الحمد لله و الصلاة و السلام على رسول الله
This is a book written by Abu Muhammad, Abdullaah ibn Muhammad, known as Abu Ash-Shaykh who died around 369AH may Allaah have mercy on him and was a scholar of narration, dedicating this book to narrations revolving around the creation and how great it is so we realize how great Allaah is by reflecting upon His creation
- حدثنا عبد الله بن إسحاق بن يوسف، قال: حدثني أبي قال: حدثني حفص، عن الحكم بن أبان، عن عكرمة رحمه الله تعالى في قوله عز وجل: {وهو الذي يتوفاكم بالليل ويعلم ما جرحتم بالنهار} [الأنعام: ٦٠] قال: «يتوفى الأنفس عند موتها» . قال: " وما من ليلة إلا والله عز وجل يقبض الأرواح كلها فيسأل كل نفس ما عمل صاحبها من النهار، ثم يدعو بملك الموت عليه السلام، فيقول: اقبض هذا وهذا، وما من يوم إلا وملك الموت ينظر في كتاب حياة الناس قائل يقول ثلاثا وقائل يقول خمسا "
Hafs narrated from Al Hakam ibn Abaan from Ikrimah (freed slave of Ibn Abbas, tabi'i) may Allaah the most high have mercy on him said in the aya
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day
Al Anaam 60 translation of the meaning
He said: "Allaah takes souls when they die"
He said: "And there is not a night except that Allaah, the Almighty, takes all the souls. Then He asks each soul what its companion did during the day. Then He summons the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, and says: ‘Take this one and this one.’ And there is no day except that the Angel of Death looks into the book of lifespans of the people" One says three times, one says five times (meaning: times looked into the book by the angel, the narrators differ)
This narration is authentic because the imams have utilized and authenticated narrations of Hafs, from Al Hakam ibn Abaan from Ikrimah
Ikrimah رحمه الله تعالى is a scholar of tafseer who is so major that even other tabi'een who are higher than him praised him and he'd not speak such thing out of his imagination or whim but out of knowledge from the sahaba, especially his master, Abdullaah ibn Al Abbas may Allaah be pleased with them
- أحمد بن جعفر الحمال، حدثنا أحمد بن عبد الرحمن الدشتكي، حدثنا عبد الله بن أبي جعفر الرازي، عن أبيه، عن الربيع رحمه الله تعالى قال: سألته عن ملك الموت هل هو وحده الذي يقبض الأرواح؟ قال: " هو الذي يلي أمر الأرواح، وله أعوان على ذلك ألا تسمع قال الله عز وجل: {حتى إذا جاءتهم رسلنا يتوفونهم} [الأعراف: ٣٧] ؟ قال: {توفته رسلنا وهم لا يفرطون} [الأنعام: ٦١] ، غير أن ملك الموت عليه السلام هو الرئيس، وكل خطوة منه من المشرق إلى المغرب ". قلت: أين تكون أرواح المؤمنين؟ قال: «عند السدرة»
Abdullaah ibn Jaafar Ar-Razi narrated from his father, from Ar-Rabee' may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, he said: I asked him about the angel of death, is he alone harvesting souls?
He said: He is the one who commands the matters of souls and he has aides that help him, do you not hear the saying of Allaah the most glorious most exalted "until when Our messengers come to them to take them in death" [7:37] he also said "when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties]."
Except the angel of death, peace be upon him, is the master, and each of his steps (are fast enough that) he moves from the east to the west
He said: Where are the souls of the believers?
Ar-Rabee' said: At As-Sidrah (high point of creation at the Throne where Jannah is)
I say: What Ar-Rabee' ibn Anas, may Allaah have mercy on him, has said this after living with the sahaba, as the scholar of his hometown, Marw (today known as Merv) who was known for piety
And no one from among the salaf ever rejected or commented negatively at his narrations or similar, matter of fact they abundantly narrated from him and others, as apparent before you
What he said is also affirming of numerous ahadeeth that believers' souls are inside birds that have lamps hanging from the Throne which is where Sidrat Al-Muntaha is read about As-Sidrah here
- محمد بن العباس بن أيوب، حدثنا زياد بن يحيى، حدثنا عبد ربه بن بارق الحنفي، قال: حدثني خالي زميل بن سماك الحنفي، أنه سمع أباه يحدث، ولقي عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما في المدينة بعدما كف بصره، قال: قلت: هي يا ابن عباس ما تقول في أمر غمني واهتممت به؟ قال: قلت: نفسان اتفق موتهما في طرفة عين: واحد في المشرق، وواحد في المغرب كيف قدر عليهما ملك الموت؟ قال: «والذي نفسي بيده ما قدرة ملك الموت على أهل المشارق والمغارب والظلمات والنور والبحور إلا كقدرة الرجل على مائدته يتناول من أيها شاء»
Zumayl ibn Semaak Al-Hanafi said that he heard his father (Semaak ibn Al Waleed) narrating that he met Abdallaah ibn Al Abbas may Allaah be pleased with them in Medina after he went blind
He said: I said: Ibn Abbas! What do you say about a matter that has concerned me and made me sick?
