Is the Lightness of the Funeral Bier Evidence of the Deceased's Loftiness of Rank?
The questioner asks about the lightness of the funeral bier — is it evidence of the lightness of the deceased's scales — meaning: of his elevation and loftiness of rank and so forth? And yes, this has come in reports (athar), most of which Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in Kitab al-Ruh —
It was reported regarding the funeral of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh that it was light, and that the angels were carrying it, and that this was a sign of the deceased's good ending and of his elevation, loftiness of rank, and standing. But as for something being an explicit text that this is evidence — from the Prophet ﷺ, or something clear — there is nothing except these mentioned reports, which may be cited as evidence in this chapter. But it does not mean that if we do not see a lightness of the funeral bier, we say: "This is evidence of [the deceased's] sins and misdeeds or bad ending and the like." This is incorrect.
Meaning: the presence of one condition does not indicate the other condition. And this is analogous to the Prophet's ﷺ statement: "The throne of the Most Merciful shook at the death of Sa'd." That does not mean that if we did not know that the throne of the Most Merciful shook, that this is evidence for something else. We only know that this text was reported only in the hadith of Sa'd, and it is evidence of Sa'd's virtue. But the Prophet ﷺ did not mention this for others, nor does that mean that others are beneath him in station — not at all. Rather, when the Prophet ﷺ wished to mention a distinction, he mentioned it.
And this has parallels even in other hadiths narrated in the virtues of, for example, Abu 'Ubayda — such as his ﷺ saying: "Every nation has a trustworthy one (amin), and the trustworthy one of this nation is Abu 'Ubayda." This does not mean he is more trustworthy than others. Likewise: "The most knowledgeable of my nation in halal and haram is Mu'adh" — even if sound, it is known to be narrated with a broken chain (irsal) — does not mean he outranks others. "The most knowledgeable among you regarding the laws of inheritance is Zayd ibn Thabit" — does not mean he is more knowledgeable in inheritance than others. Abu Bakr is more knowledgeable than him (may Allah be pleased with him) — by far.
So the lightness of the funeral bier — even if mentioned in many reports — does not mean that one whose funeral bier was not light has an unworthy state.