Before Death

While a person is alive and well, they should hasten to do good and worship Allah, since once we die it is too late.  Allah says in the Qur'an:

"Therein they will cry: 'Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.' (Allah will reply): 'Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition, - could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.) there is no helper.' "

(Qur'an 35:37)

Since none of us know when our time will come, we should not hesitate and waste our lives, especially as we grow older.

Signs of a good end

It is the wish of every Muslim to die in a state that will bring him/her happiness after death. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"'When Allah wills good for His slave, He uses him.' The Prophet's companions said: 'How does He use him?' He said, 'He guides him to do good deeds before he dies.'"

(Hadith)

and

"'When Allah wills good for His slave, He sweetens him.' The Prophet was then asked, 'What is this sweetening?' He said, 'Allah guides him to do righteous deeds before he dies, then He takes (his soul) whilst he is in that state.'"

(Hadith)

Thus, it is a blessing from Allah for a person who is guided towards doing good deeds and kept safe from doing bad deeds until the moment that death comes.

Those people who die in the following ways are also given special rewards after their death:

  • a woman who dies in childbirth or while she is pregnant

  • a person who dies defending his/her wealth, religion or life

  • a person who dies as a result of being crushed by a fallen wall or drowning

  • a person who dies of a stomach disease or the plague

  • a person who dies as a result of burning, pleurisy or tuberculosis

It is also a blessing to die doing a good deed (such as giving charity, praying etc), to die with sweat on one's forehead or to die on the day or night of a Friday.

What should those around a dying person do?

It is desirable that a person's last words when dying are those of the Shahada (declaration of faith) because the Prophet (PBUH) said:

"Help Muslims who are dying to say: ' Laa ilaaha ill-Allah' "

(Hadith)

and

"A person whose last words are Laa ilaaha ill-Allah [there is no god but Allah] will enter Paradise at some time, even if there befalls whatever must befall him before that"

(Hadith)

(What is meant by "even if there befalls whatever must befall him before that" refers to the fact that disobedient Muslims spend some time in the Hellfire (its length and severity varying according what sins were committed on earth) as a means of atonement for their sins before they finally enter Paradise, where they remain for eternity.  This is discussed further in the section "Settling Scores and Cleansing" that follows later).


For this reason, if there are people around the dying person they should encourage him/her to say the Shahada in a gentle manner every now and then so that these are the person's last words. It should also be mentioned that the following practices of some Muslims have no Islamic basis and are not part actions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

  • Putting the Qur'an under the dying person's head

  • Facing the dying person towards the Qiblah (direction of Mecca) - although this is desirable, it was requested by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was dying

  • Not allowing menstruating women or those who are unclean (from not having full ablution after sexual intercourse) to enter the area where the person is dying
     

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Introduction to Death

Repentance

 


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