Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Tamim bin Ghailan bin Salamah narrates that a man came to Hazrat Abu Darda while he was ill. The man said, “O Abu Darda! Surely, you are at the verge of departing from this world (separation is near). Command me to do such a deed by which Allah the Exalted will benefit me, and with it, I may remember you.” He replied, “You are among the people of well-being. Establish prayer, if there is zakat due on your wealth, then pay it, fast in Ramadan, and avoid evil deeds, then glad tidings are for you.” The man repeated the same question, and he gave him the same answer. Hazrat Shu’bah says, “I think the man repeated the question three times, and he gave the same answer three times.” The man stood up, shaking his sheet, and recited this verse { اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَکْتُمُوْنَ مَآ اَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَیِّنٰتِ وَالْھُدٰی مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَیَّنّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ فِی الْکِتٰبِ } to { وَ یَلْعَنُھُمُ اللّٰعِنُوْنَ } [البقرۃ ١٥٩]. Hazrat Abu Darda said, “Bring that man back to me!” Then he said to him, “What did you say?” He replied, “You are a teacher, you have knowledge that I do not possess. I came to you with the intention that you would tell me something by which Allah the Exalted would benefit me, but you kept repeating only this to me.” Hazrat Abu Darda said to him, “Sit by me and tie to your heart what I say. Where will you be (what will become of you) on that day when you will have nothing in the earth except two cubits in width and four cubits in length? Those family members who do not wish to be separated from you will turn away from you. Your companions and your brothers will strengthen the structure over you, then they will heap much earth upon you, then they will leave you to destruction. Then two black angels, wearing yellow garments, with curly hair, whose names are Munkar and Nakir, will come to you. They will sit by you and question you: ‘Who are you? What were you upon? What do you say about this man?’ If you say, ‘By Allah, I do not know. I heard people saying something about him, so I said the same,’ then by Allah, you will be destroyed and disgraced. But if you say, ‘This is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the Messenger of Allah. Allah the Exalted sent down a Book upon him. I believed in this Book and in whatever he brought,’ then by Allah, you will attain salvation and guidance. And you will not be able to answer these questions due to severity and fear, except that Allah the Exalted strengthens your heart, then you will be able to answer.”