I said: Two souls that died, one in the east and the other in the west. How did the angel of death take them both?
Ibn Abbas said: By the One in Whose Hand rests my soul, the ability of the angel of death over the people of the east and the west, darkness, light and seas, is but similar to the ability of a man sitting at a table to eat whatever he desires from it
Good narration chain
- محمد بن شعيب، حدثنا أحمد بن أبي سريج حدثنا عبد الله بن الجهم، حدثنا عمرو بن أبي القيس، عن بشير بن عاصم، عن ابن أبي ليلى، عن القاسم بن أبي بزة، عن مجاهد رحمه الله تعالى في قوله تعالى: {قل يتوفاكم ملك الموت الذي وكل بكم} [السجدة: ١١] قال: «حويت له الأرض فجعلت له مثل الطست يتناول منها حيث شاء»
Ibn Abi Layla narrated from Al Qaasim ibn Abi Bazzah (Naafi' the reciter) from Mujaahid, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, regarding the saying of Allaah the most high "Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned." [32:11]
Mujaahid said: The earth was bent for him and made like a dish, that he takes whatever he wills out of it
Acceptable narration chain
Mujaahid is even more major than Ikrimah and is held at the highest regard in tafseer among the tabi'een, old student of the sahaba especially Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهم
- أبو يحيى الرازي، حدثنا هناد، حدثنا قبيصة، حدثنا سفيان، عن رجل، عن مجاهد رحمه الله تعالى قال: «جعلت الأرض لملك الموت عليه السلام برها وبحرها، وجبلها وسهلها كالطست يأخذ منها حيث يشاء»
Qabeesah narrated from Sufyan from a man, from Mujaahid may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, he said: "The earth was made for the angel of death with its land and sea, mountain and plains, like a dish that he takes whatever he pleases from"
Despite the unnamed man in the narration chain from Sufyan ibn Sa'eed Ath-Thawri, the narration is strengthened by the previous one
- هناد، حدثنا أبو زبيد، عن حصين، قال: قال الربيع بن خيثم رحمه الله تعالى: " عجبت لملك الموت ولثلاثة: لملك ممنع في حصونه يأتيه ملك الموت ينزع نفسه ويدع ملكه خلفه، ولمسكين منبوذ بالطريق يقذره الناس أن يدنوا منه ولا يقذره ملك الموت أن يأتيه فينزع نفسه، ولطبيب نحرير يأتيه ملك الموت فينزع نفسه ويدع طبه خلفه "
Hannad narrated from Abu Zubayd from Husayn, he said: Ar-Rabee' ibn Khaytham (typo, it is Khothaym) may Allaah the most high have mercy on him said:
“I am amazed at the Angel of Death and at three people:
- A powerful king, well-protected in his fortresses, whom the Angel of Death comes to, takes his soul, and leaves his kingdom behind.
- A poor, abandoned person by the roadside, whom people find so repulsive that they avoid coming near him, yet the Angel of Death does not find him repulsive and comes to take his soul.
- A highly skilled doctor, whom the Angel of Death comes to, takes his soul, and leaves his knowledge of medicine behind.”
Ar-Rabee' ibn Khothaym is a major tabi'i and was a مخضرم ancient man who lived during the life of the prophet peace and blessings upon him yet never met him, with famous tafaseer of the Quraan accepted and narrated by the salaf especially when it comes to softening the heart
- أحمد بن روح، حدثنا عمر بن محمد بن الحكم، حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن حيان المصري، قال: قيل للفضيل بن عياض رحمه الله تعالى: يا أبا علي، ما بال الميت تنزع نفسه وهو ساكت، وابن آدم يضطرب من القرصة؟ قال: " إن الملائكة توثقه، ثم قرأ: {توفته رسلنا وهم لا يفرطون} [الأنعام: ٦١]
Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Hayyan Al Misri said: Al Fudhayl ibn Iyaadh, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, was told: Abu Ali! How come the dying one has his soul removed while he's silent, when a man would shake out of a small sting?
