Hazrat Bara’ narrates that we went with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to attend the funeral of an Ansari. When we reached the grave and the lahd (niche) had not yet been prepared, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down, and we also sat around him so still, as if birds were sitting on our heads. In his hand was a stick with which he was scratching the ground. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head and said,“People! Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave!”He said this two or three times. Then he said,“When the believing servant is about to depart from this world and enter the Hereafter, angels with white faces descend from the sky, as if their faces are the sun. They sit before him as far as the eye can see. With them are shrouds from Paradise and fragrance from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, ‘O pure soul! Come out to Allah’s pleasure and forgiveness.’ So the soul flows out as easily as a drop of water flows from a water-skin. He takes it, and when he takes it, he does not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye, until they place it in that shroud and fragrance. From it comes the best scent of musk found on earth. Then the angels ascend with this pure soul, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask, ‘Whose pure soul is this?’ They reply, ‘It is so-and-so, son of so-and-so,’ calling him by the best names by which he was known in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for the gate to be opened, and it is opened for them. The angels of each heaven welcome him, until he is taken up to the seventh heaven. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then Allah, the Exalted, says, ‘Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin (the highest register) in the fourth heaven, 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 again (on the Day of Resurrection).’ Then his soul is returned to his body. Two angels come to him, sit him up, and ask, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies, ‘Allah is my Lord.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ He replies, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He replies, ‘He is Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).’ They ask, ‘What do you know about him?’ He says, ‘I recited Allah’s Book, believed in it, and affirmed it.’ Then a caller calls out from the heavens, ‘My servant has spoken the truth. Spread out for him a bed from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.’ So its fragrance and breeze come to him, and his grave is expanded as far as the eye can see. Then a man with a beautiful face, beautiful clothes, and a pleasant fragrance comes to him and says, ‘Rejoice in what will please you. This is the day you were promised.’ He asks, ‘Who are you?’ He replies, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ Then he says, ‘O my Lord! Establish the Hour! O my Lord! Establish the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.’

And when the disbelieving servant is about to depart from this world and enter the Hereafter, angels with black faces descend from the sky. With them are rough, coarse cloths, and they sit before him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, ‘O wicked soul! Come out to Allah’s wrath and anger.’ The soul is then pulled out from his body, tearing the veins and nerves, as a skewer is pulled out from wet wool. They seize it, and when they seize it, they do not leave it in their hands even for the blink of an eye, until they put it in that coarse cloth. From it comes the foulest stench of a dead body found on earth. Then the angels ascend with this soul, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask, ‘Whose wicked soul is this?’ They reply, ‘It is so-and-so, son of so-and-so,’ calling him by the worst names by which he was known in the world.

It is narrated from Hazrat Bara in a similar manner, with the addition that Sijjin is in the lowest layer of the earth.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that indeed the deceased hears the sound of the sandals when people return after burying him. Then, if he is a believer, the prayer stands by his head, zakat on his right side, fasting on his left side, and his good deeds, charity, maintaining family ties, and kindness to people are at his feet. Then, if the punishment comes from the direction of his head, the prayer will say, "There is no way for you to enter from my side." If it comes from his right side, zakat will say, "There is no way for you to enter from my side." If it comes from his left side, fasting will say, "There is no way for you to enter from my side." Then, if it comes from his feet, his good deeds, charity, maintaining family ties, and kindness will say, "There is no way for you to enter from our side." Then it will be said to him, "Sit down." He will sit, and it will seem to him as if the sun is about to set. The angels will say to him, "Answer what we ask you." He will say, "Let me go so that I may perform prayer." It will be said to him, "Indeed, you have already performed it. Tell us what we ask you." He will say, "What do you ask me?" They will say, "Do you see the person who was sent to you? What do you say about him? And what testimony do you give about him?" He will ask, "Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)?" It will be said to him, "Yes." Then he will say, "I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah, and he came to us with clear proofs from Allah, so we affirmed him." The angels will say to him, "Upon this you lived, upon this you died, and upon this you will be raised again, insha’Allah." Then his grave will be expanded seventy cubits for him, and it will be illuminated for him, and a door to Paradise will be opened for him, and it will be said to him, "Look at what Allah has promised you." His joy and happiness will increase. Then a door to Hell will be opened, and it will be said to him, "This would have been your abode, which Allah had promised you if you had disobeyed." His happiness will increase. Then a fragrant breeze (bade naseem) will blow for him, and he will be like a green bird hanging from a tree in Paradise. And his body will be returned to the earth from which he was created, and regarding him is the saying of Allah: { یُثَبِّتُ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِی الْحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنْیَا وَ فِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ }.

Muhammad the narrator says that Hazrat Umar bin Hakam bin Thawban said: Then it will be said to him, "Sleep in comfort like a bride." No one will wake him except the most beloved person in his house, i.e., his husband, until Allah raises him (on the Day of Resurrection). Muhammad the narrator says that Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If he was a disbeliever, then the punishment will come to his head, but he will find nothing to protect him. Then it will come to his right side, but he will find nothing for him. Then it will come to his left side, but he will find nothing for him. Then it will come to his feet, but he will find nothing for him. It will be said to him, "Sit down." He will sit in a frightened manner. It will be said to him, "Answer what we ask you." He will say, "What do you ask me?" It will be said to him, "This person who was among you, what do you say about him? And what testimony do you give about him?" He will ask, "Which person?" It will be said to him, "The one who was among you." He will not be guided to his name. It will be said to him, "Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)." He will say, "I do not know. I heard people say something about him, so I said as they said." It will be said to him, "Upon this you lived, upon this you died, and upon this you will be raised again, insha’Allah." Then a door to Hell will be opened for him, and it will be said to him, "This is your abode, which Allah had promised you." His regret and destruction will increase. Then a door to Paradise will be opened for him, and it will be said to him, "This would have been your abode (if you had done good deeds and believed)." His regret and destruction will increase. Then his grave will be constricted for him until his ribs interlock. And this is the constricted life which Allah the Exalted has mentioned: { فَاِنَّ لَہٗ مَعِیْشَۃً ضَنْکًا وَّ نَحْشُرُہٗ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَۃِ اَعْمٰی }.

12435 - (W) (1) Muhammad said: (Umar) (2) ibn al-Hakam ibn Thawban said: Then it is said to him: (Sleep) (3) and he sleeps (the sleep) (4) of a bridegroom, none awakens him except the most beloved of his family to him, until Allah ﷿ resurrects him.

12436 - Muhammad said: Abu Salama said: Abu Huraira said: And if he is a disbeliever, he is approached from the direction of his head but nothing is found for him, then he is approached from his right but nothing is found for him, then he is approached from his left but nothing is found for him, then he is approached from the direction of his feet but nothing is found for him. Then it is said to him: Sit, so he sits, terrified and alarmed. Then it is said to him: Inform us about what we ask you. He says: And about what do you ask me? It is said: Do you see this man who was among you, what do you say about him? And what do you testify about him? He says: Which man? It is said: The one who was among you. He does not know his name. It is said: Muhammad. He says: I do not know, I heard people saying something so I said as they said. It is said: Upon that you lived, and upon that you died, and upon that you will be resurrected if Allah wills. Then a door is opened for him to the Fire and it is said to him: That ⦗236⦘ is your seat and what Allah has prepared for you in it, so he increases in regret and ruin. Then a door is opened for him to Paradise and it is said to him: That is your seat in it, so he increases in regret and ruin. Then his grave is constricted upon him until his ribs interlock, and that is the life [الضنك التي قال اللَّه تعالى: ﴿فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا] (18) "And We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind" [طه: ١٢٤] (19).