Don't Dare to Die Except as Muslims

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This life is a struggle, but it is nothing compared to the after life.

Death for a Muslim is the beginning of the next journey. It is the first stop to eternity. All future stops will be determined by your death.

The next stop will be the life in the grave -- it's either a torment or blessing. If a person died as a believer, then a gate to Paradise will be opened for him, and he will feel its rest and provision and blessings. If he died as an unbeliever, then a gate to Hell will be opened for him, and his grave will constrict until his ribs intermingle, and his grave will be like one of the pits of Hell. He will feel its heat and torment.

The next stop will be Judgment Day when everyone will find their final abode -- Paradise or Hell. There is no other stop after this.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. (102)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:102]

When Allah Almighty says to have taqwa of Allah (fear of Allah) as He deserves to have, it is a personal judgment call for you and me. If you can tell yourself "I am doing everything I can to please Allah," knowing fully well that Allah knows what on the tongues and in the hearts, then that's fine, but if not, then keep trying and push yourself to a higher standard of Islam, but don't dare to die except as Muslims.

Death will come whether you are obeying or disobeying Allah. You better be in obedience when your death comes. You better not doing something in disobedience when your death arrives. You better not get caught red-handed in the middle of a sin when the angel of death visits you. The state in which you die is a good indication of what Allah has in store for you. May Allah make us among those who protect himself from displeasing Him.

Time is running out. All our life amounts to inhales and exhales and it will never come back. Every single breath is a step closer towards death. We are marching forward, heading towards our Master. Whether we accept this or not, whether we are oblivious or not, whether we face forward or backward, we are still heading forward with eyes open or close. Don't close your eyes to this reality.

May Allah grant us a state of Islam throughout our lives. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam