Aḥmad also recorded it (5/190): Yazīd ibn Hārūn narrated to us, Abū Masʿūd al-Jarīrī informed us with it, except that he said: "Seek refuge from the trial of life and death," instead of "Seek refuge from the trials, both apparent and hidden." Ibn Ḥibbān also recorded it (785) similar to the narration of Muslim, but he did not mention Zayd ibn Thābit in it. Explanation of the ḥadīth (tadāfanū): Its original form is tatadāfanū, with one of the tāʾs omitted. It means: were it not for the fear that hearing this would lead you to abandon burying one another. (Shahbāʾ): White. (Ḥāṣat) means hovered, as in a narration by Aḥmad, meaning it trembled. (Kharabā) with a kasrah on the khāʾ and a fatḥah on the rāʾ, is the plural of kharbah, like niqmah and niqam. (Tubtalā) means to be tested. The intended meaning is the testing of the deceased by the two angels with their questions: "Who is your Lord?" and "Who is your Prophet?" Benefits of the ḥadīth and in these ḥadīths are many benefits, of which I will mention some or the most important: 1 - Affirmation of the punishment of the grave, and the ḥadīths on this are mutawātir, leaving no room for doubt by claiming they are solitary! Even if we concede they are solitary, they must still be accepted because the Qurʾān testifies to them, as Allāh says: "And the evil torment encompassed the people of Pharaoh. The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And on the Day when the Hour will be established, it will be said: 'Cause the people of Pharaoh to enter the severest torment.'" (Sūrah Ghāfir, verses 45-46)