English Translation

Hadrat He reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a believer’s death is near the angels of mercy bring a piece of white silk and say, ‘Come out pleased and accepted to God’s rest and provision and to a Lord who is not angry.’ Then the soul comes out with a fragrance like that of the sweetest musk, they pass him from one to another till they bring him to the gates of heaven, and say, ‘How sweet is this fragrance which has come to you from the earth.’ Then they bring him to the souls of the believers, and they are happier over seeing him than any of you are when one who has been away from home comes back. They ask him, ‘How is so and so? How is so and so?’ Then they say, ‘Leave him alone just now, for he has just come from the grief of the world. He replies, ‘He has died. Has he not come to you?' and they say, ‘He has been taken to his destination, the pit.'(Cf. Qur’an, ci, 9) When an infidel's death is near the angels of punishment bring him hair-cloth and say, ‘Come out, displeased and subject to displeasure, to the punishment from God who is great and glorious.' The soul comes out with a stench like the most unpleasant stench of a corpse, they take him to the gate of the earth (The meaning is probably the gate to the lowest heaven) and say, ‘How offensive is this odour !’ They finally bring him to the souls of the infidels." Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.