Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/31

Rh return from him, he certainly hears the noise of their shoes. Then two angels come to him and make him sit up, and they say to him, 'What didst thou say concerning this man Muḥammad?' As to the believer, he will reply, 'I bear witness that he is a servant of God and His Apostle.' Then it will be said to him, 'Look at thy resting-place in the fire which God has changed for thee to a place in paradise.' Then he will look at them both. But as for the hypocrite and the unbeliever, it will be said to him, 'What didst thou say with respect to this person?' Then he will reply, 'I do not know; I used to say what men said.' Then it will be said to him, 'Didst thou neither know nor read?' Then he will be struck forcibly with an iron hammer; and he will call out with a loud cry; and all near him will hear it except men and genii."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from ʿÁyesha that. 'A Jewess came in to her and mentioned the punishment of the grave, and said to her, "May God protect thee from the punishments of the grave." Then ʿÁyesha asked the Apostle of God concerning the punishments of the grave. He replied, "Yes, the punishments of the grave are true." ʿÁyesha said, "I never saw the Apostle of God after repeating the prayers, but what he took refuge with God from the punishments of the grave."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "When a dead person is placed in the grave, then two black angels with blue eyes come to him, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakír. And they say, 'What didst thou say concerning this person (Muḥammad)?' Then, if he be a believer, he will say, 'He is the servant of God and His Apostle. I bear witness that there is no God but Alláh and that Muḥammad is His servant and His Apostle.' Then the two angels will say, 'We knew that thou wouldest speak thus.' After that his grave will be enlarged for him seventy cubits by seventy cubits. Then the grave will be illuminated for him, after which it will be said to him, 'Sleep on.' And he will say, 'Let me return to my family and inform them'; but the angels will say, 'Sleep on like the sleep of the bridegroom when no one can awaken him but the loved ones of his family, until God raises him up from his place of sleep.' And if the man be a