This is part 9 of 11 of “The Book of the Dying and Funerals (al-Jana'iz)”, book 12 of Al-Kafi — Hadith 4,620–4,669. The book is long enough that it is split across 11 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
6. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that if two sons of any Muslim die and he considers it a decision of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, as such and obediently agrees, they (his sons) will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, most High.”
7. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Isma’il ibn Mehran from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When Tahir son of the Messenger of Allah passed away, the Messenger of Allah forbade Khadijah from weeping. She said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I agree, but I noticed that my milk flowed out; thus I wept.’ He then said, ‘Would you not agree if you find him standing near the door of paradise and on seeing you, hold your hand and lead you into paradise to the most clean and fine ones therein?’ She then said, ‘Is that how it is?’ He said, ‘Allah is Most Majestic and Honorable. He does not take away the fruits of the heart of (His own) servant who exercises patience, praises Him and agrees with His decision. Allah due to His Glory and Honor does not cause him any suffering.’”
8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the reward for a believing person for the death of his sons is paradise, whether he exercise patience or not.”
9. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hajjaj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah or abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, likes a servant whose son dies but he praises Allah. Allah says, “My angels, look to My servant. I took away his soul but he praises and thanks Me.’””
10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn al-Khattab from Ali Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from his father from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Whoever considers the death of his sons as his savings with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, they will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sulayman ibn ‘Amr al-Nakha’i who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that if one experiences grief and sorrow due to someone’s death, he should compare this with that which one has experienced due to the death of the Holy Prophet.”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from Zayd al-Shahham from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id al-Thaqafiy who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If you suffer sorrow and grief about yourself, your property or children, then remind yourself of the sorrow and grief you have suffered due to the death of the Messenger of Allah; creatures have never suffered any grief as this (death of the Messenger of Allah).”’
3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Walid al-Ju’fiy from a man from his father who has said the following: “When ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali passed away, al-Hassan informed Al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about it. He was in al-Mada’in (a place near Baghdad) at that time. When he read the letter, he said, ‘How intense and great is this sorrow! Even though the Messenger of Allah has said that if you experience grief and sorrow, remind yourself of your sorrow and grief about me. It is very true that no sorrow and grief is more intense and greater than the sorrow and grief for him, he has certainly spoken the truth.’”
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away they (people) heard a voice, but did not see anyone in person, saying, ‘Every soul is to experience the taste of death. You will certainly receive your reward on the Day of Judgment. Whoever is saved from the fire and is admitted in paradise, has become successful indeed.’ It also said, ‘In (the mercy of) Allah are good consequences for everyone who dies, solace for all forms of sorrow and compensation for every loss. In Allah, you must trust and in Him only place your hope. Deprived person, in reality, is one who is deprived of the rewards from Allah.’”
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn al-Khattab from Sulayman ibn Sama‘ah from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away, Jibril (the archangel) came to them when the Holy Prophet was covered with a sheet of cloth, and in the house there were Ali, Fatimah, al-Hassan and Al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam. He said, ‘Assalamu ‘Alaykum’ (you are ‘Alayhim al-Salam ), O family of the house of mercy. Every soul must experience the taste of death. You will receive your reward (from Allah) on the Day of Judgment only. Those who are saved from fire and are admitted into paradise are indeed successful. The worldly life is only a deceitful means. In Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, alone is solace for all kinds of sorrow, good consequences for everyone who dies and proper compensation for all kinds of losses. In Allah, you must trust and in Him alone you must place your hopes. A truly deprived person is one who is deprived of rewards from Allah. This is the last time for my coming to this world.’ They said, ‘We heard his voice but did not see his person.’”
6. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Salmah from Ali ibn Sayf from his father from abu ‘Usamah Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when the Messenger of Allah passed away condolences were offered. Someone came to them and they felt his presence but did not see his person. He said, ‘Assalamu ‘Alaykum’ (you are ‘Alayhim al-Salam ), O people of the house and may Allah grant you favors and blessings. Every soul must experience the taste of death. You will receive your reward (from Allah) on the Day of Judgment only. Those who are saved from fire and are admitted into paradise are indeed successful. The worldly life is only a means of deceit. In Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, alone is solace for all kinds of sorrow, good consequences for everyone who dies and proper compensation for all kinds of losses. In Allah, you must trust and in Him alone, you must place your hopes. A truly deprived person is one who is deprived of rewards from Allah. ‘al-Salamu ‘Alaykum’ (you are ‘Alayhim al-Salam ), [O people of the house and may Allah grant you favors and blessings].”’
7. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Ali ibn Sayf from his father from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “He (the narrator) has narrated a similar Hadith from abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, with this addition. ‘I asked, who were in the house?’ He replied, ‘They were Ali, Fatimah, al-Hassan and Al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.”’
8. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Salmah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa al-Armaniy from Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ulwan from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Walid who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, when the Holy Prophet passed away, someone came to them and stood at door of the house. He offered them greeting of peace and then said, ‘O family of Muhammad, every soul must experience the taste of death. You will receive your reward (from Allah) on the Day of Judgment only. Those who are saved from fire and are admitted into paradise are indeed successful. The worldly life is only a means of deceit. In Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, alone is solace for all kinds of sorrow, good consequences for everyone who dies and proper compensation for all kinds of losses. In Allah, you must trust and assign Him alone to be the person in charge of your affairs; and with His support for you alone, you must in grief and sorrow, agree. A truly affected person is one who is deprived of the rewards from Allah. Assalamu ‘Alaykum (you are ‘Alayhim al-Salam ) and may Allah grant you favors and blessings.’ No one saw him. Someone in the family said, ‘This is an angel from heaven. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has sent him to you to offer you condolences.’ Someone else said, ‘He was al-Khadhiru who came to offer you condolences on the death of your Prophet.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr and al-Hassan ibn Ali all from abu Jamilah from Jabir from abu la ‘far, who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘What is impatience and outcry?’ He replied, ‘An intense form of impatience is to cry aloud expressing certain words as al-Wayl or howling or beating of the face or chest or pulling out of hairs from the forehead. Whoever organizes a lamentation ceremony has abandoned patience. If one exercises patience and acknowledges the reality of death saying, “To Allah we belong and to Him we return,” praises and thanks Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, he has agreed with the decision of Allah. His reward becomes due with Allah, otherwise, Allah’s system of the working of things prevails, but he is condemned and Allah turns his efforts void and fruitless.’”
3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ’Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Ali ibn Isma’il al-Mithamiy from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that patience and misfortune race toward a believing person but misfortune finds him exercising patience. Outcry and impatience race toward an unbeliever person and misfortune finds him in outcry and impatience.”
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a Muslim strikes his hand against his thigh due to suffering and sorrow, it causes his deeds to become void and fruitless.’”
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Ma’ruf ibn Kharrabuz who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Whoever of the servants (of Allah) after suffering a misfortune, upon recalling any of his suffering and sorrow, acknowledges it and exercises patience, if it befalls him suddenly, Allah forgives his past sins. Whenever thereafter upon recalling any of his suffering sorrow acknowledges it (saying ‘to Allah we belong and to Him we return’), Allah forgives his sins that may have taken place in between (the two occasions of recalling).”’
6. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Dawud ibn Razin who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that if one recalls his suffering a misfortune even after a long time and says, ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we return, all praise belongs to Allah Lord of the worlds; O Lord, grant me favors for my suffering a misfortune and replace my losses with something better,’ his reward for this is equal to that he deserved upon suffering it the first time.”
7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that, O Ishaq, do not count a misfortune in which you were granted patience, thus you deserved reward from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. A misfortune is that in which due to acting impatiently, one is deprived of rewards for that suffering.”
8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from the woman of al-Hassan al-Sayqal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that it is not advisable to cry loudly for a deceased or teardown one’s clothes.”
9. Sahl has narrated from Ali ibn Hassa’n from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan the 1st, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A man’s striking his hand on his thigh, when suffering a misfortune, causes suspension of his rewards for his suffering.’”
10. Sahl has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali from al-Fudayl ibn Muyassir who has said the following: “We were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when a man came and complained before him about a misfortune that he had suffered. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘If you exercise patience, you will be rewarded and if you do not exercise patience, Allah’s system of working of things will apply to you without change and you will be counted a sinner.’”
