When the servant is placed in his grave, his companions retrace their steps, and he hears the noise of their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and say to him: What you have to say about this person (the Prophet)? If he is a believer, he would say: I bear testimony to the fact that he is a servant of Allah and His Messenger. Then it would be said to him: Look to your seat in the Hellfire, for Allah has substituted (the seat of yours) with a seat in Paradise. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: He would be shown both the seats. Qatada said: It was mentioned to us that his grave (the grave of a believer) expands to seventy cubits and is full with verdure until the Day when they would be resurrected.
Narrated by Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) describes the experience of a believer after death, specifically in the grave. When the deceased is placed in the grave and his companions leave, he hears their footsteps. Two angels then come to question him about his faith in the Prophet. A believer will affirm his belief, leading to a promise of paradise and comfort in the grave, illustrating the importance of faith and the afterlife.
Modern Application
This hadith reminds us of the significance of our beliefs and actions in life. It encourages individuals to reflect on their faith and the legacy they leave behind, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a strong belief in Allah and His Messenger in our daily lives.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Day of Judgment and Treatment of the Dead because it discusses the questioning of the deceased in the grave and the consequences of one's faith in the afterlife.
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "Oh, I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west - how wretched a companion."
Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment.
This hadith is #7037 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said:.
