English Translation

Abd al-Wahhab told us: Sa'id ibn Abi Aruba told us, from Qatada, from Anas ibn Malik, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered a palm grove belonging to Banu al-Najjar and heard a voice and was startled, and said: 'Who are the people of these graves?' They said: 'O Prophet of God, people who died in the Age of Ignorance.' He said: 'Seek refuge with God from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of the Fire, and the trial of the Dajjal.' They said: 'What is that, O Messenger of God?' He said: 'This nation will be tried in their graves. When the believer is placed in his grave, an angel comes to him and asks him, "What did you used to worship?" If God has guided him, he says, "I used to worship God." Then it is said to him, "What did you used to say about this man?" Then he says, "He is the servant of God and His Messenger." He said: Then he will not be asked about anything after that. He said: Then he will be taken to a house that was his in the Fire, and it will be said, "This was your house in the Fire, but God has protected you and had mercy on you, and replaced it for you with a house in Paradise." Then he will say, "Let me go so I may go and give my family the good news." It will be said to him, "Remain still." And when the disbeliever is placed in his grave, an angel comes to him and says to him, "What did you used to say about this man?" He says, "I used to say what the people said." So he strikes him with an iron hammer between his ears, and he lets out a cry heard by all creation except mankind and jinn.'