Masruq (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about the statement of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: “And do not think of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” He said: We had asked about this, and he said: Their souls are like green birds that roam freely in Paradise wherever they wish, then they take refuge in lanterns hanging near the Throne. In this state, when their Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, looked upon them, He said: “Ask Me for whatever you wish.” They said: “O our Lord! What should we ask from You, when we roam in Paradise wherever we wish?” When He saw that they would not ask for anything, He said: “We ask You to return our souls to our bodies in the world, so that we may be martyred again in Your path.” When Allah saw that they would not ask for anything except this, He left them as they were.
Hadith Referenceسنن سعید بن منصور / كتاب التفسير / 539
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:سنده صحيح على شرط الشيخين، وقد أخرجه مسلم في "صحيحه" كما سيأتي.
Hadith Takhrij«إسناده حسن، وأخرجه مسلم فى (صحيحه) برقم: 1887، والحاكم فى (مستدركه) برقم: 2540، والترمذي فى (جامعه) برقم: 3011، 3011 م، والدارمي فى (مسنده) برقم: 2454، وابن ماجه فى (سننه) برقم: 2801، وسعيد بن منصور فى (سننه) برقم: 539، 2559، وأحمد فى (مسنده) برقم: 4031، وابن أبى شيبة فى (مصنفه) برقم: 19731» قال ابن عبدالبر: حسن، الاستذكار الجامع لمذاهب فقهاء الأمصار وعلماء الأقطار فيما تضمنه الموطأ من معاني الرأي والآثار: (8 / 357)