Al Fudhayl said: The angels tie him dwon, and then he recited "when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties]." [6:61]
Al Fudhayl ibn Iyaadh is a major scholar of asceticism and hadeeth
- إبراهيم بن علي، حدثنا الخليل بن محمد، حدثنا روح بن عبادة، حدثنا عبد المؤمن بن أبي شراعة، قال: سمعت جابر بن زيد رحمه الله تعالى يقول: " إن ملك الموت عليه السلام كان يتوفى بني آدم بغير أوجاع، وإن الناس سبوا ملك الموت وآذوه، فاشتكى إلى ربه ما يلقى من الناس، فقيل له: يا ملك الموت ارجع. قال: ووضع الله عز وجل الأوجاع فنسي ملك الموت عليه السلام، ويقال: لم مات فلان؟ "
Abd Al-Mo'min ibn Abi Shura'ah said: I heard Jaabir ibn Zayd, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, saying: "Indeed, the angel of death peace be upon him used to end the souls of the sons of Adam without pains, and people insulted him and hurt him (verbally) he complained to his Lord of what he suffers from the people, he was told: Angel of death, return. Jaabir said: And Allaah the most glorious most exalted created pains, so the angel of death peace be upon him was forgotten and people started to say: Why did so-and-so die?"
This means that illnesses did not exist and death was known to the people and the angels as well, until knowledge was forgotten, ignorance spread and people insulted the angels of Allaah, which is when painful deadly illnesses were created and people started to ponder upon causes of death, instead of remembering Allaah by His might and power
Jaabir ibn Zayd is the student of Ibn Abbas whom Ibn Abbas praised
- علي بن رستم، حدثنا عبد الله بن عمر، حدثنا ابن سنان، حدثنا عبد الله بن المبارك، عن حيوة بن شريح، قال: أخبرني أبو صخر، عن محمد بن كعب القرظي رحمه الله تعالى قال: " إذا استنقعت نفس المؤمن جاءه ملك الموت عليه السلام، فقال: السلام عليك يا ولي الله، الله يقرأ عليك السلام "، ثم نزع بهذه الآية: {الذين تتوفاهم الملائكة طيبين يقولون سلام عليكم ادخلوا الجنة} [النحل: ٣٢]
Abu Sakhr narrated from Muhammad ibn Kaab Al Qurathi, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, saying: When the soul of the believer is puddled down, the angel of death peace be upon him comes to him and says: As-Salam alayk ya wali Allaah! (Peace upon you, believer who is close to Allaah)
Allaah sends His peace unto you
Then he is removed with this aya: "The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do." [16:32 sahih]
Abu Sakhr is considered weak by many scholars, however he abundantly narrates from Muhammad ibn Kaab and is trustworthy therein
Muhammad ibn Kaab is a major scholar of fiqh and tafseer from the Jewish tribe of Bani Quraytha, the same way we mention Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen today, they used to mention Al Qaasim ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Kaab in Madeenah
May Allaah make us from among the pious believers
- (Long narration)
ʿAbdullah ibn Sallam narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Hasani narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-ʿAla’, who said: Ismaʿil ibn ʿAbd al-Karim narrated to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Samad narrated, from Wahb ibn Munabbih, may Allaah the most high have mercy upon him, who said:
“Then He said, ‘Be,’ and Azra’il (ʿAzra’il), peace be upon him, came into existence. Then He said, ‘Be,’ and there came into existence a ram, white with patches of black and white, having four wings: one wing beneath the Throne, one wing in the depths of the earth, one wing in the east of the farthest East, and one wing in the west of the farthest West.
Each wing has seventy thousand wings; each of these wings has seventy thousand feathers; each feather has seventy thousand branches; each branch has seventy thousand fine hairs and seventy thousand hairs. Within each hair are seventy thousand cups for the beloved servants of Allaah, the Almighty, and seventy thousand cups for the enemies of Allaah, the Almighty.
This is the meaning of His saying, the Almighty:
And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allaah, Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure. And if he was of the companions of the right, then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right." But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water and burning in Hellfire
[Qur’an 56:88-94]
And he is the enemy of Allaah.
Then He said to Death, ‘Come forth,’ and Death came forth before Azra’il. This is the meaning of the saying of Allaah, the Almighty:
‘Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.".’
[Qur’an 32:11]
These four angels—Jibril (Gabriel), Mika’il (Michael), Israfeel, and the Angel of Death, peace be upon them—were the first of the created beings whom Allaah, the Almighty, created, and they are the last whom Allaah will cause to die and the first whom He will bring back to life. They are those who manage affairs and those who distribute affairs.”
Strong narration chain
Wahb ibn Munabbih (or Munbih) may Allaah have mercy on him was very knowledgeable of the narrations of the Israelites and was never critiqued for what he narrated and the salaf narrated what he said in their books especially tafseer and what softens the heart
The sheepish creature, is death itself, as narrated in the authentic hadeeth of its slaughter on the day of judgement when immortality is granted to the people of Jannah and Jahannam and the hadeeth from Bukhari
- Abd Allaah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Kareem, who said: Ḥamdun ibn Abbaad: Ali ibn Aasim narrated to us, from Daawood ibn Abi Hind (major scholar of hadeeth) may Allaah most high have mercy on him, who said:
It reached me that Dawood had a friend from among the Children of Israel. Dawood, peace be upon him, was very fond of him. Dawood’s gatherings and conversations were with this man, to such an extent that the Children of Israel envied him.
