Mukhtasar Bukhari (Abridged) 1358 — Description of the angels

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) narrated to us, and he is the truthful and the believed: “The creation of each one of you is completed in his mother’s womb. For forty days he remains as a drop of fluid, then for the same period as a clot of blood, then for the same number of days as a lump of flesh. Then Allah sends an angel, and he is commanded regarding four matters: (1) it is said to him to write his deeds, (2) his provision, (3) his lifespan, (4) and (to write) whether he is wretched or blessed (i.e., fortunate or unfortunate). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, indeed, one of you may perform deeds of the people of Paradise until there is only a cubit between him and Paradise, then the decree (written destiny) overtakes him and he begins to do the deeds of the people of Hellfire and thus enters it. And a person may perform deeds of the people of Hellfire until there is only a cubit between him and Hell, then the decree (destiny) overtakes him and he begins to do the deeds of the people of Paradise and thus enters it.”