Abul Qasim Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Qawlawayh – may Allah bless him with mercy, who reported from his father, from Sa’d ibn Abdillah, from Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from al-Hasan ibn Mehboob, from Hannan ibn Sudair, from his father, who said:
I was with Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, when discussion about a Mu’min and his rights took place. Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, turned to me and said: “O Abu al-Fadhl, may I not tell you about the status of a Mu’min in the estimation of Allah?” I said: “Yes, do enlighten me, may I be your ransom!”
He said: “When a Mu’min dies, his soul is taken up to the heaven by its angels, who say: O Sustainer, here is Your servant and what a good servant!” Allah Almighty says: “Descend to the earth near his grave and continue to laud and magnify My name, confirming My Oneness and My Greatness and write the reward for My servant till I resurrect him from his grave.”
Then he said: “May I tell you more?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “When Allah will resurrect a believer from his grave, together with him will be an image who will lead him. Whenever the believer will see anything frightful from the frightful aspects of the Day of Judgement, the image will solace him by saying: ‘Do not be anxious, nor distressed. Have good tidings and honour from Allah, Most High.’
And it continues to give tidings of delight and honour, till he stands before Allah to account for his deeds; and he shall have a lenient reckoning. Then He orders him to enter the Paradise, with the image in front of him. Then the believer shall say to the image: ‘May Allah bless you with mercy, you have been a good company emanating from my grave, giving me good tidings of delight and honour from Allah, Most High; till it transpired to be that way.
So, who are you?’ The image will say: ‘I am the delight and joy, which you caused to your believing brother on earth. Allah has created me thus from that gesture, so that I may give you good tidings.'”