11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Mahziyar from al-Qutaybah al-A’sha’ who has said the following: “Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, to also visit his son who was ill. I met him at the door and he was sorrowful and depressed. I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service of your cause, how is your child?’ He replied, ‘By Allah, he is about to die.’ He then went inside the house and after a while came back to us, he looked bright and without any sign of depression. I had a longing that this can be a sign of the recovery of the child and I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service of your cause, how is the child?’ He replied, ‘He just passed away.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service of your cause, I found you, when the child was still alive, so much depressed and sad but now, when the child is dead, I see you have changed so much with brightness. How is all this happened?’ He replied, ‘We, the family of the Holy Prophet, cry (to Allah) for help before the fall of misfortune but once the command of Allah is issued, we accept it and submit ourselves to His command.’”
12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that howling for a deceased is not proper, and it should not happen but people do not know. Exercising patience is better.”
13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from ‘Ala’ ibn Kamil who has said the following: “Once, I was sitting with abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when someone inside the house began to cry loudly. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, stood up and then sat down saying, ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we return,’ and continued his Hadith until he finished and then said, ‘We love to enjoy the wellbeing of our own selves, our children and our properties. If the systems of the working of things bring something upon us, then we have no right to love anything other than what Allah loves to happen to us.”
14. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from certain persons of our people who have said the following: “Once a group of people came to visit abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, to find out how one of his children suffering from illness was doing. They found him deeply concerned, grieved and restless. The narrator has said that they said, ‘By Allah, if something happens to him (the child), we are afraid we will see something from him (the Imam) that we will not like to see.’ The narrator has said that within a short time they began to hear weeping and crying for him. On the other hand, the Imam came to them, relaxed, free of concerns and totally changed from his previous conditions. They said, ‘May Allah keep our souls in the service of your cause, from seeing your condition we were afraid that if something happens, we may see things that will cause us a great deal of sorrow.’ The Imam then said to them, ‘We love to enjoy the wellbeing of whatever we love, but when the command of Allah comes we submit ourselves to what He loves.’”
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “Abu Ja’ far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘One of the matters that Moses privately said to his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who offers condolences to one who has suffered from the death of one’s son?” The Lord replied, “I will extend My shadow (protection) on him on the (extremely hot) day when there will be no shadows except My shadow.’””
2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from al-Hassan ibn Al-Husayn from Ali ibn ‘Abd Allah from Ali ibn Mansur from Isma’il al-Jawziy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a sorrowful person will, on the Station for clearance of accounts, receive a dress that will be presented to him.’”
3. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al-‘Amriy from his father from his grandfather from his father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a sorrowful person due to the death of his son, Allah will provide him shadow (protection) from His throne on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow.’”
4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a person who is suffering sorrow and grief due to the death of his son, will receive a reward equal to that for the affected party without any reduction in the reward for the later mentioned.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Mehran ibn Muhammad who has said the following: “I heard abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘When a person dies, Allah sends an angel to the most distressed person of his family. The angel wipes the heart of that person to forget the pain of his sorrow and grief. Were this not to happen, the world would cease to develop or gain anything.”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has granted people three favors: He has made dead bodies to give out foul smell; otherwise, no friend would ever bury a friend. He has made solace to take effect; otherwise, reproduction would halt. He has assigned a creature over this grain (to destroy it); otherwise, the kings would store (hoard) them as gold and silver are treasured (in hiding).”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Mehran ibn Muhammad who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘When a person dies, Allah sends an angel to the most distressed person of his family. The angel wipes the heart of that person to forget the pain of his sorrow and grief. Were this not to happen, the world would cease to develop or gain anything.”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn af-Bakhtariy and Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that they (people of the cemetery) take comfort in you. When you disappear from them they become afraid.”
2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I asked (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about visiting graves and building Masjids there. He said, ‘There is no offense in visiting graves, but Masjid must not be built there.’”
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “I heard the Imam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, lived for seventy-five days after her father but she was never seen smiling or laughing. Every week she would visit the graves of the martyrs twice on Mondays and Thursdays and would say, “There was the Prophet and there were the pagans.”’”
