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Translation of a lengthy narration explaining what happens when a believer and a disbeliever leaves this world

Please provide the translation of the Hadith by Sayyiduna Al-Bara ibn ‘Azib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) about what happens when a believer and a disbeliever leaves this world.

Answer

Sayyiduna Al-Bara ibn ‘Azib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates:

“We went out with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) accompanying the bier of a man of the Ansar. When we reached his grave, it was not yet dug. So Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sat down and we also sat down around him as if birds were over our heads. He had a stick in his hand with which he was scratching the ground. He then raised his head and said: Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment in the grave. He said it twice or thrice, for verily he hears their footsteps when they go back, and at that moment he is asked: O so and so! Who is your Rabb, what is your religion, and who is your Nabi? Two angels will come to him, make him sit up and ask him: Who is your Rabb? He will reply: My Rabb is Allah. They will ask him: What is your religion? He will reply: My religion is Islam. They will ask him: What is your opinion about the man who was sent on a mission among you? He will reply: He is the Messenger of Allah. They will ask: How are you aware of this? He will reply: I recited the Quran, Allah Ta’ala’s book, believed in it, and considered it true. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said this is what is meant by the following verse of the Holy Quran: “Allah holds steadfast those who believe with the word that stands firm in this world and the next. Then a caller will call from the sky: My servant has spoken the truth, so spread a bed for him from Jannah, open a door for him into Jannah, and clothe him from Jannah. So some of its breeze and perfume will come to him, and his grave will expand for him as far as the eye can see.

He also mentioned the death of the disbeliever, saying: His spirit will be restored to his body, two angels will come to him, make him sit up and ask him: Who is your Rabb? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. They will ask him: What is your religion? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. They will ask: Who was the man who was sent on a mission among you? He will reply: Alas, alas! I do not know. Then a caller will call from the sky: He has lied, so spread a bed for him from Hell, clothe him from Hell, and open for him a door into Hell. Then some of its heat and hot wind will come to him, and his grave will be compressed, so that his ribs will be crushed together. Then a blind and dumb person will be placed in charge of him, with such a sledge-hammer that if a mountain were to be struck with it, it would become dust. He will give him a blow with it which will be heard by everything between the east and the west except by man and jinn, and he will become dust. Then his soul will be restored to him.”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, hadith: 4720)

See the authenticity here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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