Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْأَقْمَرِ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَوْ لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ إِلَّا عَلَى شِرَارِ النَّاسِ.
English Translation
Abdullah said regarding the verse: 'And do not assume that those killed in the cause of Allah are dead' (3:169) — we asked about that, and he said: 'We asked about that too, and he (the Prophet) said: Their souls are in green birds that roam freely in Paradise wherever they wish, then return to lamps hanging from the Throne. Your Lord looks upon them and says: Do you wish for anything? They say: What could we wish for when we roam freely in Paradise wherever we wish? He does this with them three times, and when they see that they will not be left without being asked, they say: O Lord, we wish for our souls to be returned to our bodies so that we may fight in Your cause again. When He sees that they have no need, they are left.'