THE THROES OF DEATH
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In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon You"
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakaatuh
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The Throes of Death
The A to Z of Death (Part 3)
The All?h says, ????????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???????
“The throes of death will come in truth, this is what you were trying to escape…”[1]
This ?yah tells us that all will experience the throes and pangs of death, and for the sinner and disbeliever they will be exceptionally painful,
?????? ?????? ???? ????????????? ??? ????????? ????????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????? ?????????? ??????????? ? ????????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????
If you could only see the wicked in their death agonies, as the angels stretch out their hands to them saying: Let out your souls, today you will be repaid with a humiliating punishment for saying false things about All?h and for arrogantly rejecting His signs.[2]
The time of death is very severe, a person is in pain and apprehensive of what is to come. All?h, Himself, refers to death as a calamity: ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????
The calamity of death struck you.[3]
The Messenger of All?h (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Do not long for death because the terror that follows death is immense. It is a sign of blessing to live a long life so that a person is given the opportunity by All?h to repent.”[4]
When we look to the state of our Messenger, Mu?ammad (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) as he passed on, we can see the difficulty that he experienced. He (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) would put his hand in water and wipe his face with it, saying, ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????????? ?????????
“L? il?ha illAll?h, death has its agonies,”
and said, “All?h, forgive me, have mercy on me, and let me join the highest company.”[5] He would supplicate, ???????? ???????? ????? ????????? ?????????
“Allah, help me bear the agonies of death.”[6] Then he held up his hand and started saying, “With the heavenly host…” until he passed away and his hand dropped.[7] His wife, ‘??ishah said, “All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) died on my chest. Having seen him in the throes of death, I will never consider a severe death bad for anyone.”[8]
The throes of death are a final means of expiation for sins committed, or having our ranks raised and it is for this reason that many of the righteous considered them to be a blessing in disguise. ?Umar b. ?Abdu’l-?Az?z said, ‘I would not like the agonies of death to be reduced for me, for that is the last thing by means of which sin may be expiated for the believer.’
?Abdull?h b. Mas??d said, ‘I went to see the Prophet (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) (during his death sickness) and found him suffering from intense pain. I put my hand on him and said, ‘Messenger of All?h, what pain!’ He said, “Yes, I suffer twice as much as anyone else would.” I asked, ‘Will you get double the reward?’ He replied, “Yes.” Then he said to me, “All?h will remove sins, just as a tree sheds its leaves, for any Muslim who is afflicted with sickness or any other tribulation.”[9] However, many scholars point out that at the last instants of death, when the believer receives glad-tidings of what is to come, and wants to meet his Lord, the pain of death pales into insignificance until it gets to the point that he does not feel anything at all.[10]
No one is saved from this hardship except for the martyr. All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “The martyr does not feel anything more when he is killed than one of you feels if he is pinched.”[11]
Signs of a good end
There are numerous A?ad?th which mention signs which indicate a good end. One must bear in mind, when reading them, that these signs are not definitive proofs, they are just indicators:
- Declaring the shah?dah.Dying with sweat on the forehead.[12] The sweat appears as a result of the hardship of death or as a consequence of the shyness the servant experiences when realising he is about to meet his Lord while have committed so many sins.[13]
- Dying on the night of Jumu?ah[14]Martyrdom[15]Dying on the frontier[16]Dying from plague[17]Dying from abdominal illness[18]Dying from drowning[19]Dying from the collapse of a building[20]A woman who dies during pregnancy or childbirth[21]
- Dying from burning[22]Dying from pleurisy[23]Dying from tuberculosis[24]Dying while defending ones property[25]Dying while defending ones family.Dying while defending ones religionDying in self-defence[26]Dying while doing a good deed[27]
- Getting killed by an oppressive ruler[28]Getting murdered .Praise of the righteous Muslims[29]
Signs of a bad end
- Dying in disbelief or while committing shirk.Dying while committing sin[30]
- Refusing to say the shah?dah at the time of death.Blame of the righteous Muslims
- Addiction to alcohol[31]Ill-treating parents[32]Having no ghayrah (sense of honour) for the family.Sudden death[33] because it strikes a person without affording him the opportunity to repent, do good or even say the shah?dah. Many scholars said that this only applies to the sinner who was doing such acts as angered All?h.[34]
- Dying without repenting from major sins
Saff?r?n? said, ‘Some of the scholars said that the things that lead to a bad end are four: being lazy in ?al?h, drinking alcohol, disobeying and being rude to parents, and harming Muslims.’[35]
Avoid doing innovations
Those around the deceased must avoid falling into innovation, rather they should adhere firmly to the Sunnah at all times. A stark example of this lies with Sa??d b. al-Musayyab while on his death bed. In his presence was Ab? Salamah, and during his illness, Sa??d fainted. Ab? Salamah ordered that his bed be moved so he was facing the Qiblah and when Sa??d regained consciousness, he asked Ab? Salamah if his bed had been moved. He confirmed this and Sa??d ordered that his bed be moved back to where it was.[36]
What to do when the person has died
- Close the eyes. All?h’s Messenger visited Ab? Salamah when he died and closed his eyes, ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????????
