The Moment of Death
What those around the deceased should do
When a person has passed away, those around the deceased should make dua'a (supplication) to Allah for Allah to forgive the deceased person for their sins, close the deceased's eyes, tie a piece of cloth from underneath the lower jaw onto the top of the head to prevent the mouth from sagging and put a clean sheet over the entire body. The body should then be quickly prepared for burial by washing and shrouded it.
Upon finding out that a person has died, one should say:
"Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon"
("to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return")
It is very important that the deceased's debts be paid. If the deceased's estate does not have enough money to cover the debts, the family of the deceased should pay on the deceased's behalf. The family of the deceased should ask people if the deceased owed any money to anyone so that debts can be settled promptly.
Whilst mourning is perfectly acceptable in Islam, those grieving should not go to extremes by loudly wailing, moaning or screaming. The practice of some women tearing their clothes, shaving their hair or banging their wrists to break their bangles upon the death of a beloved one is detested in Islam. It is narrated in ahadith from Prophet Muhammad that weeping is permitted, providing that it is not accompanied by wailing and lamenting. On one occasion is is reported that:
"The Prophet (PBUH) wept for the son of one of his daughters. A man said to him: 'What is this, O Messenger of Allah?' He said, 'This is compassion which Allah puts in the hearts of His slaves. Allah shows mercy to those of His slaves who are merciful.'"
(Hadith)
Rather a Muslim is allowed to weep and should bear their loss with patience and in calmness and not be overcome with grief to the point of losing hope or forsaking one's Islam. A person is allowed preoccupy themselves with grieving for the passing of a loved one for three days (except for a wife who has lost her husband, in which case the mourning period is four months and ten days for a widow who is not pregnant, or until she gives birth, if she is pregnant).
It should also be mentioned that there is no Islamic evidence for putting flowers or candles and so on in the deceased's room or at their grave. Gathering to read Qur'an or make dua'a (supplication) for the deceased is an innovation. If a person wants to seek forgiveness for the deceased from Allah, then s/he may do so individually. There is also no Islamic basis for reading Surah Yaseen (a verse from the Qur'an) in particular for one who has died, or commemorating the passing away of a person after three days, forty days or one year, as some Muslims do.
For more information on bereavements and the burial of a Muslim please see Bereavements.
What happens just as a person dies
At the moment when the person is going through the final throws of dying and repentance is no longer accepted, they see the Angel of Death and they are told of their situation and of their destiny. Whether the person is happy or sad depends on whether they believe in Allah (i.e. they are Muslim) or not. If the person is a believer they are pleased to be dying, since good things lie ahead of them. If the person does not believe, then they hate death, since only bad things lie ahead of them.
'Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is reported to have said that her husband said:
"'Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.' I said, 'O Prophet of Allah, do you mean hating death, for all of us hate death?' He said, 'It is not like that; but when the believer is given the glad tidings of the mercy and pleasure of Allah, and His Paradise, he loves to meet Allah, And when the kafir (disbeliever) is given the tidings of the wrath and punishment of Allah, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.'"
(Hadith)
The Angel of Death then proceeds to take the person's soul.
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