Hadith Narrated By Masruq

We asked Abdullah bin Masud (R.A) 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 (Abdullah bin Masud R.A) said: We asked the Prophet (SAW) the meaning of this verse. So he explained it like this: Their souls are inside some green birds beside lanterns suspended from the Divine Throne roaming freely in Paradise wherever 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: 0 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 reported by Bukhari).