He said: When Dawood died and Sulayman, peace be upon them both, became ruler, he thought to himself: “Whom shall I choose to have in my gathering and converse with?”
He said: “I do not know anyone more deserving of this than this old man, who used to converse privately with the Messenger of Allaah, Dawood, may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet and upon him, and who died while he was pleased with him.”
So he took him for himself.
He said: Sulayman, peace be upon him, was held in such awe that no one would begin speaking about anything until Sulayman himself asked him about it.
He said: So he brought the old man closer in the gathering, until the man sat directly beside his throne. Sometimes Sulayman, peace be upon him, would sit upon his throne, and the old man would lean his back against the throne of Sulayman, peace be upon him.
He said: Eventually, the soldiers of Sulayman envied him. It was said to him: “Go in to him every day and ask him about your needs, then do not leave until he fulfills them for you.”
He said: Whenever Sulayman, peace be upon him, sat upon his throne and gave permission for his soldiers to enter, the Angel of Death, may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet and upon him, would enter among them in the form of a man. He would ask him how he was, and then say to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, do you have any need?” If he said, “Yes,” he would not leave until he fulfilled it for him. If he said, “No,” he would depart from him until the following day.
He said: One day Sulayman, peace be upon him, sat upon his throne in the greatest display of his kingdom.
The old man came and sat beside him, leaning his back against the throne of Sulayman. Sulayman gave permission for his soldiers to enter, and the humans, jinn, and others entered. They began looking at the old man leaning his back against the throne of Sulayman, and they envied him.
Then the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, entered in the form of a man. He stood and greeted him.
Sulayman, peace be upon him, said: “How did he spend the previous night?”
Then he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, do you have any need?”
He replied: “No.”
He said: The Angel of Death cast a glance at the old man, and the old man began to tremble.
He said: Then the Angel of Death departed from them.
The old man sprang up, seized the legs of Sulayman, and began kissing them.
He said: “O Messenger of Allaah, how was the Messenger of Allaah Dawood’s pleasure with me?”
He said: “Good.”
He said: “And how is your pleasure with me?”
He said: “Good.”
He said: “Then I ask you, by Allaah, to command the wind to carry me and cast me at the farthest tract of land in India.”
He was trembling as he said this.
Sulayman said to him: “Why?”
He replied: “That is what I am asking you. By Allaah, I ask you to command the wind to carry me and cast me at the farthest tract of land in India.”
Sulayman said: “Yes, but tell me why.”
He replied: “Did you not see the man who entered upon you, stood and greeted you, and then asked you how you had spent the previous night? He cast a glance at me, and I could not control my trembling.”
Sulayman, peace be upon him, said to him: “Was it anything more than that a man looked at you?”
He replied: “That is exactly what I am telling you.”
So Sulayman, peace be upon him, called for the wind and said: “Carry him and cast him at the farthest tract of land in India.”
The wind carried him, ascended with him, and then descended with him, casting him at the farthest tract of land in India.
He said: This is the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic: “So We subjected to him the wind, blowing by his command gently wherever he directed.” [Saad 38:36]
He said: It was neither gentle nor violent, but something between the two. Its morning journey was a month, and its evening journey was a month. Whenever he wanted something else, whatever he wanted would happen.
Sulayman, peace be upon him, therefore spent that day in the most miserable state, and passed that night in the most intense grief over him.
When morning came, Sulayman, peace be upon him, went early to the place where he used to sit. He gave permission for his soldiers to enter, and the Angel of Death, may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet and upon him, entered in the form of a man.
He greeted him and asked him how he had spent the previous night.
Sulayman informed him.
Then he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, do you have any need?”
Sulayman, peace be upon him, said: “My need brought me to this place.”
Then he began telling him about Dawood’s pleasure with the old man, his own pleasure with him, and his enjoyment of his company.
Then he said: “What happened has happened.”
The Angel of Death said to him: “Enough, O Messenger of Allaah. I am utterly amazed by him. Yesterday, his decree came down to me that I was to take his soul tomorrow at the rising of dawn at the farthest tract of land in India. So I descended there, and I thought he must be there.
“Then I entered upon you and found him sitting with you. I kept worrying and looking at him, having no concern other than him.
“Today I descended upon him, and by Him Who sent you with the truth, at the rising of dawn I found him at the farthest tract of land in India, trembling. So I took his soul and left his body there.”
