Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 12432 — The soul of the believer and

Sayyiduna al-Bara (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We went with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the funeral of a man of the Ansar. When we reached the grave, and the lahd had not yet been prepared, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down, and we sat around him as though birds had settled on our heads. In his (peace and blessings be upon him) hand was a stick with which he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said: "O 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's connection with this world is ending and he is turning towards the Hereafter, angels with white faces come down from the heaven, as though their faces were the sun, until they sit before him as far as his eye can see. With them is a shroud from Paradise and perfume from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says: "O pure soul, come out to the pleasure of Allah and His forgiveness." So the soul flows out as a drop of water flows from a waterskin. Then he takes it, and when he takes it, it is not left in his hand even for the blink of an eye until they place it in that shroud and perfume. There comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk found on the earth. Then those angels ascend with this pure soul towards the heavens, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they say: "Who is this pure soul?" They say: "So-and-so, son of so-and-so," calling him by the best and finest name he had in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven. Then the angels ask for its door to be opened, and it is opened for them, and the angels nearest to Allah in every heaven welcome him, until they take him to the seventh heaven. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then Allah Almighty says: "Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin, in the fourth heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, into it I will return them, and from it I will bring them out once again (on the Day of Resurrection)." Then his soul is returned to his body. Two angels come to him, sit him up and ask him: "Who is your Lord?" He says: "Allah is my Lord." Then they ask him: "What is your religion?" He says: "My religion is Islam." Then they ask him: "Who is this man who was sent among you?" He says: "He is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." They say: "What do you know about him?" He says: "I recited the Book of Allah, believed in it and affirmed it." Then a caller calls out from the heaven: "My servant has spoken the truth, so spread bedding for him from Paradise, clothe him in the clothing of Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise." So the fragrance and breeze of Paradise come to him, and his grave is widened as far as his eye can see. A man with a handsome face, handsome clothes and a pleasant fragrance comes to him and says: "Glad tidings of the blessings that will delight you! This is the day you were promised." He asks: "Who are you? Your face is a face that brings good and blessing." He says: "I am your righteous deeds." 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's connection with this world is ending and the time comes for him to go to the Hereafter, angels with black faces come down to him from the heaven, carrying coarse old blankets, and they sit before him as far as his eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says: "O wicked soul, come out to the displeasure and wrath of Allah." He said: The soul scatters within his body, and it is drawn out in such a way that his sinews and veins are torn, as a skewer is pulled out of wet wool. Then they take it, and when they take it, they do not leave it even for the blink of an eye until they put it in that blanket. There comes from it a stench like the foulest carcass found on the earth. Then those angels ascend with his soul towards the heaven, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask: "Whose is this wicked soul?" They say: "It is so-and-so, son of so-and-so," calling him by the worst name he was called by in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven with him and ask for it to be opened, but it is not opened for him. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited: "The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle" [Al-A'raf: 40]. He said: Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: "Record the book of My servant in Sijjin, in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, into it I will return them, and from it I will bring them out once again." Then his soul is flung down. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited: "And whoever associates partners with Allah, it is as though he fell from the sky and the birds snatched him, or the wind swept him down to a far-off place" [Al-Hajj: 31]. He said: Then his soul is returned to his body, and the two angels come to him, sit him up and ask him: "Who is your Lord?" He says: "Alas, alas, I do not know." They ask him: "What is your religion?" He says: "Alas, alas, I do not know." He said: Then a caller calls out from the heaven: "Spread bedding for him from the Fire, clothe him from the Fire, and open for him a door to the Fire." He said: Then its heat and scorching wind come to him, and his grave is made so narrow for him that his ribs interlock. A man with an ugly face, ugly clothes and a foul smell comes to him and says: "Receive tidings of what will grieve you; this is the day you were promised." He asks: "Who are you? Your face is a face that brings evil." He says: "I am your wicked deeds." He says: "O my Lord, do not establish the Hour! O my Lord, do not establish the Hour!"