In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Death is a subject people often avoid talking about much less remember. We live in a society that sees talking about death, thinking about death, writing and reading about death as morbid. I can't remember how many times I was scorned for talking about death especially in front of my children or other people's children.
What is morbid, what is indeed unhealthy, is a society that separates and dissociates death from life as if the two can ever be separated – two sides of the same coin. We cannot pretend death doesn’t exist, all the time living as if we still have one foot in the womb.
What is morbid and unhealthy is that we try to sit death quietly in the corner, still pretending it can’t see us and we can’t see it. We try to keep it away from children, and lie to them about it, to ‘protect’ them’ – all the while creating unnecessary fear and perpetuating the vicious cycle of denial around the only thing in life that is an absolute inevitability. And then, when it happens, every time it happens, we are shocked. As if, having avoided reality so very well for so very long, we had no idea it would ever come.
It is extremely difficult to live each day like it really matters without embracing the fact that it could end any day. Every moment is not precious to you when you are fantasizing that you have been guaranteed a life that will never end -- or at least won’t end till you’re 100.
The Qur'an alludes to death at various places. In Surah AleImran, Allah Almmigty says,
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥[Qur'an, Ale Imran 3:185]
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. (185)
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advises us to, “Remember often the terminator of pleasures.”
The benefits of this include purification from sins, abstinence in this life, making great tribulations manageable, making small worldly means seem much, removal of worry over this life and disdaining vain pleasures.
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once held my shoulders and said:
“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.” And Abdullah ibn Umar used to say: “If you live till night, then do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till the night. And take (advantage) from your health before your sickness and take advantage of your life before your death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.)”
[Bukhari and Tirmidhi]
Shaqiq al-Balkhi once went to his mentor, Abu Hashim, with something tied at the end of his clothing. His mentor said, “What is this?” “Almonds,” he replied, “that a brother has given to me, I plan to have breakfast on them.” “O Shaqiq,” his mentor scolded, “You tell yourself that you will live until tonight! Do you remember death? This is what I have to say, and I will not speak to you,” and he closed the door in his face.
What is life? Allah Almighty tells us what life is when He says,
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ ﴿٢٠[Qur'an, Al-Hadid 57:20]
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion. (20)
Although death is certain and inevitable, people tend to live as if they are going to live forever. Whereas death knows no age. Very often people die in the prime of their youth. There are times a father has to bury his own son. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) buried all his sons and daughters except one. I saw my late parents grieved over the death of my little brother when I was a small child. This year I lost two of my younger siblings within less than two months apart -- my sister died suddenly followed by my brother who died after a prolonged sickness. May Allah shower all of them with mercy, forgive all their sins and make their graves one of the meadows of Paradise.
The term of one’s life is predetermined before birth and this knowledge rests only with Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ﴿٦١[Quran, An-Nahl 16:61]
And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]. (61)
This mystery of life and death is not without purpose. The life of this world is a test from Allah.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥[Quran, Al-Anbiya' 21:35]
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35)
In this worldly life, people will constantly be put to all types of tests. As Muslims, we should be patient while facing trials and tribulations.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٣[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:153]
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (153)
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥[Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:155]
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155)
What is the reality of death?
When it occurs, the spirit (ruh) leaves the body. We learn through prophetic traditions that a righteous soul comes out of the body with ease, while an evil soul, which resists leaving the body, is taken out harshly by the angel of death. The two types of souls are accordingly honored and dishonored in their respective journeys to the heavenly dimensions and back to the grave when they are questioned.
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿١١[Qur'an, As-Sajdah 32:11]
Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned." (11)
Some die suddenly while others may go through pain and suffering before they die. According to prophetic traditions, sickness is a source of mercy and a chance for forgiveness.
In one saying the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
“For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief or hurt that afflicts a believer – even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn – Allah wipes off his sins and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) informed us that, “If a servant of Allah falls sick or goes on a journey, he (continues) to be rewarded for the good deeds that he used to do when he was healthy or at home. This is Allah's gift to the believer.”
Visiting the Sick
Some scholars said visiting the sick is not only highly encouraged, it is an obligation. This is because it gives the sick much needed care and moral support. In this regard, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “A caller from heaven calls out to the person who visits a sick person, ‘You are good and your path is good. May you enter your residence in Paradise.’” He also mentioned, “When a Muslim visits the sick in the morning, seventy thousand angels pray for him, and they continue praying for him until the evening. When one visits the sick in the evening, the angels pray for him and continue to pray for him until the next morning. Moreover, he will be rewarded with the choicest fruits of Paradise.”
