Angels at the time of death of a believer vs. a disbeliever
We went out with the Prophet ﷺ for the funeral of a man from the Ansar. When we arrived at the grave and it had not yet been dug, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down, and we sat around him as if birds were on our heads (in silence and stillness). In his hand, he had a stick with which he was striking the ground. Then he raised his head and said twice or thrice, "Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave."
Then he said, "When the believing servant is about to depart from this world and head towards the Hereafter, angels from the heavens descend upon him, their faces as bright as the sun, bringing shrouds from Paradise and fragrance from Paradise. They sit at a distance that the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death, ﷺ , comes and sits by his head and says, 'O good soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah.’ It comes out as gently as a drop flows from a water-skin, and the Angel of Death takes it. When he takes it, they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye; they take it and place it in that shroud and that fragrance. From it emanates a fragrance like the sweetest scent of musk ever found on the face of the earth.
Then they ascend with it. They do not pass by a group of angels but they say, 'What is this good soul?’ They reply, 'It is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the best names by which people called him in this world, until they reach the first heaven. They ask for it to be opened, and it is opened for them. The closest angels from each heaven accompany him to the next heaven until they reach the seventh heaven. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says, 'Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin (the highest heaven) and return him to the earth, for I have created them from it and return them into it, and from it, I will bring them forth once again.'
His soul is then returned to his body, and two angels come to him, make him sit up and ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'My Lord is Allah.’ They then ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'My religion is Islam.’ They further ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He says, 'He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ They will ask him, 'What is your knowledge?' He replies, 'I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and accepted it as true.’ Then a voice calls from the heaven, saying, 'My servant has spoken the truth. Furnish him from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise.' Then he is provided with some of its fragrance and pleasant smell, and his grave is made wide, as far as the eye can see.
Then a man with a handsome face, beautiful clothing, and a good scent comes to him and says, 'Rejoice with what pleases you, for this is your day which you were promised.’ He asks, 'Who are you? Your face is one that brings good.’ He replies, 'I am your righteous deeds.’ Then he says, 'O Lord, establish the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.'
When the disbelieving servant is about to depart from this world and head towards the Hereafter, angels descend upon him from the heavens. Their faces are dark, and they bring sackcloth. They sit at a distance that the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says, 'O foul soul, come out to the displeasure and wrath of Allah.’ It recoils within his body, and he drags it out like a skewer being pulled from wet wool. When he takes it, they do not let it stay in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye; they take it and place it in that sackcloth. From it emanates a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body ever found on the face of the earth.
Then they ascend with it. They do not pass by a group of angels but they say, 'What is this foul soul?' They reply, 'It is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the worst names by which people called him in this world, until they reach the first heaven. They ask for it to be opened, but it is not opened for them." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited: 'The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle.' (7:40) Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says, 'Record his book in Sijjin (in the lowest earth) and return him to the earth, for I have created them from it and return them into it, and from it, I will bring them forth once again.' His soul is then cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allah recited: 'And whoever ascribes partners to Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had blown him to a far-off place.' (22:31)
His soul is then returned to his body, and two angels come and make him sit up and ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He replies, 'Alas, alas, I do not know.' Then a voice calls from the heaven, saying, 'He has lied, so furnish him from Hellfire and open a door for him to Hell.' Then some of its heat and hot wind comes to him, and his grave is made narrow, so much so that his ribs are crushed together.
Then a man with an ugly face, ugly clothing, and a foul smell comes to him and says, 'Rejoice with what displeases you, for this is your day which you were promised.’ He asks, 'Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil.’ He replies, 'I am your evil deeds.’ Then he says, 'O Lord, do not establish the Hour.’"
خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي جِنَازَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْقَبْرِ وَلَمَّا يُلْحَدْ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَجَلَسْنَا حَوْلَهُ كَأَنَّ عَلَى رُءُوسِنَا الطَّيْرَ وَفِي يَدِهِ عُودٌ يَنْكُتُ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ اسْتَعِيذُوا بِاللهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا
ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُمُ الشَّمْسُ مَعَهُمْ كَفَنٌ مِنْ أَكْفَانِ الْجَنَّةِ وَحَنُوطٌ مِنْ حَنُوطِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسُوا مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الطَّيِّبَةُ اخْرُجِي إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ قَالَ فَتَخْرُجُ تَسِيلُ كَمَا تَسِيلُ الْقَطْرَةُ مِنْ فِي السِّقَاءِ فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَأْخُذُوهَا فَيَجْعَلُوهَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَنِ وَفِي ذَلِكَ الْحَنُوطِ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَطْيَبِ نَفْحَةِ مِسْكٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ
قَالَ فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ يَعْنِي بِهَا عَلَى مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذَا الرُّوحُ الطَّيِّبُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَحْسَنِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانُوا يُسَمُّونَهُ بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَنْتَهُوا بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَسْتَفْتِحُونَ لَهُ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ فَيُشَيِّعُهُ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ مُقَرَّبُوهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ فَيَقُولُ اللهُ ﷻ اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَ عَبْدِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَأَعِيدُوهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَإِنِّي مِنْهَا خَلَقْتُهُمْ وَفِيهَا أُعِيدُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا أُخْرِجُهُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَى
قَالَ فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ فَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّيَ اللهُ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ هُوَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ وَمَا عِلْمُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللهِ فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي فَأَفْرِشُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَلْبِسُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ رَوْحِهَا وَطِيبِهَا وَيُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ مَدَّ بَصَرِهِ
قَالَ وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الْوَجْهِ حَسَنُ الثِّيَابِ طَيِّبُ الرِّيحِ فَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُرُّكَ هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ يَجِيءُ بِالْخَيْرِ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الصَّالِحُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّ أَقِمِ السَّاعَةَ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَمَالِي
قَالَ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَلَائِكَةٌ سُودُ الْوُجُوهِ مَعَهُمُ الْمُسُوحُ فَيَجْلِسُونَ مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْخَبِيثَةُ اخْرُجِي إِلَى سَخَطٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَغَضَبٍ قَالَ فَتُفَرَّقُ فِي جَسَدِهِ فَيَنْتَزِعُهَا كَمَا يُنْتَزَعُ السَّفُّودُ مِنَ الصُّوفِ الْمَبْلُولِ فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَجْعَلُوهَا فِي تِلْكَ الْمُسُوحِ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَنْتَنِ رِيحِ جِيفَةٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ
فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ بِهَا عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذَا الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُسَمَّى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيُسْتَفْتَحُ لَهُ فَلَا يُفْتَحُ لَهُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ {لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ} [الأعراف 40] فَيَقُولُ اللهُ ﷻ اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَهُ فِي سِجِّينٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ السُّفْلَى فَتُطْرَحُ رُوحُهُ طَرْحًا ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ} [الحج 31]
فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ وَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَنْ كَذَبَ فَافْرِشُوا لَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى النَّارِ فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ حَرِّهَا وَسَمُومِهَا وَيُضَيَّقُ عَلَيْهِ قَبْرُهُ حَتَّى تَخْتَلِفَ فِيهِ أَضْلَاعُهُ
وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ قَبِيحُ الْوَجْهِ قَبِيحُ الثِّيَابِ مُنْتِنُ الرِّيحِ فَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُوءُكَ هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ يَجِيءُ بِالشَّرِّ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الْخَبِيثُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّ لَا تُقِمِ السَّاعَةَ
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