4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “I asked the Imam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Does a believing deceased notice who has visited his grave?’ He replied, ‘Yes, and he continues to take comfort in his visitor as long as he is near his grave. When the visitor stands up and leaves the gravesite he (the deceased) becomes afraid and lonely.’”
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘How should one offer greeting of peace to the people of the graves?’ He said, ‘Yes, (it has an answer). Say, “(May Allah grant) peace to the dwellings of the Muslims and believing people. You have departed us and we, by the will of Allah, will join you.’””
6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from “Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam who has said the following: “Once abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and I passed by al-Baqi’ cemetery. We then passed by the grave of a person from al-Kufah who was a Shi ‘ah Muslim. The narrator has said that the Imam stood on his grave and said, ‘O Lord, grant him mercy and kindness in his loneliness, provide him company in his solitude, comfort him in his distress and give him such serenity, through Your mercy, that can suffice him in place of the kindness and mercy of everyone beside You. Join him with those whom he loved (accepted as his guardians).”’
7. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn Isma’il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim in a Muzmar manner who has said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘As a greeting of peace to the people of the graves say, “May Allah grant you peace which was wished for you by the town of a believing people, and we by the will of Allah are about to join you.’”
8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ’How should one offer greeting of peace to the people of the graves?’ He replied, say, ‘May Allah grant peace to the Muslims and believing ones of this dwelling place. May Allah grant mercy upon those of us who have preceded us (to the next life) and those who will follow and we, by the will of Allah, are about to join you.’”
9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad who has said the following: “I was in Fayd (a place near Makkah). Ali ibn Bilal and I went to visit the grave of Muhammad ibn Isma’il ibn Bazi‘ and Ali ibn Bilal said, ‘The dweller of this grave narrated to me from al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, the following: “If one visits the grave of his brother (in belief), places his hand over the grave and reads Surah 97 of the Holy Quran seven times he, on the distressful Day (of Judgment) will be granted full protection and peace.’””
10. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufiy has narrated from ibn Jumhur from his father from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar and from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman al-Asamm from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Visit your dead people; they become happy due to your visit. One of you should ask for his wishes near the grave of his father and near the grave of his mother through the prayers that one may say for them.’”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hafs ibn af-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that a believing deceased person visits his family. He observes such matters that he loves and what he dislikes is kept hidden from him. A deceased unbeliever person also visits his family but observes what he dislikes and things that he loves are kept hidden from him. Certain ones of these people visit his family every Friday and others visit proportionate to their deeds.”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that every believing and unbeliever person visits his family everyday just after midday. If he finds his family performing good deeds, he praises and thanks Allah for this. When an unbeliever finds his family in good deeds, he laments and regrets (for his lost opportunities).”
3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I (the narrator) asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about a deceased person’s visiting his family. He replied, ‘Yes, (this is a fact).’ I then asked, ‘How often do such visits take place?’ He replied, ‘In a Friday (week), in a month and in a year, depending upon his status.’ I then asked, ‘In what form does he visit his family?’ He replied, ‘He visits them in the form of a fine bird. He drops on their walls and oversees them. If he finds them in good deeds, he becomes happy, and if he finds them in evil deeds or in need, he becomes depressed and sorrowful.’”
4. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Durust ibn abu Mansur al-Wasitiy from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from ‘Abd al- Rahim al-Qasir who has said the following: “I asked the Imam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Does a deceased believing person visit his family?’ He replied, ‘Yes, he asks his Lord for permission; then by His permission with two angels he comes to his family in the form of some kind of a bird. He turns arround his house and observes his family and hears whatever they say.’”
