English translation
4708. 'Abdullāh bin Mas'ūd said: "The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, who is the truthful, entrusted one, told us: 'The creation of any one of you is put together in his mother's womb for forty days, then he becomes an 'Alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated blood) for a similar period, then he becomes like a chewed piece of flesh (Muḍghah) for a similar period, then Allāh sends to him an angel who is enjoined (to write down) four things: his provision, his lifespan and his deeds, then he writes down whether he is to be miserable (among the inhabitants of the Fire) or happy (among the inhabitants of Paradise). Then he breathes the soul into him. Therefore, one of you may do the deeds of the inhabitants of Paradise until there is nothing between him and it but a forearm's length, or near a forearm's length, then the Decree overtakes him, and he does a deed of the inhabitants of the Fire, and enters it. And one of you may do the deeds of the inhabitants of the Fire, until there is nothing between him and it but a forearm's length, or near a forearm's length, then the decree overtakes him, and he does a deed of the inhabitants of Paradise, and enters it.” (Sahih)
