It is narrated from Sayyiduna Masruq (may Allah have mercy on him) that he asked Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) about the verse «ولا تحسبن الذين قتلوا في سبيل الله أمواتا بل أحياء» [آل عمران: 169] . He said: We had asked about this, and it was said: "Their souls are in the form of green birds in Paradise, roaming wherever they wish, and they settle in lanterns hanging from the Throne." Then Allah, the Exalted, said to them: "Ask for whatever you wish." They said: "O Lord! What more could we ask for when we are roaming in Paradise?" Then they said: "Return our souls to our bodies so that we may be killed again in Your path." When Allah saw that they did not ask for anything else, He left them in that state.