When the soul is taken, the eyes follow it.[37]
????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????????????? ????????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????????
When you are in presence of the deceased, close the eyes because the eyes follow the soul (as it leaves) and say good things because the angels say ?m?n to what the family are saying.[38]
- Make du?? for the deceased, and also general du?? as the angels are there saying ?m?n
- Cover the entire body.
When All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) passed away, his entire body was covered with a piece of cloth.[39]
But this is not the case for someone who has died in the state of i?r?m. A man was riding his animal on the Day of ?Arafah and it threw him off, killing him. The Prophet (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???????????? ??? ??????????? ????? ????????????? ????? ??????????? ????????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????? ??????????
Wash him with water and lotus, and shroud him in his two garments. Do not embalm him or perfume him, and do not cover his head and face because he will raised on the Day of Rising saying the talbiya.[40]
4.Hurrying with the funeral
?????????? ??????????????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????????? ???? ??????????
Hasten the funeral. If it is for a good person, you are hurrying it to good. If it was not, it is evil that you are dropping from your necks.[41]
- Paying off debts
From the deceased wealth. If it is not enough, his relatives are strongly encouraged to pay it off on his behalf.
Sa?d b. A?wal’s brother passed away. He had debt of 300 dirhams and he had children. Sa?d wanted to give his brothers wealth to his children, but All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ????? ??????? ????????? ??????????? ????????? ? ??????? ??????
Your brother is being held back because of his debt. Go and pay it off for him.[42]
Once. The Prophet (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) prayed Fajr prayer and then a Jan?za prayer and then asked for his family to come forward and said,
????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ???? ????????? ???? ??????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????? ????? ??????? ?????
This man who has died is held back from entering Paradise because of a debt. If you want, ransom him; otherwise surrender him to All?h’s punishment!
The family then rushed to pay off his debt until none was left.[43]
???? ????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ????????
Whoever dies owing a debt, it will be taken from his good deeds on the Day where there is no d?n?r or dirham then.[44]
Another narration in ?abar?n? shows that this only applies to a person who did not intend to pay back the debt.
- Don’t cause physical harm to the body: ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????
Breaking the bone of a deceased is like breaking it while he is alive.[45]
- Don’t wail or lament, but crying out of sadness is permissible
All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) wept when his son, Ibr?h?m passed away and said, ????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????????? ??? ???????????? ??????????????
The eyes shed tears, the heart feels sad, but we will only say things that please our Lord. We are saddened at your passing, O Ibr?h?m.[46]
He (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, ?????????? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????: ????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????????? ????? ?????????
Two of the people’s practices are disbelief: dishonouring the ties of kinship, and wailing over the dead.[47] ???? ?????? ????????? ????????? ????????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ????????????
The one who is wailed over will be punished on the Day of Rising because of that wailing.[48]
This applies for the one who wanted it done for him ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ???? ????? ??????????? ???? ????? ????????? ??????????????
He is not of us who strikes his face, rips his clothes and makes the call of J?hiliyyah.[49]
- Announcing the death
Announcing is allowed to let people know of a person’s death and the time of his jan?zah, but not if done by way of discontentment with All?h’s decree, or going door to door, and so on.[50] It is in this latter respect that All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) prohibited announcing death.[51]
When al-Naj?sh? died, All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) announced his death and prayed the jan?zah prayer over him.[52]
- Giving condolences: ???? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ??? ?????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????
Whoever consoles his brother during an affliction, All?h will clothe him with a green garments.[53]
When All?h’s Messenger (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) learned of Ja?far’s demise, he encouraged those around them to cook for them because they were engrossed with the death.[54]
