Death - الموت

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیم
بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم
الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير

In the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, majestic and all powerful, master of this world and everything that is contained herein. Salutations be upon prophet Mohammad SAW, who was sent as a guide to this mankind.

My dear respected brothers and sisters,
Assalam o allaikum Wr. Wb.

Many a times we have discussed about this life from Allah SWT to be a blessing and we continue to thank Allah SWT that he created us from Ashraful Makhlooqat… best of the best creations but there is one reality to this life that we often forget. That reality is death which will make us depart from this world so that we can continue the real journey that we had set out on.

Death is a mystery to those who spend time trying to understand it and it is a belief for those who consider it as a transitional necessity in order to move on in this system of Allah SWT.

Allah SWT says in Quran:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

He who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed.[] And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving; [67:2]

In this Ayah Allah SWT tells us that he created death and life. There is a scholarly opinion that death is mentioned first because everything before its creation was dead and Allah SWT gave it life and after this life, death shall come again as Allah SWT says in the Quran:


كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتاً فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
How can you disbelieve in Allâh? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return. [2:28]

Also it is emphasized in another ayah where the people will say to Allah SWT on the day of Judgement:

قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَمَتَّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ مِّن سَبِيلٍ
They will say: "Our Lord! You have made us to die twice and You have given us life twice! Now we confess our sins, then is there any way to get out (of the Fire)?"[40:11]

So my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, it is clear that this life that we are living has to come to an end. In our minds we may feel that we are not there yet or that we may have still some years to live but reality is that this is a comfort we have given to our mind. Death is an absolute reality and it can come any time. A human being regardless of the color, creed or religion will have to face this reality.

Allah SWT says in Quran:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned.[21:35]

Allah SWT has told us very clearly that we shall be tested based on our deeds. If our good deeds are more than the bad deeds, then we shall be successful but if our bad deeds are more than the good deeds, then we shall face the punishment but before one reaches the state of this comparison, there is a requirement. The requirement is that the person must have confessed shahadah or the testimony of faith in this world.

It is this reason, that Rasulallah SAW taught us how to deal with death when it comes onto someone dear to us.
Mua’azh Ibn Jabal, RAA narrated that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Anyone who has spoken as last words the words: “La-Ilaha-Illa Allah” i.e. there is no deity but Allah SWT, then he shall enter paradise” reported by Abou Dawood.

In another narration, Abou Sa’eed Al-Khudree, RAA said that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Teach your dying people to say: “La-Ilaha-Illa Allah” reported by Muslim.

Also we see from the sunnah, that when we hear of the death of someone, we should say:
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ileyhi Raajioon
We all belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.

Ommo Salamah, RAA, the mother of the believers and the wife of the messenger of Allah PBUH narrated (before she got married of the messenger of Allah PBUH), that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: ”Any servant of Allah when afflicted with a catastrophe says:

إنا لله و إنا إليه راجعون ، اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي ، و اخلف لي خيرا منها ؛

We all belong to Allah and we all shall return to him, O’ Allah help me in my catastrophe and give me better than it; Allah shall help him in this catastrophe and shall give him better rewards and life after it”. She said: when my former husband (Abou Salamah) died I said what the messenger of Allah PBUH told me to say and Allah SWT gave me better than him, I married the messenger of Allah PBUH after elapse of my I’eddah” reported by Muslim.

Brothers and sisters, our journey after death is also full of challenges, the success of which depends on our life in this world. The circumstances of death can be pleasant or horrifying depending on what the human being had adopted as a religion in this life.

Allah SWT says:

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلآئِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state saying (to them): Salâmun 'Alaikum enter you in Paradise, because of (the good) which you used to do (in the world)." [16:32]

And those who have disobeyed Allah SWT and those who committed shirk and carried out bad deeds, Allah SWT says:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الْمَلآئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُواْ

عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ()۔

ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلاَّمٍ لِّلْعَبِيد

If you see the people who are taken by the angels after death, the angels shall beat their faces and their backs and say to them taste the torment of the fire, this is your reward for what you have offered of deeds and Allah is not unjust to His servants [8:50-51]

It is for this reason Rasulallah SAW , on the authority of Uthman bin Affan said:

“Ask Allah to forgive your dead brother’s sins and to have correct answers when he is being asked by the angels in his grave for he is now being asked” reported by Abou Dawood.

In Saheeh Bukhari there is a hadeeth mentioned by Rasulallah SAW regarding how the soul shall be taken from the bodies of pious people and those from the people who disobeyed the commands of Allah. We shall see the mercy and rahmah of Allah SWT for those who live their lives in accordance to His commandments and we see the torment for those who disobey him.

