Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that once we went out with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) for the funeral of an Ansari. When we reached near the grave, the lahd (niche) had not yet been prepared, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat down, and we also sat around him. It felt as if birds were sitting on our heads. In the blessed hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave,” and he said this two or three times. Then he said: “When a believing servant is about to depart from this world and move to the Hereafter, angels with bright faces come to him from the heavens. They bring with them a shroud from Paradise and perfume from Paradise, and they sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, ‘O good soul! Come out to Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure.’ So his soul comes out flowing just as a drop of water flows from the mouth of a water-skin. The Angel of Death takes it, and the other angels do not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye; rather, they take it from him, wrap it in the shroud, and apply the perfume they have brought. From it comes a fragrance like the best musk that can be found on earth. Then the angels ascend with this soul, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask, ‘Who is this pure soul?’ They reply with the best name by which he was known in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be opened. When it is opened, the angels of each heaven accompany him to the next, until they reach the seventh heaven. Then Allah Almighty says, ‘Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin and return him to the earth, for I created them from it, into it I shall return them, and from it I shall bring them forth again.’ So his soul is returned to his body. Then 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 Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).’ They ask, ‘What is your knowledge?’ He replies, ‘I read Allah’s Book, believed in it, and affirmed it.’ Then a caller from the heavens proclaims, ‘My servant has spoken the truth. Spread out for him a bed from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.’ So its breezes and fragrances come to him, and his grave is expanded for him as far as the eye can see. Then a man with a beautiful face and pleasant fragrance comes to him and says, ‘Rejoice in what you have been promised. This is the day you were promised.’ He asks, ‘Who are you? Your face brings good news.’ He replies, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ Then he says, ‘O Lord! Establish the Hour so that I may return to my family and wealth.’

And when a disbelieving person is about to depart from this world and move to the Hereafter, angels with dark faces descend from the heavens, bringing with them rough cloth. They sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, ‘O wicked soul! Come out to Allah’s wrath and anger.’ Hearing this, his soul disperses within his body, and the Angel of Death pulls it out as a skewer is pulled out from wet wool, and he seizes it. The angels do not leave it in his hand even for the blink of an eye; rather, they wrap it in the rough cloth, and from it comes a foul stench like the worst dead flesh found on earth. Then they ascend with it, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they say, ‘What is this wicked soul?’ They reply with the worst name by which he was known in the world, until they reach the lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be opened, but it is not opened for him. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: “For them, the gates of heaven will not be opened, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of a needle.”