The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHfR 301
XXX, v.52) and "you do not make those inside the graves hear" (sarat al-Fir;
XXXV, v.22). She commented, "When they had taken their places in hell-fire,
that is." Muslim related it from Abn Kurayb, from Abti Usama.
The assertion concerning hearing the dead after their burial comes in more
than one hadith, as we will establish, if God wills it, in our book on funerals in
al-Ahkarn al-Kabir (The Major Statutes).
Al-Bukhari then stated, "'Uthmrn related to me, quoting 'Abda, from
Hishm, from his father, from Ihn Wmar, who said, 'The Messenger of God
(SAAS) stood at the burial pit at Badr and said, "Have you found what your
Lord promised you to be true?" He then said, "They now listen to what I tell
them!"'
"This was related to 'A'isha and she commented, 'The Prophet (SAAS) really
said, "Now they know that what I used to tell them was the truth."' She then
recited, 'you do not make the dead to hear' to the end of that verse."
Muslim related this from Abn Kurayb, from Abn Usma, and from Abii Bakr
b. Abn Shayba, from Waki', both of them quoting Hishiim b. Wrwa.
Al-Bukhzri stated, "'Abd Allah b. Muhammad related to us, (that) he heard Rawh
b. CUbada (say), 'Sa'id b. Abn 'Ariiba related to us, from Qtada, who said, "Anas
b. Miilik reported to us, kom Abii Talb, that the Messenger of God (SAAS)
ordered on the day of the battle at Badr that 24 of the chiefs of Quraysh be thrown
into a dirty, refuse-laden old well. Whenever he went forth against an enemy he
would stay for three nights out in an open area. On the third day at Badr he
ordered his mount to be readied and it was saddled. He then set off, followed by
his Companions who told one another that he had to have some important reason
to be leaving. He came to a stop at the lip of the well and began callimg out their
names, referring also to their fathers' names by saying, 'You so-and-so, son of soand-so'
etc. 'Would you now be pleased to have obeyed God and His Messenger?
We have found that what our Lord promised us was true. Have you found what
your Lord promised yon to be true?""
"'Umar then said, 'Messenger of God, why do you talk to bodics that have no
spirits in them?'
"The Prophet (SAAS) replied, 'By Hi who holds the soul of Muhammad in
His hand, yon do not hear what I say any better than do they!"'
Qatada stated, "God gave them life until He had made them hear his words, to
reprimand, denigrate, and punish them, to make them feel sorry and regretful."
The rest of the scholars gave this tradition, except for Ibn Miija, from various
lines, back to Sa'id b. Abn Wrnba.
Imm Abad rclatcd it from Yiinus b. Muhammad al-Mu'adib, from
Shaybiin b. 'Abd al-Rahmm, from Qatada, who said that Anas b. Malik gave
this hadith, in similar form, but without making reference to Abn Talha. This
chain of authorities is good, but the prior one is more reliable and more clear.
But God knows best.