It is reported that al-Bara 'bin 'Azib said: "We went out with the Prophet SAW in order to participate in the funeral rites of a man from the Ansar. We arrived at the grave, but the inner chamber had not been prepared yet; so Allaah's Messenger SAW sat down facing the direction of the Qiblah, and we sat around him so attentively that it was as if birds were sitting upon our heads. He had a stick in his hand with which he sketched upon the ground. Then he began looking alternately to the heavens and to the earth, raising his gaze and then lowering it. Finally, he said two or three times, 'Seek refuge in Allaah from the torment of the grave.' Then he said, 'O Allaah, verily I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave.' He repeated it three times, then he elaborated,

'Verily, when the believing servant is leaving this world and entering the next, angels from the heavens descend to him - their faces white with brightness like the sun and carrying with them burial sheets and scents from Paradise. They sit before him at a distance as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (upon whom be peace) comes to the person, sits at his head and says, "O good soul [and in another narration "O confident soul"], come out to your Lord's forgiveness and pleasure. "' [The Prophet SAW continued],

'There upon the soul flows out of the body like water flowing from the mouth of a water skin, and all of the angels between the skies and the earth supplicate for Allahs blessing upon him. The doors of the heavens are opened for him, and the keepers of these doors [i.e., the angels all plead with Allaah that this soul might pass in front of them as it is being carried upward. The Angel of Death barely receives the soul in his hands, whereupon the other angels take it from him and wrap it with fragrant winding sheets. This is what is meant by Allaah's saying,

"Our messengers [i.e., angels] seize his soul, and they do not fall short of their duty."'

Then the Prophet SAW said, 'There exudes from the soul a scent like the most beautiful fragrance of musk that one could find on the face of the earth. The angels ascend with the soul never passing a host of angels without hearing them ask, "Who is this wonderful soul?" They reply, "So and so, the son of so and so," addressing him with the best names he was known by during his earthly life.

Upon reaching the first heaven, the angels request that it be opened for the soul - which is granted. The soul is then accompanied by the angels of each heaven until it reaches the one above it and finally arrives at the seventh heaven. Then Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says [to the angels], "Place the record of My servant in 'illiyyun."'

"And what will explain to you what 'illiyyun' is? [it is] a written record, witnessed by those brought near to their Lord." (83:19-21)

The person's record is then placed in 'illiyyun, whereupon a command is heard: "Return him to the earth, for verily I have promised mankind that having created them from the earth, I will return them to it. And l will make them come out of it, yet another time. " Then the soul is returned to the earth back into its body. Verily, the deceased hears the shuffling feet of his companions who attended his burial as they tam away and leave his grave.

Thereupon, two angels, severe in interrogation come to him, and sitting him up, they begin to ask him questions. They say, "Who is your Lord?" He replies, 'Allaah is my Lord. " They continue, "What is your religion?" He answers, 'Islam is my religion " They proceed with the questioning, saying, "Who is this man that has been sent to you?" He responds, 'He is the Messenger of Allaah SAW."

[The Prophet SAW then indicated, 'Upon the believer's answer to these questions], a voice is heard in the heavens, saying, "My servant has told the truth, so clothe him in the clothing of Paradise, spread for him the furnishings of Paradise, and open for him a window with a view of Paradise." Thereupon, he is engulfed by a breeze of fresh air and fragrance, while the expanse of his grave is extended before him as far as the eye can see.

There appears before him a man with a wonderful face and beautiful clothing, emitting a splendid fragrance. He says to the soul, "Rejoice at the news which will gladden you! Rejoice at Allaah's pleasure and His Paradise, whose joys and delights never end. This is the day which you were promised."

The deceased says to him, "And who are you, for your face bears glad tidings.?! " The figure answers, "I represent your good deeds; by Allaah, I've always known you to be quick in obedience to Allaah and slow to His disobedience. So may Allaah award you with good."

Then a door to Paradise is opened, and a door to the Fire is opened, whereupon it is said to him [regarding the Hell fire], "This would have been your final abode had you disobeyed Allaah; however, it has been exchanged for this other abode [i.e., Paradise]. " When the soul sees what is in Paradise, he cries, "My Lord, hasten the arrival of the Hour [i.e., the Resurrection] so that I may be joined with my family and wealth." There upon it is said to him, "Rest in tranquillity. "'

But how many of us can call ourselves true believers? Such that we would be good enough to receive such a reward?

