No one greets me except that Allah restores my soul to me so that I return his greeting

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that his soul is restored to him to return the greeting of whoever greets him, whether he is near or far. Life in the Barzakh (the period between death and resurrection) and the grave is a matter of the unseen, and no one knows its reality except Allah, Who is Competent over all things.