green-birds =)

Narrated Masruq: We asked 3Abdullah bin Mas3ud about this verse:

"Think not of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead; rather they are alive with their Lord being provided with sustenance.(3:169)

He 3Abdullah bin Mas3ud said: We asked the Prophet (sallAllaahu 3layhi wasSalaam) the meaning of this verse. So he explained it like this:

Their souls are in insides some green-birds beside lanterns suspended from the divine throne roaming freely in the Paradise where ever they like. Then they take shelter at those lanterns. Once their Lord looked at them and said: Do you want anything else? They said: What more shall we want? We roam freely in Paradise as we like. Allah asked them the same question three times. When they felt that they would not be spared from being asked, they said: O Lord! We like you to put back our souls into our bodies so that we may be killed in Your way once again. As Allah saw that they had no wish. they would be let for joy in heaven.

(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari.)



Narrated Ibn 3Abbas: Allah's; Messenger (sallAllaahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said: When your brethren were killed as martyrs in the battle of Uhod, Allah put their souls into some green-birds which arrived at the rivers of Paradise, ate from its fruits and took shelter beside lanterns, made of gold, and suspended in the shade of the divine Throne. When they enjoyed eating, drinking and sleeping, they said: Who will convey to our brethren on earth that; (we are alive in Paradise where we are provided with sustenance, so that they would neither renounce fighting in the way of Allah nor retreat at the time of war). Allah, the Glorified, said: I shall inform them of you. The Prophet (sallAllaahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said: So Allah revealed this verse:

(Don't consider those killed in the way of Allah as dead, rather they are alive with their Lord being provided with sustenance).(3:169)

(This Hadith is good and related in Sunan Abi Da3ud)