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.