When a righteous person is laid in his tomb he is surrounded by his virtuous acts, such as his prayer, his fasting, his pilgrimage, his engagement in the holy war, and the charity he used to distribute. Then the Angels of Chastisement approach him from the direction of his feet, but are told by Prayer, ‘Get back from him, you have no authority over him, for upon these feet he stood in me at length for the sake of God.’ Then they approach him from the direction of his head, but Fasting says, ‘You have no authority over him, for in the world’s abode he thirsted at length for the sake of God.’ Next they draw near to him from the direction of his trunk, but Pilgrimage and holy war say, ‘Get back from him for he exhausted himself and wearied his body when he accomplished the Pilgrimage and holy war for the sake of God; no authority do you have over him.’ Then they approach him from the direction of his hands, but Charity says, ‘Back! Retreat from my master, for how many an act of charity issued from those two hands to fall into the hand of God, Exalted is He, while he acted only for His sake; no authority, do you have over him.’ Then he shall be told, ‘Rejoice! Good you have been in life and in death!’ Next, the Angels of Mercy come, and spread a heavenly cloth and resting-place out for him, and his grave is widened around him for as far as the eye can see. A candle is brought from Heaven, and from it he has light until God resurrects him from his grave.
Ka‘ab al-Aḥbār, [al-Ghazālī, Kitāb dhikr al-mawt wa-mā baʿdahu,
Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife: Book XL]
(via theconsciousmuslim)