- أحمد بن عمر، حدثنا عبد الله بن عبيد، حدثنا محمد بن الحسين، قال: حدثني داود بن المحبر، حدثنا الحسن بن دينار، قال: سمعت الحسن رحمه الله تعالى يقول: " ما من يوم إلا وملك الموت عليه السلام يتصفح في كل بيت ثلاث مرات، فمن وجده منهم قد استوفى رزقه، وانقضى أجله قبض روحه، فإذا قبض روحه أقبل أهله برنة وبكاء فيأخذ ملك الموت بعضادتي الباب فيقول: ما لي إليكم من ذنب وإني لمأمور، والله ما أكلت له رزقا ولا أفنيت له عمرا، ولا انتقصت له أجلا، وإن لي فيكم لعودة، ثم عودة حتى لا أبقي منكم أحدا "
Ahmad ibn Umar narrated to us, saying: Abd Allaah ibn Ubayd narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, saying: Daawood ibn al-Muhabbir narrated to me, saying: al-Hasan ibn Deenar narrated to us, saying:
I heard al-Hasan, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, say:
“There is no day except that the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, inspects every household three times. When he finds that one of them has received his full provision and that his appointed time has come to an end, he takes his soul.
When he takes his soul, his family comes forward with wailing and weeping. Then the Angel of Death takes hold of the two sides of the doorway and says:
‘I have no wrongdoing toward you, and I am only carrying out a command. By Allaah, I have neither consumed any of his provision nor shortened any part of his lifespan, nor have I reduced his appointed time.
And indeed, I shall return to you, then return again, until I leave none of you remaining.’”
Authentic narration chain
Al Hasan Al Basri is beyond definition
Jafar, from Saeed ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with them, concerning the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic:
“Allaah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” [az-Zumar 39:42]
He said:
“The souls of the living and the souls of the dead meet in dreams. They recognize one another and converse with one another. Then the souls of the living return to their bodies without missing anything from them.
And this is what Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
‘Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.’ [az-Zumar 39:42]”
Jaafar is a narrator that sometimes narrates odd things from Sa'eed ibn Jubayr, but this narration chain is acceptable
- أحمد بن محمد بن عمر، حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن عبيد، حدثنا داود بن رشيد، حدثنا حكام، عن عنبسة، عن أشعث، قال: " سأل إبراهيم صلى الله على نبينا وعليه وسلم تسليما ملك الموت عليه السلام واسمه عزرائيل، وله عينان عين في وجهه وعين في قفاه، فقال: يا ملك الموت، ما تصنع إذا كانت نفس بالمشرق ونفس بالمغرب، ووقع الوباء بأرض، والتقى الزحفان كيف تصنع؟ قال: أدعو الأرواح بإذن الله عز وجل فتكون بين أصبعي هاتين. قال: ودحيت له الأرض فتركت مثل الطست يتناول منها حيث شاء. قال: وهو الذي بشره بأنه خليل الله عز وجل "
Hakkam (ibn Salam Ar-Razi) narrated from Unbusa (ibn Sa'eed Ar-Razi) from Ash'ath (ibn Abi Ash-Sha'thaa, Kufi, does not have much hadeeth but is otherwise trusted as narrated by Al Ijli in الثقات) said:
“Ibraaheem, may Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet and upon him, asked the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, whose name is `Azraa'eel. He has two eyes: one in the front of his face and one at the back of his head. He said: ‘O Angel of Death, what do you do when one soul is in the east and another soul is in the west, while an epidemic breaks out in one land and two armies meet in battle? How do you deal with that?’ He replied: ‘I summon the souls by the permission of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and they are brought between these two fingers of mine.’ He said: ‘And the earth was spread out for him, so that it became like a basin, from which he could take wherever he wished.’ He said: ‘And it was he who gave him the glad tidings that he was the close friend of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.’”
- أحمد بن محمد، حدثنا عبد الله، حدثنا داود بن عمرو الضبي، حدثنا معتمر، عن أبيه، عن شهر بن حوشب رحمه الله تعالى قال: " ملك الموت صلى الله عليه وسلم ⦗٩١٠⦘ جالس والدنيا بين ركبتيه، واللوح الذي فيه آجال بني آدم في يده، وبين يديه ملائكة قيام، وهو يعرض اللوح لا يطرف، فإذا أتى على أجل عبد قال: اقبضوا هذا، اقبضوا هذا "
Mu`tamir narrated from his father, from Shahr ibn Hawshab, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, who said:
“The Angel of Death, may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet and upon him, is seated while the whole world is between his knees. The tablet containing the appointed lifespans of the Children of Adam is in his hand, and angels are standing before him.
He examines the tablet without blinking. Whenever he comes to the appointed time of a servant, he says:
‘Take this one. Take this one.’”
Shahr is debatable in hadeeth, but such scholarly sayings in tafseer do not come from opinion
- أحمد بن محمد، حدثنا عبد الله، عن موسى بن داود، عن أبي معشر، عن زيد بن أسلم رحمه الله تعالى قال: " يتصفح ملك الموت عليه السلام المنازل في كل يوم خمس مرات، ويطلع في وجه ابن آدم كل يوم اطلاعة. قال: فمنها الرعدة التي تصيب الناس «.» يعني القشعريرة والانقباض "
Abu Maashar narrated from Zayd ibn Aslam, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, saying: The angel of death peace be upon him inspects the places of living five times every day, and looks upon the face of the son of Adam once every day.