5. It is narrated from him (narrator of above Hadith) from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Does a believing deceased person visit his family?’ He replied, ‘Yes, he does.’ I then asked, ‘How often does he visit them?’ He replied, ‘It depends upon their merits. Certain ones among them visit every day, others visit every other day, and still others among them visit after every three days.’ I then found in the course of his conversation indications that said, ‘The least among them in merits visit their family once every Friday.’ I then asked, ‘What time of the day do such visits take place?’ He replied, ‘It takes place very soon after midday or so.’ I then asked, ‘In what form does he come?’ He replied, ‘He comes in the form of a sparrow or smaller than a sparrow. Allah sends with him an angel who shows what he likes and hides from him what he dislikes. He then observes what makes him happy and returns very much delighted.’”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman and a number of our people, from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr and al-Hassan ibn Ali all from abu Jamilah Mufaddal ibn Salih from Jabir from ‘Abd al-‘A’la’ and Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Ibrahim from ‘Abd al-‘A’la’ from Suwayd ibn Ghafalah who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When a child of Adam finds himself in the first day of his next life and the last day of his worldly life, his property, children and deeds are pictured before him. He then turns to his property and says, “By Allah, I was very greedy and stingy about you. In what ways can you help me?” It will say, “All you can do is to take your shroud from me.” He then turns to his children saying, “I loved you, protected you all the time. In what ways can you help me?” They will say, “We can take you to your grave and bury you therein.” He then turns to his deeds and asks, “By Allah, I had very little inclination to perform you and felt burdened because of you. In what ways can you help me now?” His deed will say, “I am your companion in your grave up to the day you will be resurrected, until we both will be brought before your Lord.’” The Imam then said, ‘If he is a friend of Allah, a person, the best of people with fragrance, the best in beauty, and in the best of dresses comes to him and says, “I have brought you the happiness and fragrance of paradise of blessings and you are most welcome.” He will then ask, “Who are you?” The person says, “I am your good deeds. You now move from the worldly life to paradise.” He knows those who wash his body for burial and begs those who carry his coffin to hurry up. When he is placed in his grave, two angels will come with their hairs dragging on the ground and tearing the earth with their feet, with thunderous sounds and their eyes like swift lightening. They will ask, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion and who is your prophet?” He will reply, “Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion and Muhammad, O Allah grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, is my prophet.” The two angels will then say, “May Allah keep you steadfast in what you love and are happy therewith.” This is a reference to the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “Allah keeps the believers steadfast in the unchanging words, in this world and in the next life” (14:26). The two angels then open up his grave as far as his eyes can see, and a door to paradise and then say to him, “Rest delightfully like a blessed young person,” because Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “People of paradise, on that day will have the best station and resting place” (25:26). The Imam then said, ‘If he is an enemy of his Lord, Allah’s ugliest creatures with the ugliest dress, appearance and smell will come to him and say, “Your place is boiling water and to suffer heat.” He knows people who wash his body for burial and begs those who carry his body to his grave to hold him back. When he is placed in his grave, the two examiners will come to him, remove his shroud away and ask him, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion and who is your prophet?” He will say, “I do not know.” They will say, “You did not know and you never had any guidance.” They will strike him at the front part of his head with a crashing hammer that they carry. The sound of this strike will frighten all creatures of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, except man and Jinn. They then open a door to hell for him and say to him, “Lie down here in worst condition, due to lack of space, as if squeezed like the iron spike into the tip of spears.” It will force his brain to squirt out of his toe and fingernails through the tissues of his flesh. Allah then gives his control to the snakes, scorpions and the creatures of earth that keep biting him until Allah will resurrect him from his grave. He will wish for the coming of the Day of Judgment because of suffering in his wicked condition.’” Jabir has said that abu Ja‘far has said that the Holy Prophet has said, ‘When watching the camels and sheep graze, before being commissioned as a prophet - there is no prophet who did not shepherd sheep - 1 could see them, while in safe and protected place and nothing around them, suddenly become excited and jump around frightened. I would say, “What is this strange phenomenon?” Once, Jibril (Gabriel) told me that when an unbeliever in his grave is struck on his head by the interrogating angels, all creatures of Allah, except man and Jinn, hear the sound of that (horrifying) strike and become frightened. I then said, “This is because of only one strike on the head of a disbeliever. I seek refuge with Allah against the (rest of the) torments in the grave.’””
Sunni collections: text from the open hadith-api dataset. Al-Kafi: Arabic text, Muhammad Sarwar's translation and gradings from Thaqalayn.net via the Thaqalayn API. Hadith numbering follows those editions and can differ from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted edition before relying on a reference.
