city and requested admission. It was opened, and we entered into it. We were met by old and young men with oné half of their faces the most beautiful to behold, and the other half the ugliest to behold. They (my two companions) said to them, “Go and plunge into that river.” A river was flowing across, whose water was milk-white in color. They plunged into it and returned to us. Their ugliness disappeared; and they became most handsome.

8) They took me further up, and let me into a town better and more beautiful than the first one.

I said, “Since the beginning of this night, you have taken me to different places, and I have been seeing amazing things! What is all this that I saw?” They said, “We will now tell you:

1) As for the first man whom you saw his head getting smashed with a boulder: he is a man whom Allah taught the Qur'an, but he slept and neglected

it during the night, and did not implement it during the day. He turned away from the Qur'an, and slept through the prescribed prayers. He will continue to be tortured in this way until the Day of Resurrection.

2) As for the man whom you saw with his mouth, nose, and eyes being ripped to the back of his head: he is a liar who Jeaves his house in the morning to spread fies which are carried from him in all directions. He will continue to be tortured in this way until the Day of Resurrection.

3) As for the naked men and women who were in the pit: they are men and women who indulge in zina (adultery).

4) As for the man whom you saw swimming in the river and being fed with rocks: he is the one who eats riba '.