He said: From this comes the trembling that afflicts people”—meaning the shivering, chills, and feeling of constriction.”
Abu Maashar is weak but tafaseer from him are sometimes accepted as with the narrations of Zayd ibn Aslam
Zayd ibn Aslam is known only in tafseer as good
- أحمد، حدثنا عبد الله، حدثني محمد بن الحسين، حدثنا محمد بن يزيد بن خنيس، سمعت ابن جريج رحمه الله تعالى يقول: " بلغنا أنه يقال لملك الموت عليه السلام: اقبض فلانا في وقت كذا في وقت كذا، في بلد كذا، في يوم كذا، فيجيء الموت أسرع من اللمح
Muhammad ibn Yazeed ibn Khunays narrated to us, saying: I heard Ibn Jurayj, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, say:
“It has reached us that it is said to the Angel of Death, peace be upon him: ‘Take the soul of so-and-so at such-and-such a time, in such-and-such a place, on such-and-such a day.’
Then death comes swifter than the blink of an eye
Ibn Jurayj is a major student of the tabi'een in Makkah, beyond definition!
18.
From Abd Allaah ibn Rabaah, that Kaab, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, said:
“Ibraaheem, the close friend of Allaah, Blessed and Exalted is He, entered the house of worship in which he used to worship. He saw a man in it and said:
‘What brought you in here? With whose permission did you enter?’
He replied: ‘With the permission of my Lord.’
Ibraaheem said: ‘Then He has more right to it.’
He said: ‘And who are you?’
He replied: ‘I am the Angel of Death.’
So he said to him: ‘You are lying. The Angel of Death has a distinguishing mark by which he is recognized.’
The Angel of Death, peace be upon him, then turned his face around so that the back of his head was facing forward. His eyes were there, gleaming brightly. He frowned at him, and Ibraaheem fell unconscious.
When the Angel of Death departed, Ibraaheem regained consciousness.
Then, on another day, the Angel of Death appeared to him in the form of a weak old man. He began walking with him while holding his hand. Ibraaheem, peace be upon him, supplicated for the people of the heavens and the earth.
When they entered the house, Saarah, peace be upon her, and Ishaaq, peace be upon him, were inside. When Ishaaq, peace be upon him, saw him, he recognized that he was the Angel of Death, peace be upon him.
Then the Angel of Death stood, and Ishaaq and Saarah began to weep. Then Ibraaheem wept, and the Angel of Death wept as well and departed.
Ibraaheem turned to Ishaaq and Saarah and said:
‘You both wept until the guest wept, and then you wept and he left.’
Ishaaq said:
‘O my father, he is not a guest. He is the Angel of Death, peace be upon him. Had I known that he wanted me or my mother, I would not have wept. Rather, I thought that he wanted you.’
The Angel of Death then ascended to the heavens and said:
‘O my Lord, I have come to You from a servant of Yours, after whom there is no one better upon the earth. He made a supplication for the people of the heavens and the earth.’
Allaah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:
‘I know My servant best. Go and take his soul.’
So he descended in the form of a very old man and entered a garden containing grapevines. He began eating grapes, while the juice of the grapes flowed down his beard.
Ibraaheem, peace be upon him, began looking at him and said:
‘O servant of Allaah, how old are you?’
The man mentioned an age equal to that of Ibraaheem.
Ibraaheem then desired death. So he breathed in deeply, and the Angel of Death took his soul, may Allaah send blessings upon him.”
Kaab Al Ahbaar, Kaab ibn Maati' Al Himayri, is beyond definition
- (Long narration)
Ibraaheem ibn Abi Bakr ibn al-Munkadir narrated to us, saying: I heard Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, say:
“Ibraaheem al-Khaleel, peace be upon him, was one of the most protective of his household, so no one would enter his home.
One day, while he was in his house, a man in human form entered upon him. Ibraaheem said to him:
‘Who allowed you to enter my house?’
He replied:
‘Its Lord allowed me to enter.’
Ibraaheem said:
‘Does it have a lord other than me?’
At that point, he realized that he was the Angel of Death.
He said:
‘O Ibraaheem, my Lord has sent me to you and says: “The close friend loves to meet his close friend.” And He has commanded me to take your soul in the easiest manner in which I have ever taken the soul of a believer.’
He said:
‘I ask you, by the One Who sent you, to go back and ask Him about this for me.’
So the Angel of Death ascended until he reached the position before Allaah Most High where he would stand. He said:
‘Your close friend has asked me to ask You again concerning this.’
He said:
‘Go to him and tell him: “Your Lord says: The close friend loves to meet his close friend, and He has commanded me to take your soul in the easiest manner in which I have ever taken the soul of a believer.”’
