Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: We went with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to attend the funeral of an Ansari. When we reached the grave, we saw that it had not yet been prepared. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down, and we also sat around him, as if birds were sitting on our heads. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a stick in his hand, with which he began to scratch the ground. He raised his head and said two or three times: Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When a believing person is at the last moments of this world and the first stages of the Hereafter, angels with faces as white as the sun descend from the sky. They have with them a shroud from Paradise and fragrance. They come and sit before the believer’s eyes. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits near his head and says: O pure soul! Come out to Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure. His soul comes out smoothly, just as a drop of water flows from a water-skin. The angels of Paradise do not let this soul remain in the hands of the Angel of Death even for a moment, but immediately take it and wrap it in the shroud and fragrance of Paradise. From it emanates a fragrance like the finest musk found on the face of the earth. The angels take it upwards, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask: Whose pure soul is this? The angels reply with the best names by which he was called in the world, saying: This is so-and-so, son of so-and-so. They take it up to the first heaven and ask for the door to be opened for it, and it is opened for them. Then the angels closest to each heaven accompany the soul to the next heaven, and so it is taken up to the seventh heaven. Allah Almighty says: Record the book (of deeds) of My servant in ‘Illiyyin and return him to the earth, for I created him from it, and I shall return him to it, and then I shall bring him forth from it a second time. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then his soul is returned to his body. Two angels come to him, make him sit up, and ask: Who is your Lord? He replies: My Lord is Allah. 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 the Messenger of Allah. They ask: How did you come to know these things? He replies: I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and affirmed it. Then a caller from the heavens proclaims: My servant has spoken the truth, so spread out a bed for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him towards Paradise. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then the breezes and fragrances of Paradise come to him, and his grave is made spacious as far as the eye can see. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then there comes to him a man with a beautiful face, fine clothes, and a pleasant fragrance, who says: Rejoice in that which will please you; this is the day you were promised. The one in the grave asks: Who are you? Your face is one that brings good. He replies: I am your righteous deeds. The believer says: O my Lord! Establish the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When a disbelieving person is departing from this world and going towards the Hereafter, angels with dark faces descend from the sky. They have with them rough cloth (hairy sackcloth). They come and sit before him. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits near his head and says: O wicked soul! Come out to Allah’s wrath and anger. The soul disperses within his body. Then the angel pulls it out as a thorny iron rod is pulled through wet wool. When the angel takes it out, the other angels do not let it remain in his hand even for a moment, but immediately wrap it in the rough cloth. The foulest stench found on the face of the earth emanates from it. The angels take it upwards, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask: Whose wicked soul is this? The angels reply with the worst and most despicable names by which he was called in the world, saying: This is so-and-so, son of so-and-so. They take it up to the first heaven and ask for the door to be opened, but the door is not opened for him. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: {لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَہُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاِؑ، وَلَا یَدْخُلُوْنَ الْجَنَّۃَ حَتّٰی یَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِی سَمِّ الْخِیَاطِ۔} (Surah Al-A’raf: 40) meaning: The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle. Allah Almighty says: Record his book (of deeds) in Sijjin, the lowest earth. Then his soul is thrown down to the earth. At this point, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: {وَمَنْ یُشْرِکَ بِاللّٰہِ فَکَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، فَتَخْطَفُہُ الطَّیْرُ أَوْ تَہْوِی بِہِ الرَّیْحُ فِی مَکَانٍ سَحِیْقٍ۔} (Surah Al-Hajj: 31) meaning: And whoever associates partners with Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky and the birds snatched him away or the wind carried him off to a distant place. After that, his soul is returned to his body, and two angels come to him, make him sit up, and ask: Who is your Lord? He says: Alas, alas! I do not know. They ask: What is your religion? He says: Alas, alas! I do not know. They ask: Who is this man who was sent among you? He says: Alas, alas! I do not know. A caller from the heavens proclaims: He has lied, so spread out a bed for him from Hell and open a door for him towards Hell. Then the heat and foul air of Hell come to him, and his grave is made so tight for him that his ribs interlock. Then a man with an ugly face, ugly clothes, and a foul stench comes to him and says: Receive the tidings of that which will displease you; this is the day you were promised. The one in the grave asks: Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil. He replies: I am your evil deeds. The one in the grave says: O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour.