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English translation
1071. Abū Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: "When the deceased – or he said when one of you – is buried, two angels, black and blue (eyed) come to him. One of them is called Al-Munkar, and the other An-Nakīr. They say: 'What did you used to say about this man?' So he says what he was saying (before death) 'He is Allāh's slave and His Messenger. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but
Allāh and that Muḥammad is His slave and His Messenger.' So they say: 'We knew that you would say this.' Then his grave is expanded to seventy by seventy cubits, then it is illuminated for him. Then it is said to him: 'Sleep.' So he says: 'Can I return to my family to inform them?' They say: 'Sleep as a newly-wed, whom none awakens but the dearest of his family.' Until Allāh resurrects him from his resting place."
"If he was a hypocrite he would say: 'I heard people saying something, so I said the same; I do not know.' So they say: 'We knew you would say that.' So the earth is told: 'Constrict him.' So it constricts around him, squeezing his ribs together. He continues being punished like that until Allāh resurrects him from his resting place." (Hasan)
There are narrations on this topic from 'Ali, Zaid bin Thābit, Ibn 'Abbās, Al-Barā' bin 'Azīb, Abū Ayyūb, Anas, Jābir, 'Aishah, and Abū Sa'eed. All of them reported something from the Prophet ﷺ about the punishment in the grave.
Abū 'Eisā said: This Hadīth of Abū Hurairah is a Hasan Gharīb Hadīth.
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Commentary
If the deceased is a true Muslim it is obvious as he declared and testified to the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ in this world, then Allāh ﷻ gives him help and guidance to testify to the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ in the grave, and the angels will know the answer from his happy face.