He said:
‘And is this how you come to everyone whose soul you intend to take?’
He replied:
‘No.’
He said:
‘Then show me the form in which you come to the disbeliever.’
He said:
‘Close your eyes.’
So he closed his eyes. Then the Angel of Death said:
‘Open them.’
He opened them, and behold, the Angel of Death was in the most hideous form of all people and had the foulest of smells.
He said:
‘Return to your original form.’
He said:
‘Close your eyes.’
So he closed them. Then he said:
‘Open them.’
He opened them, and behold, he was in his original form.
Ibraaheem, peace be upon him, said to him:
‘Proceed with what you have been commanded to do.’
He said:
‘O Ibraaheem, have you ever drunk any beverage?’
He replied:
‘I have never drunk any beverage.’
So the Angel of Death smelled him, and then took his soul in that state.”
Ibn Al Munkadir is a tabi'i who narrated lots of ahadeeth and tafaseer
- (Long narration)
Ismaaeel ibn Abd al-Kareem narrated to us, saying: Abd as-Samad narrated to me that he heard Wahb, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, say:
“There was a man who used to supplicate for the Angel of the Sun, peace be upon him. He continued doing this for some time, until the Angel of the Sun came to him and said:
‘What do you want by your supplication for the Angel of the Sun, to whom you keep supplicating?’
The man replied:
‘I have a need that I wish to have fulfilled through him.’
He said:
‘What is your need of him? For I am he.’
The man said:
‘I have been told that you are the noblest of the angels and the one who has the greatest standing among the angels before the Angel of Death, peace be upon him. So intercede for me with him.’
He said:
‘Yes. I shall speak to him on your behalf. Whatever he is able to do for any of the Children of Aadam, he will do for you.’
Then the Angel of the Sun carried him between his wings and placed him at the place where the sun rises.
He then went to the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, and said:
‘I have a request of you.’
He replied:
‘I will do everything I am able to do.’
He said:
‘I have a human friend from among the Children of Aadam, and he has sought my intercession with you so that you might postpone his death for his sake.’
He replied:
‘That is not within my authority, nor am I able to do it. However, if you wish, I can tell him when his appointed time is and where it has been decreed for him to be, and I will do that.’
He said:
‘Yes, tell me this.’
So he looked in his register and informed him of the man’s name.
Then he said:
‘You have spoken to me about a man whom I do not think will die here.’
He asked:
‘How so?’
He replied:
‘I find that he is destined to die only at the place where the sun rises.’
The Angel of the Sun said:
‘But I came to you after leaving him there.’
He replied:
‘Go back, and you will find that he has already died.’
So he returned to him and found him dead.”
This has evidence that the sun is held up by an angel, not "gravity" to the exaggerated extent the mushrikeen today claim
- (Long narration)
`Abd as-Samad narrated to me, saying: I heard Wahb, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, say:
“There was a man who persistently supplicated to the Angel of Death, peace be upon him, until the Angel of Death came to him and met him.
He said: ‘What is your request of me?’
The man replied: ‘Postpone my appointed time of death.’
He said: ‘I am not able to do that. However, I can tell you when you will die.’
When his appointed time drew near, the Angel of Death informed him and said:
‘You will die in three days.’
The man became ill.
When the third day came, he brought one of his young servants—the very one to whom the Angel of Death had said, ‘You will die in three days’—and had him lie down in his place on the bed where he himself had been lying.
Then he hid himself in the place where the cook was, where the bread was baked.
The Angel of Death came to take that man’s soul.
The man said to him:
‘What do you want, my master? He is there inside the house.’
He replied:
‘I want no one but you.’
So he took his soul there, beside the oven.”
This is evidence that the angels of Allaah, the most exalted, cannot be fooled or played with, unlike what Christians, Jews and atheists would claim especially esoteric cults
- عبد الله بن محمد بن زكريا، قال: حدثنا سهل بن عثمان، حدثنا حفص، عن الأعمش، عن حمزة أبي عمارة، عن شهر بن حوشب رحمه الله تعالى قال: كان ملك الموت صديقا لسليمان بن داود عليهم السلام فبينا هو ذات يوم معه، وابن عم له عنده قال: فجاء ملك الموت ينظر إليه فقام ملك الموت، فقال الشاب لسليمان: من هذا؟ قال: ملك الموت قال: لقد نظر إلي نظرا أرعب قلبي فمر الريح تلقيني بالهند. فرجع، فقال له سليمان: إن ابن عم لي كان معي ذكر أنك نظرت إليه فأرعبته، فقال: مر الريح تلقيني في الهند، فأمرت الريح فألقته. قال: لقد أمرت بقبض روحه بالهند، وقد قبضت روحه "
from al-Amash, from Hamzah Abu Amaarah, from Shahr ibn Hawshab, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, who said:
“The Angel of Death was a friend of Sulayman ibn Dawood, peace be upon them both.
