The Angel Casts Earth on People

Hadrat Anas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) is reported to have said that God appoints an angel over the people who accompany a funeral. When these people return after burying the dead, this angel picks up a handful of earth from the grave and casts it in their direction, saying: ‘“‘Return to your world. May God make you forget the memory of this dead man.”’ Afterwards. These people forget the dead man and engross themselves in worldly business, and it appears as if the dead person was never one of them, nor had they ever any connection with the dead person.

This tradition has been related in Musnad-ul-Firdous. A tradition transmitted by Ibn ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) states that the Apostle of God (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: ‘God Almighty has appointed an angel over the graveyard. When people return after burying a dead body, the angel picks up a handful of earth from the grave and casts it in the direction of the people and says, ‘‘Return thou to your world and _forget about the dead person.”

The phrase "The angel casts earth on people" most likely refers;

The Angels of Allah do not roam the earth physically and cannot be seen. This why a human messenger is sent. There are humans who are good thus they are angels because they have a good heart.

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌۭ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَكًۭا رَّسُولًۭا ٩٥

Say, “Had there been angels (living) on the earth, walking about in peace, We would have certainly sent down an angel from the heavens as a messenger.”

[Surah Al Isra/17: Verse 95]

— Mufti Taqi Usmani.

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَلَكًۭا لَّجَعَلْنَـٰهُ رَجُلًۭا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ ٩

And if We had sent an angel, We would have certainly made it ˹assume the form of˺ a man—leaving them more confused than they already are.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

[Surah Al Anam/6: Verse 9 ]

Quran is saying God does not send angels in the form of humans. The angels of Allah cannot take physical human form and be seen by other humans. And Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم)received wahyi through his heart telepathically:

عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ ١٩٤

Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners,

— English Translation (Pickthall)

[Surah AS Shuaara/26: Verse 194]

In light of the above verses of the Quran, I hereby reject the following hadith:

Umar ibn al-Khattab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, (صلى الله عليه وسلم), one day, a man appeared with very white clothes and very black hair. There were no signs of travel on him, and we did not recognize him. He sat in front of the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), rested his knees on his knees, and placed his hands on his thighs. The man said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Islam is to testify there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give charity, to fast the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if a way is possible.” The man said, “You have spoken truthfully.” We were surprised that he asked him and said he was truthful. He said, “Tell me about faith.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)said, “Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, its good and its harm.”

The man said, “You have spoken truthfully. Tell me about excellence.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) it said, “Excellence is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you.” The man said, “Tell me about the final hour.” The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The one asked does not know more than the one asking.” The man said, “Tell me about its signs.” The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see barefoot, naked, and dependent shepherds compete in the construction of tall buildings.” Then, the man returned, and I remained. The Prophet said to me, “O Umar, do you know who he was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Verily, he was Gabriel who came to teach you your religion.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 8

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim