Sinner's Soul Speaks as Coffin is Carried

In Islamic teachings, it is explained that when a corpse is being carried to the grave, the soul speaks according to the deeds of the deceased during their lifetime. If the deceased was righteous, their soul requests that the burial process be expedited to quickly attain the comforts of the afterlife. Conversely, if they were sinful, their soul expresses fear of the punishment awaiting in the grave.

This is detailed in a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and cited by Imam Al-Qurthubi in his work At-Tadzkirah.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمُ يَقُولُ: «إِذَا وُضِعَتِ الْجِنَازَةُ فَاحْتَمَلَهَا الرِّجَالُ عَلَى أَعْنَاقِهِمْ، فَإِنْ كَانَتْ صَالِحَةً قَالَتْ: قَدِّمُونِي، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ غَيْرَ صَالِحَةٍ قَالَتْ لِأَهْلِهَا: يَا وَيْلَهَا، أَيْنَ يَذْهَبُونَ بِهَا؟ يَسْمَعُ صَوْتَهَا كُلُّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا الْإِنْسَانَ، وَلَوْ سَمِعَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ لَصَعِقَ»

This hadith states: “When a corpse is placed and carried by men on their shoulders, if it is righteous, it says, ‘Hasten me forward.’ If it is not righteous, it says to its family, ‘Woe is me! Where are they taking it?’ Its voice is heard by all creatures except humans. Had humans heard it, they would faint.”

According to Islamic scholars, this signifies that the afterlife is a tangible phase beyond human sensory perception. Imam Al-Qurthubi elaborates in At-Tadzkirah that the righteous experience peace during burial, aware of Allah’s mercy and promised comforts, while sinners face fear and regret upon realising the severity of the punishment awaiting them.