Visitors should pray for the recovery and health of the sick. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) instructed, “When you visit a sick person, give him hope for a long life. This will not avert anything, but will please the patient and give him comfort.” When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) visited sick people, he used to say to them, “Do not worry! It is a means of cleansing (you) of sins, inshaa Allah.” Unless desired by the sick person, it is preferred to shorten the visits and to make them less frequent, lest they should become burdensome for the patient.
One may supplicate for the sick person the way the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) did, “O Allah, The Sustainer of mankind! Remove the illness, cure the disease. You are the One who cures. There is no cure except Your cure. Grant (us) a cure that leaves no trace of illness.” One may supplicate using his or her own words in any language he or she speaks.
Promote a Healthy Life
One should take means that promote a healthy life, while believing that these means cannot ward off the destiny of Allah. A long life full of service to Allah is of the greatest of ranks.
A man asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “O Messenger of Allah, which people are the best?” He replied, “He whose life is long and works good.”
It is permissible to use medicine to treat oneself with the condition that one believe that the cure is only from Allah who has made the medicine an outer means to attain this, and if He wills he will cure without one taking medicine or not cure despite one taking medicine.
Prepare Will
A person should not be sick for two nights without having his will prepared. It should contain a clear statement of his debts and who they are owed to. A person is entitled to make a bequest of up to a third of his remaining wealth after debts have been paid, the rest must be divided according to the Islamic rules of inheritance laid out clearly in the Qur’an and books of sacred law.
The bequest should contain the following:
(1) Payments for missed prayers, with the equivalent of 2kg of wheat for each prayer.
(2) Payments for missed fasts, with the equivalent of 2kg of wheat for each fast.
(3) Payments for missed zakat payments.
(4) Payment for someone to perform Hajj on one’s behalf if one was able to perform Hajj in one’s life but did not go.
(5) Payment for Eid sacrifices if one was obliged to perform them and did not do so.
(6) Payments for vows that were not performed.
(7) Payments for the obligatory charity of Eid al Fitr (sadaqa al fitr) that one was obliged to pay but did not do so.
(8) Payments in charity in return for rights owed to other people who are unknown and/or unreachable.
(9) Any other donations that one wishes to make. This is recommended if one has enough wealth to cover the needs of the inheritors; otherwise it is better to let the inheritors benefit from one’s wealth as opposed to a stranger.
An example bequest, mentioned in the Shir’a, begins as follows:
“[With the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah lord of the worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our master Muhammad, his folk and companions.] This is the injunction of so-and-so: He enjoins, while bearing witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, and that the hour is coming, there is no doubting it, and that Allah will bring forth whoever is in the graves; he enjoins those he leaves after him that they return to Allah and rectify among themselves, and that they obey Allah and His messenger; and he enjoins with what Ibrahim and Ya’qub (upon whom be blessings and peace), “O my sons, verily Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as believers”; and he enjoins, if death should overtake him, that his needs are such-and-such [and he mentions his bequest].”
Visiting A Dying Person
Visiting someone who is on his deathbed is highly desirable.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “When you visit someone who is ill or is dying, say good things about him (or her). Indeed, the angels say, ‘Ameen’ to whatever you utter.”
It is highly desired to have the patient or someone on behalf of the dying patient to do as many good deeds as possible. This allows the person to die on a state of goodness.
Someone on their deathbed should observe the following:
(1) To have a good opinion of Allah. This is by having more hope than fear; having the belief that Allah will overlook one’s sins.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, three days before he died, “Let none of you die except having a good opinion of Allah Mighty and Majestic.”
(2) To be of good cheer at the mercy of Allah as the pains of death are a forgiveness of sins for every Muslim and a gift for every believer.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Death is a gift for the believer.”
“The meaning of this is that death should be precious to the believer because it is something that Allah has given him, and what the Beloved gives, is precious and of tremendous rank.”
(3) To long for the meeting with Allah.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever dislikes to meet Allah, Allah dislikes to meet him.” Aisha or one of his wives said, “But we dislike death,” he replied, “That’s is not the point; rather, the believer when death comes to him, he is given the great good news of Allah’s pleasure and generosity, and there is nothing more beloved to him that what is ahead of him, so he loves meeting Allah and Allah loves meeting him. The disbeliever when death comes to him is given the great news of Allah’s punishment and chastisement, and there is nothing more disliked to him that what is ahead of him so he dislikes meeting Allah, and Allah dislikes meeting him.”