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:[1] Q?f 50:19[2] al-An??m 6:93[3] al-M??idah 5:106[4] Ahmad #14604 from J?bir b. ?Abdull?h. Haytham? 10:336 said the isn?d was ?asan[5] Bukh?r? #6510 from ???ishah[6] A?mad #24356 from ???ishah. Ibn ?ajr, Fat? 11:362 said it was ?asan[7] Bukh?r? #6510 from ???ishah[8] Nas??? #1830 from ???ishah[9] Bukh?r? and Muslim[10] Ibn ?ajr, Fat? 11:365[11] Tirmidh? #1668, Nas???’ #3161, Ibn M?jah #2802 from Ab? Hurayrah. cf. Mun?w?, Fay? al-Qad?r 4:182 who states that the martyr may even enjoy giving his life willingly for All?h’s sake.[12] “A believer dies with a sweaty forehead” [Nas???, al-Kubr? #1967] [13] Qur?ub?, al-Tadhkirah[14] “Any Muslim who dies on the day or night of Jumu?ah is protected by All?h from the tribulation of the grave.” [Tirmidh? from ?Abdull?h b. ?Amr] [15] “A martyr is given seven favours by All?h: he is forgiven with the first gush of blood, shown his place in Paradise, protected from the torment of the grave, saved from the Great Fear, adorned with the adornments of faith, married to the women of Paradise, and allowed to intercede for seventy relatives.” [Tirmidh? from al-Miqd?d] [16] “Standing guard (on the frontier) for one day and night is better than fasting the days and praying the nights of an entire month. If such a person dies, his good deeds that he used to do continue to accumulate for him; he is provided with his provisions (from Paradise) and he is saved from the interrogator (of the grave).” [Muslim from Salm?n] [17] “Dying from plague is a martyrdom for every Muslim.” [Bukh?r? from M?lik b. Anas] [18] “The one killed by abdominal illness will not be punished in the grave.” [Nas??? from ?Abdull?h b. Yas?r] [19] “The one who drowns is a martyr.” [Muslim from Ab? Hurayrah] [20] “The one who dies under a collapsed building is a martyr.” [Bukh?r? from Ab? Hurayrah] [21] “The woman who is killed by the child in her womb is a martyr, it will drag her by its umbilical cord into Paradise.” [A?mad from ?Ub?dah] [22] “The person who burns to death is a martyr.” [Ab? D?w?d from J?bir b. ?At?k] [23] “The one who dies from pleurisy is a martyr.” [A?mad from ?Uqbah b. ??mir] [24] “Death from tuberculosis is a martyrdom” [?abar?n?, al-Awsa? from Salm?n] [25] “Whoever fights someone who is trying to take his property without due right and is killed as a result is a martyr.” [Muslim from ?Abdull?h b. ?Amr] [26] “The person killed defending his property is a martyr. The person killed defending his family is a martry. The one killed while defending his religion is a martyr. The one killed while defending himself is a martyr.” [Ab? D?w?d, Tirmidh? from Sa??d b. Zayd] [27] “When All?h wants good for His servant, He purifies Him.” They asked, ‘How so?’ He replied, “He gifts him with the ability to do good before he passes away.”[Tirmidh? #970 from Anas b. M?lik] “Whoever says l? il?ha illAll?h seeking All?h’s face, and that is his final deed, he will enter Paradise. Whoever fasts seeking All?h’s face, and that is his final deed, he will enter Paradise. Whoever gives charity seeking All?h’s face, and that is his final deed, he will enter Paradise.” [Ahmad #23324 from Hudhayfah] [28] “The chief of the martyrs is ?amza, as well as a man who stands before an unjust ruler, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, and is killed as a result.” [??kim from J?bir b. ?Abdull?h. cf. Alb?n?, al-?a???ah #374] [29] A funeral procession passed by the Prophet (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) and they spoke well of him. He (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam), “It has become obligatory.” Another funeral procession passed him and they spoke badly of him and he (sallAll?hu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “It has become obligatory.” They asked him what he meant and he said, “Some of you are stand as witnesses for others.”[A?mad #10013 from Ab? Hurayrah] “…the one you spoke well of, Paradise became obligatory for him. The one you spoke badly of, Hell become obligatory for him. You are All?h’s witnesses on this earth. You are All?h’s witnesses on this earth. You are All?h’s witnesses on this earth.”[Muslim #949] [30] “Whoever dies while doing something, All?h resurrects him doing it.” [A?mad from J?bir] [31] “The person who dies while addicted to alcohol will meet All?h like an idol worshipper.” [A?mad #2453 from ibn ?Abb?s. cf. Alb?n?, al-?a???ah #677] [32] “Three people will be prohibited from entering Paradise: one who is addicted to alcohol, one who ill-treats his parents, and one who has no ghayrah and permits evil in his family.” [A?mad #5372. cf. Alb?n?, ?a??? al-J?mi? #3052] [33] “A sudden death is a sign of anger.” [Ab? D?w?d #3110 from ?Ubaydull?h b. Kh?lid] [34] Mun?w?, Fayd al-Qad?r; Kha???b?, Ma??lim al-Sunan[35] Al-Bu??r al-Z?hirah 1:66[36] Ibn Ab? Shaybah 4:76 and Alb?n?, Ahk?m al-Jan??iz said it was ?a???[37] Muslim #920 from Umm Salamah[38] Ibn M?jah #1455 from Shadd?d b. Aws[39] Bukh?r? and Muslim[40] Bukh?r? #1267, Muslim #1206 from ibn ?Abb?s[41] Bukh?ri #1315, Muslim #944 from Ab? Hurayrah[42] Ibn M?jah, A?mad #17227[43] ?abar?n?, al-Kab?r from Samurah b. Jundub[44] Ibn M?jah #2414 from ibn ?Umar[45] Ab? D?w?d #3207, Ibn M?jah #1616 from ???ishah[46] Bukh?r? #1303, Muslim #2315 from Anas b. M?lik[47] Muslim #121 Ab? Hurayrah[48] Bukh?r? #1286, Muslim #928 Mugh?rah b. Shu?bah[49] Muslim #103 from ibn Mas??d[50] Ibn ?ajr, Fat? al-B?r?[51] Tirmidh? # from Hudhayfah[52] Bukh?r?, Muslim from Ab? Hurayrah[53] Bayhaq?, Shu?ab #8843. Alb?n?, A?k?m al-Jan??iz said it was ?asan[54] Ab? D?w?d, Tirmidh?
By Shaikh Abu Rumaysah Refi Shafi
Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif ( Ma taufiquee Illah Billah)