Hadith #165

Arabic Text

English Translation

Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us: al-Aʿmash narrated to us, from Minhāl ibn ʿAmr, from Zādhān, from al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib, who said: We went out with the Prophet ﷺ for the funeral of a man from the Anṣār. We reached the grave before it had been dug into the side. the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat, and we sat around him as if birds were perched on our heads, and in his hand was a stick with which he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said: "Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave" — two or three times. Then he said: "When a believing servant is at the point of departing this world and entering the next, angels descend from the sky with faces white like the sun, carrying a shroud from the shrouds of Paradise and embalming perfume from the perfumes of Paradise, and they sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death عليه السلام comes and sits by his head, saying: O good soul, come out to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. It flows out like a drop flowing from a waterskin. He takes it, and when he takes it, they do not leave it in his hand for the blink of an eye before placing it in that shroud and that perfume. From it comes the finest scent of musk found on the face of the earth. They ascend with it, and they do not pass by any assembly of angels except they say: What is this good soul? They reply: So-and-so, son of so-and-so — using the best names by which he was known in this world — until they reach the lowest heaven. They request that it be opened, and it is opened for them. The angels closest to each heaven escort it to the next, until it reaches the seventh heaven. Allah عز وجل says: Record the book of My servant in ʿIlliyyīn and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I return them, and from it I shall bring them forth once more. His soul is returned to his body. Two angels come and sit him up, asking: Who is your Lord? He says: My Lord is Allah. They ask: What is your religion? He says: 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: What is your knowledge? He says: I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and affirmed it. A caller calls from the sky: My servant has spoken the truth. Spread for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise. Its fragrance and sweet scent come to him, and his grave is expanded as far as his eye can see. A man with a handsome face, fine clothes, and pleasant scent comes to him and says: Glad tidings of what pleases you — this is the day you were promised. He asks: Who are you? Your face brings goodness. He replies: I am your righteous deeds. He says: O Lord, establish the Hour so I may return to my family and wealth. As for the disbelieving servant, when he is at the point of departing this world and entering the next, angels descend from the sky with black faces, carrying sackcloth. They sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, saying: O wicked soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah. It scatters through his body, and he extracts it as a skewer is pulled from wet wool. He takes it, and when he takes it, they do not leave it in his hand for the blink of an eye before placing it in that sackcloth. From it comes the most putrid stench of a corpse found on the face of the earth. They ascend with it, and they do not pass by any assembly of angels except they say: What is this wicked soul? They reply: So-and-so, son of so-and-so — using the worst names by which he was known in this world — until they reach the lowest heaven. They request that it be opened, and it is not opened for him. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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]. Allah عز وجل says: Record his book in Sijjīn, in the lowest earth. His soul is hurled down. Then he recited: And whoever associates others with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky and the birds snatched him, or the wind carried him to a remote place [al-Ḥajj 22:31]. His soul is returned to his body. Two angels come and sit him up, asking: Who is your Lord? He says: Hāh, hāh — I do not know. They ask: What is your religion? He says: Hāh, hāh — I do not know. They ask: Who is this man who was sent among you? He says: Hāh, hāh — I do not know. A caller calls from the sky: He has lied. Spread for him from the Fire and open for him a gate to the Fire. Its heat and scorching wind come to him, and his grave is constricted until his ribs interlock. A man with an ugly face, foul clothes, and vile smell comes to him and says: Receive tidings of what displeases you — this is the day you were promised. He asks: Who are you? Your face brings evil. He replies: I am your wicked deeds. He says: O Lord, do not establish the Hour." Ibn Numayr narrated to us: al-Aʿmash narrated to us: al-Minhāl ibn ʿAmr narrated to us, from Abū ʿUmar Zādhān, who said: I heard al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib say: We went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the funeral of a man from the Anṣār — and he mentioned its meaning, except he said: He extracts it, and the veins and sinews are torn with it. Zāʾidah said likewise. Muʿāwiyah ibn ʿAmr narrated to us: Zāʾidah narrated to us: Sulaymān al-Aʿmash narrated to us: al-Minhāl ibn ʿAmr narrated to us: Zādhān narrated to us, saying: al-Barāʾ said: We went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the funeral of a man from the Anṣār — and he mentioned its meaning, except he said: A man with fine clothes and a handsome face appeared to him. And regarding the disbeliever: A man with an ugly face and foul clothes appeared to him.