Allaah's Messenger SAW continued, 'When the disbelieving servant and in another narration "sinful servant"] is about to leave this world and enter the next, angels, powerful and severe, descend to him from the heavens - their faces black and carrying with them coarse strips of cloth from Hell. They sit before him at a distance as far as the eye can see.

Then the Angel of Death arrives, and sitting at the head of the disbeliever, he says, "O you foul soul, come out to the anger and wrath of your Lord." The soul inside the disbeliever's body is overcome by terrible fear [and does not want to deliver itself up], whereupon the Angel of Death violently pulls it out like multi-pronged skewers being yanked out of wet wool - tearing with them the arteries and nerves.

Upon this, the soul is cursed by every angel between the earth and the heavens and by those inside the heavens. Then the doors of the heavens are closed to him, and every single guard at these doors begs Allaah that this soul not be carried up in front of him.

'The Prophet SAW continued, 'The Angel of Death barely receives the soul in his hands, whereupon the other angels grasp it from him and wrap it up in coarse cloth. There emits from it the foulest odour that could be found on the face of the earth. They ascend with it, never passing a host of angels without being asked, "Who is this ugly soul?" They reply, "So and so, the son of so and so, " using the worst names by which he was known in this world.

When they arrive at the lowest heaven, they request that it be opened for this soul, but the request is denied. ' At this point Allaah 's Messenger SAW recited the verse from Quran:

"The gates of the heavens will not be opened for them, nor will they enter the Garden of Paradise until a camel goes through the eye of a needle."

After that, he continued, 'Then Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says [to the angels], "Place his record in sijjeen [a book which contains all of the deeds of the devils and the disbeliever's]- in the lowest earth. Return My servant to the earth, for verily I have promised mankind that having created them from the earth, I will return them to it. And I will make them come out of it, yet another time."

Upon this command, the deceased [disbeliever's] soul is thrown down from the sky until it lands in its body. ' The Prophet SAW then recited the verse:

"And whoever ascribes partners with Allaah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky, such that birds snatch him up or the wind throws him to a remote place."

Then he commented, 'Verily [when the soul is returned to its body], the deceased hears the sound of his companions' footsteps as they tam away from his grave.' [The Prophet SAW resumed his explanation, saying 'Then two angels, severe in interrogation come to him, and sitting him up, they begin to question him, who is your Lord? He replies, 'Hah! Hah! (an expression describing a state of surprise, shock and pain) I don't know. " They continue by asking him, "What is your religion?" He answers, 'Hah! Hah! I don t know. ' so they ask, "Then what do you say about this man who was sent to you?" [The disbeliever does not appear to understand who they are referring to, so it is said] 'Muhammad. " Again he states, 'Hah! Hah! I don t know. I only heard people talking about him." Then it is said, "You did not know! And you did not read!"

There upon a voice from the heavens is heard, 'He has lied! So spread out for him a place from the Fire and open for him a window to the Fire."

The searing hot winds of Hell engulf him while his grave closes in upon him, crushing him until his ribcage is broken by the force - causing the ribs of one side to intertwine with the ribs of the other Then there appears to him a person with an ugly face and ugly clothing and exuding a foul odour, who says, "Tidings of evil to you, for this is the day which you were promised!" The deceased says to him, 'And you, too; may Allaah give you evil tidings! Who are you, for yours is a face which portends evil."

The person rejoins, 'I represent your wicked deeds. By Allaah, I have always known you to be slow in obedience to Allaah and quick in disobedience to Him. May Allaah reward you with evil!"

Then one who is deaf, dumb and blind and is carrying an iron rod is sent to the deceased. If he were to strike a mountain with it, the mountain would disintegrate into rubble. He strikes the deceased with a blow, which turns him into dust. Allaah returns the deceased to his original form, whereupon he is struck a second time. This causes him to shriek with such violence that it is heard by all of creation except mankind and jinn.

Then a door to the Fire is opened, and beddings of the Fire are spread for him, whereupon he cries, "Lord, do not establish the Hour! "

My dear respected brothers and sisters, Ask Allah SWT to give us the taufeeq to protect our iman and to carry out amalus Saleh in this duniya so that we receive mercy of Allah in the qabr and on the day of Aakhirah. May Allah give us the true understanding of our deen and taufeeq to realize that this life is temporary. May Allah save us from the punishment of qabr and hellfire…. Amiin.

Wakhiru dawaana anil hamdulillahi rabbilaalimeen.

Delivered by Abu Haleema at Fredereicton Islamic Association, Masjid on June 22, 2007