THE NARRATION OF AL-BAR IBN

ZIB CONCERNING THE

PUNISHMENT OF THE GRAVE:
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Imm Amad mentions in his Musnad:

Upon the authority of al-Bar ibn zib who said: We left with the Prophet ( ) to
participate in a janzah for a man from the Anr and continued to follow it until we
reached the site of his grave. Once his body was placed into the ground, then the
Messenger of Allh () sat down and we then sat down around him as though there
were birds perched upon our heads. In his [the Prophets ()] hand was a branch that he
used to scratch at the ground. Then he raised his head and said: Seek refuge in Allh
from the punishment of the grave two or three times. Then he said: Indeed the
believing servant, once his ties to the life of this world are severed, and embarks upon
his journey in the Hereafter is descended upon by angels from the heavens. They have
bright white faces that radiate as though they were the sun. They bring with them
shrouds from the shrouds of Paradise and embalmment from the embalmment of
Paradise. They sit down near the deceased at a distance which is equal to the extent of
his sight. Then the angel of death (5) approaches until he sits at the head of the
deceased. Then he [the angel of death (5)] says: O virtuous soul, depart unto the
forgiveness of Allh and His pleasure. He said: Then his soul poured out of his body and
departed just as a drop of water flows from the water skin. Then he [the angel of death
(5)] took it [the soul of the deceased] and once he acquired it, it would not remain
in his hand even for the duration of the blinking of an eye before they took it and
shrouded it. Contained in the shroud was the embalmment that left a scent that was like
the most beautiful fragrance upon the face of the earth. He said: They [the angels]
ascended with it and did not pass any gathering of angels except that it was said to
them: Who is this virtuous soul? They [the angels carrying the soul] would reply: It is so
& so the son of so & so and would continue to describe the soul with the best names that
were used to address him in his worldly life. They would proceed until they reached the
extent of the worldly heavens. They would then seek permission to enter and their
permission would be granted. Those who were close would follow the soul as it passed
from one level of heaven to the next until it reached the seventh heaven. Then Allh the
Mighty and Majestic will say: Record the account of My servant in the Iliyn (the
inscribed register that documents good deeds) and return him to the earth. For indeed,
from it I have created them and to it, I will return them; and from it I will bring them
forth once again. He said: They will then return the soul to its body and it will be
approached by two angels that cause the body to sit up. They say to him: Who is your
Lord? Then he responds: My Lord is Allh. Then they say to him: What is your religion?
Then he says: My religion is Islm. Then they say to him: Who is this man who was sent
to you? Then he replies: He is the Messenger of Allh (). Then they said to him: How
did you know? Then he responds: I read the Book of Allh and believed in it and
embraced its truth. Then a caller will announce from the heavens: My servant has
spoken the truth. So accommodate him and grant him residence in the Paradise. Clothe
him from the garments of Paradise, and open for him the doors of Paradise. He said:
Then they will offer him food and drink and perfume from Paradise and will expand his
grave to the limits of his eyesight. He said: Then he will be approached by a man with a
handsome face, attractive clothing, and a wonderful scent. Then he will say: I give you
glad tidings of what will please you. This is the day that you were promised. Then he

will say: Who are you? You have the face of someone who brings good news. Then he
will say: I am your righteous deeds. Then he will say: O my Lord establish the Hour so I
can return to my family and my property. He said: Indeed the disbelieving servant once
his ties to the life of this world are severed, and embarks upon his journey in the
Hereafter is descended upon by angels from the heavens. They have black faces and they
bring with them coarse fabric. They sit down near the deceased at a distance which is
equal to the extent of his sight. Then the angel of death approaches until he sits at the
head of the deceased. Then he [the angel of death] says: O wretched soul! Depart unto
the scorn of Allh and His anger. He said: Then the soul became frightened within the
body. Then it was yanked out forcefully just as one might yank a skewer through wet
wool until it was removed. Once he [the angel of death] took it [the soul of the deceased]
and once he acquired it, it would not remain in his hand even for the duration of the
blinking of an eye before they took it and shrouded it with that coarse fabric that left a
foul stench that was like the most revolting smell of dead animals upon the face of the
earth. They [the angels] ascended with it and did not pass any gathering of angels except
that it was said to them: Who is this wretched soul? Then they would say: It is so & so
the son of so & so and would continue to describe the soul with the worst names that
were used to address him in his worldly life. They would proceed until they reached the
extent of the worldly heavens. They would then seek permission to enter and their
permission would be denied. Then the Messenger of Allh () recited [the following
verse]: 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. [Srah al-Arf 7:40] Then Allh the
Mighty and Majestic will say: Record his account in the Sijjn (the inscribed register that
documents evil deeds) and return him to lowest place on earth. Then his soul is thrown
down forcefully. Then he [the Messenger of Allh ()] recited: And whoever directs
worship to other than Allh, then it is as though he has fallen from the sky and was
seized by the birds or the wind which carried him down into a remote place. [Srah
al-ajj 22:31] Then his soul is returned to his body and it is approached by two angels
that cause the body to sit up. They say to him: Who is your Lord? Then he responds: Uh
uh, I dont know. Then they say to him: What is your religion? Then he says: Uh uh, I
dont know. Then they say to him: Who is this man who was sent to you? Then he
replies: Uh uh, I dont know. Then a caller will announce from the heavens: He lied. So
accommodate him and grant him residence in the Hellfire. And open for him the doors
of the Hellfire. Then its heat and venom will begin to reach him. Then his grave will
become constricted to the extent that his ribs will intertwine and become tangled with
one another. Then he will be approached by a man with an ugly face, unsightly clothing,
and a foul stench. Then he will say: I give you tidings of what will displease you. This is
the day that you were promised. Then he will say: Who are you? You have the face of
someone who is the bearer of bad news. Then he will say: I am your evil deeds. Then he
will say: O my Lord, please do not establish the Hour.1

Extracted by Imm Amad in his Musnad as well as the Sunan of Ab Dwd, and al-kim and
the wording cited here is taken from the Musnad of Imm Amad.