(4) To remember Allah whole-heartedly, and not to let anything distract him.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked, “What is the best of works?” He replied, “That one of you should die and his tongue is moist with the remembrance of Allah.”
He also said, “Whoever’s last words are La illaha illaAllah (There is no god but Allah,) will enter paradise.”
(5) To leave all thoughts and inclinations towards this life and other people.
(6) To free oneself of one’s power and ability and rely solely on Allah’s generosity and
protection.
(7) To not let one’s deeds come to mind, neither the good nor the bad, as they distract from
having a good opinion of Allah and true hope in His bounty.
(8) Make sincere supplication for Allah to preserve one’s faith.
(9) To not hate a painful death for oneself or anyone else, for Allah removes sins from a person through illness in his body, delay in provender, fear in life and severity at death.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) died while he was between my chest and my throat [in my arms], and I do not dislike for anyone to have a severe death after the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace),ever.”
“[when he died] before him was a container of water, he placed his hands inside it and wiped his face and said, “There is no god but Allah; surely death has tremendous mind-numbing pain.” Then he raised his hand and started saying, “O Allah, in the highest company” until he died and his hand dropped.”
Facing Calamities
It is not lawful for one to wish for death on account of pain or difficulty that one is in; because life is Allah’s will for one, and desiring it to leave is not be satisfied with His will.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Let none of you wish for death due to a harm that has reached him. If he is compelled to do so then let him say, “O Allah, give me life so long as life is better for me, and take my soul in death when death is better for me.
When the Prophet(Allah bless him and grant him peace) found his ailing uncle wishing for death, he said, “O Abbas! O uncle of Allah's messenger! Do not wish for death. If you do good and live long, your good deeds will multiply. Then that is better for you. If you are not well and your death is delayed, you may seek God’s forgiveness. That is better for you. So do not wish for death.”
It is permitted to wish for death if it is due to living in bad times in which one fears for one’s religion.
When inflicted with illness or any calamity, we should not complain and we should resign ourselves to the Will of Allah. We should remain patient in the face of adversity knowing we belong to Allah and to Him they will return.
Say “inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.)
Allah Most High says in the Qur’an,
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٥٧[Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 2:156]
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." (156) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (157)
Meaning: One should say it over every difficulty.
“The leather toe-strap of Omar’s shoe broke and he said, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.” They said, “O Commander of the faithful, concerning the strap of your shoe?!” He said, “Yes, everything that strikes a believer that he does not like is a calamity.”
When receiving news of someone’s death one says, “Verily we are Allah’s, and verily to Him we return. O Allah raise his rank among the truly guided, and inscribe his name in the highest register (al-Illiyyin), and take charge of his offspring that remain. O Allah don’t deny us his reward and don’t try us after him.”
A person faced with a dire calamity should console himself with the calamities of the foremost of creation (Allah bless him and give him peace); for no one from his nation will be afflicted with the like of it.
When asked which people are greatest in tribulation, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “The prophets. Then those most like them then those most like them. A man is tried commensurate to his faith. If his faith is firm, his tribulation is tough. If it has softness, his tribulation is commensurate to it. Tribulations keep falling on a person until they leave him to walk on the earth without any sins.”
No calamity that a person faces is greater than the calamity of the death of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever ever has two that went ahead [meaning children that died in infancy] from my nation, Allah will enter him into paradise by them.” Aisha asked, “And the one who has one that went ahead from your nation?” He replied, “And the one who has one that went ahead, O guided one.” She asked, “And the one who does not have any that went ahead?” He replied, “I am the one who went ahead for my nation; they will not have any loss greater than me.” “meaning “I am their great calamity which has struck them” for he (Allah bless him and give him peace) was a mercy to the worlds and a safety for his nation, so which calamity is greater than losing him?”
Inevitably, we will eventually die. We will take nothing with us to our graves. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: perpetual charity (Sadaqah Jariyah); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).”
Such admonitions remind us that we should hasten in doing good deeds before our time is up and our book of deeds close forever.
Being the most certain reality, a conscious believer prepares himself here in this world for the eternal and perpetual blissful life of the hereafter.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in one of his sayings said, “Intelligent is the one who controls his passions and prepares for life after death.”
May Allah ease us during sakaratul maut and not let us die except as Muslims, and grant us an excellent ending. May Allah forgive us, our parents and all the Muslims, from the living and the dead. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archives
Helping Ourselves -- Reviving Sensitivity Through Simple Acts
Life Beyond Death -- The Grave World
Life Beyond Death -- The Believer On The Day of Judgment
Life Beyond Death -- Paradise, The Eternal Home Of The Believers
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