Every man has a fixed period of life given to him when he is born. This is called Qadar. We do not live longer or shorter than this fixed periods of life. When we have finished this period of life, the Angel of Death takes the soul from our body. This is called death.

Concerning the journey of the soul after death, the following is a saheeh hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (saas). He said,

Every man has a fixed period of life given to him when he is born. This is called Qadar. We do not live longer or shorter than this fixed periods of life. When we have finished this period of life, the Angel of Death takes the soul from our body. This is called death.

Concerning the journey of the soul after death, the following is a saheeh hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (saas). He said,

When the believer is about to depart from this world and proceed to the next, angels with faces as bright as the sun descend from the heavens and sit around him in throngs stretching as far as the eye can see, Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at this head and says, "Good soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah!"

His soul then emerges like a drop of water that flows from a water-skin, and the angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it, the other angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye.

They take it and place it in a perfumed shroud, and it gives off a fragrance like the sweetest scent of musk found on the face of the Earth

Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a company of angels, they ask. "Who is this good soul?" The angels with the soul reply, "So-and-so, the son of so-and-so," using the best names by which people used to call him in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be opened for him.

It is opened for him, and angels who are near Allah from each of the heavens accompany him to heaven.

Allah (swt) says, "Register the book of my slave in "Illiyyoon (The register in which the deeds of the righteous are inscribed). And take him back to Earth. I created them from it and I return them to it, and I will bring them forth it again."

His soul is then returned to his body and two angles come to him. They make him sit up and they ask him, "Who is your Rubb.

He replies, "My Rubb is Allah."

They ask him, "What is your religion?"

He replies, "My religion is Islam."

They ask him, "Who is this man who was sent among you?"

He replies, "The Messenger of Allah."

They ask him, "How did you come to know these things?"

He replies, "I read the book of Allah, believed it, and declared it to be true."

Then a voice from on high declares, "My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out carpets from the Garden for him and open one of its gates!"

Then some of its fragrance and perfume reaches him, his grae is expanded for him as far as the eye can see, and a man in beautiful garments with a fragrant scent comes to him and says, "Rejoice in what delights you, for this is the day which you were promised."

He asks, "who are you? Yours is a face which presages good."

He replies, "I am your good actions."

Then he says, "O Rubb, let the Last hour come soon so that I may rejoin my family and my property!"

When an unbeliever is about to depart from this world and proceed to the next, angels with black faces descend from the heavens carrying a rough haircloth and sit around him in throngs stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the Angels of Death comes and sits at this head and says, "Foul soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah!"

Then his soul scatters within his body and it is dragged out like a skewer is pulled out of a wet piece of wool. Then the angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it, the other angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye. They take it and wrap it in a rough haircloth, and a stench comes out of it like the worst stench of a corpse on the face of the Earth.

Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a company of angels, they ask, "Who is this foul soul?" The angles with the soul reply, "So-and-so, the son of so-and-so," using the worst names by which people used to call him in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be append for him, but it is not opened.

The Messenger of Allah (saas) then recited,

"The gates of heaven will not be opened to then nor will they enter the Garden until the camel passes through the eye of the needle (i.e never)." (Surah al-A'raaf (7) : 40)

Then Allah (swt) will ay, "Register his book in Sijjeen (The register in which the deeds of evil people are inscribed). In the lowest earth.." And then his soul is flung down.

The Prohpet (saas) then recited,

"Whoever associates anything with Allah, it is as though he has fallen the sky, and the birds snatch him away, or the wind sweeps him headlong into a place far away." (Surah al-Hajj (22):31)

Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and say to him, "Who is your Lord?"

He replies, "Alas, alas, I do not know!

Then they say to him, "what is your religion?"

He replies, "Alas, alas, I do not know!"

Then they say to him, "Who is this man who was sent among you?"

He replies, "Alas, alas, I do not know!"

Then a voice calls from on high, "My salve has lied, so spread out carpets from the Fire and open one of its gates from him!"

Then a hot blast from Hell-fire comes to him, his grave is made so narrow for him that his ribs are pressed together, and a man with a hideous face and clothing and a foul adour comes to him and says, "Grieve on account of what has brought you disgrace, for this is the day which you were promised."

He asks, "Who are you? Yours is a face which presages evil."

He replies, "I am your bad actions."

Then he says, "O Lord, do not let the Last Hour come?" (Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah)