53/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2870a — Questioning in the Grave
The Deceased Is Shown His Place In Paradise Or The Fire; And Confirmation Of The Torment In The Grave - We Seek Refuge With Allah From That
Questioning in the Grave and the Believer’s Answer
Sahih Muslim : 2870a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2870a
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ إِنَّهُ لَيَسْمَعُ قَرْعَ نِعَالِهِمْ " . قَالَ " يَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُقْعِدَانِهِ فَيَقُولاَنِ لَهُ مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ " . قَالَ " فَأَمَّا الْمُؤْمِنُ فَيَقُولُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ " . قَالَ " فَيُقَالُ لَهُ انْظُرْ إِلَى مَقْعَدِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَقْعَدًا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ " . قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَيَرَاهُمَا جَمِيعًا " . قَالَ قَتَادَةُ وَذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّهُ يُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا وَيُمْلأُ عَلَيْهِ خَضِرًا إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said: 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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2870aIn-book reference : Book 53, Hadith 85USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 40, Hadith 6862
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2870a
This Hadith from Anas describes what happens when the servant is placed in his grave. His companions leave, and he hears the sound of their footsteps. Then two angels come, make him sit, and ask what he used to say about the Prophet. The believer answers that he bears witness that he is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. He is then shown his seat in Hellfire and told that Allah has replaced it with a seat in Paradise. The Prophet said he sees both seats. Qatada also mentioned that the believer’s grave is expanded and filled with greenery until Resurrection.
What we learn from this hadith
- The dead person hears the footsteps of those leaving after burial.
- Two angels question the servant in the grave.
- The believer testifies that the Prophet is Allah’s servant and Messenger.
- The believer is shown a seat replaced with a seat in Paradise.