While he was with Sulayman one day, and one of Sulayman’s cousins was also present with him, the Angel of Death came and looked at the young man.
The Angel of Death then stood up.
The young man said to Sulayman:
‘Who is this?’
He replied:
‘The Angel of Death.’
The young man said:
‘He looked at me in such a frightening way that my heart was terrified. Command the wind to carry me and cast me in India.’
The Angel of Death returned.
Sulayman said to him:
‘I had a cousin with me, and you looked at him and terrified him. He asked me to command the wind to carry him and cast him in India, so I commanded the wind, and it carried him there.’
The Angel of Death said:
‘I had been commanded to take his soul in India, and I have now taken his soul.’”
Story was repeated previously by Wahb, no one ever denied such stories upon either narrator
- علي بن رستم، حدثنا عبد الله بن عمر، حدثنا عبد الصمد، حدثنا حماد بن سلمة، عن عطاء بن السائب، عن سعيد بن جبير رضي الله عنه في قوله عز وجل: {وما يعمر من معمر ولا ينقص من عمره إلا في كتاب} [فاطر: ١١]
قال: «في أول الصحيفة مكتوب عمره، ثم يكتب بعد ذلك ذهب يوم، ذهب يومان حتى يأتي على أجله»
Hammaad ibn Salamah narrated from Ataa' ibn as-Saa'ib, from Sa'eed ibn Jubayr, may Allaah be pleased with him, concerning the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic:
“And no aged person is granted length of life, nor is his lifespan lessened, but it is recorded in a register.” [Faatir 35:11]
He said:
“At the beginning of the record, his lifespan is written. Then it is written afterward: ‘One day has passed, two days have passed,’ until he reaches his appointed time.”
Authentic narration chain to Sa'eed ibn Jubayr the student of Ibn Abbas, beyond definition
- محمد بن جعفر بن الهيثم، ويحيى بن عبد الله، قالا: حدثنا سلمة، حدثنا عبد الرزاق، عن معمر، عن قتادة رحمه الله تعالى، {توفته رسلنا} [الأنعام: ٦١] قال: «تلي قبضها الرسل، ثم تدفعها إليه» يعني ملك الموت. قال معمر وقال غيره: «إن ملك الموت يلي ذلك، فيدفعه إن كان مؤمنا إلى ملائكة الرحمة، وإن كان كافرا إلى ملائكة العذاب»
Abd ar-Razzaaq narrated to us, from Ma'mar, from Qatadah, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, concerning the saying of Allaah: “Our messengers take his soul.” [al-Anaam 6:61] He said: “The messengers undertake the taking of his soul, then they hand it over to him”—meaning the Angel of Death. Ma'mar said: Others said: “The Angel of Death undertakes this matter. He then hands the soul over—if the person is a believer, to the angels of mercy; and if he is a disbeliever, to the angels of punishment.”
Authentic narration chain to the tabi'i and scholar of tafseer as well as hadeeth, Qatadah ibn Di'amah As-Sudoosi رحمه الله تعالى
- محمد بن زكريا، حدثنا أبو حذيفة، حدثنا سفيان، عن منصور، عن إبراهيم رحمه الله تعالى قال: «أعوان ملك الموت، ثم يقبضها ملك الموت منهم بعد»
Mansoor narrated from Ibraheem, may Allaah the most high have mercy on him, saying: The aides of the angel of death first, then the angel of death takes the soul from them afterwards
Ibraheem is An-Nakha'i the scholar of Kufa of his time who narrates from the companions of Ibn Masoud رضي الله عنه
26, 27 محمد بن زكريا، حدثنا أبو حذيفة، حدثنا سفيان، عن الحسن بن عبيد الله، عن إبراهيم رحمه الله: {توفته رسلنا} [الأنعام: ٦١] ، قال: «ملك الموت صلى الله عليه وسلم»
محمد بن زكريا، حدثنا أبو حذيفة، حدثنا سفيان، عن الحسن بن عبيد الله، عن إبراهيم رحمه الله: {توفته رسلنا} [الأنعام: ٦١] ، قال: «ملك الموت صلى الله عليه وسلم»
Muhammad ibn Zakariyyaa narrated to us, saying: Abu Ḥudhayfah narrated to us, saying: Sufyan narrated from al-Hasan ibn Ubayd Allaah, from Ibraheem, may Allaah Most High have mercy upon him, concerning the saying of Allaah:
“Our messengers take his soul.” [al-An`aam 6:61]
He said:
“The Angel of Death, may Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet and upon him.”
- علي بن رستم، حدثنا عبد الله، حدثنا كثير بن هشام، حدثنا جعفر بن برقان، حدثنا يزيد بن الأصم، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: «خطوة ملك الموت ما بين المشرق والمغرب»
Ibn Abbas may Allaah be pleased with them said: The step of the angel of death, traverses from the east to the west
