Introduction

Multitudes of men have walked on the surface of this Earth. They all belonged to different nations
and cultures. A few of them made history for which they were remembered, whereas others, were never to
be mentioned again. Although each one was personally different from another - their habits, thinking and
tastes differed - they all had two things in common, first, they were all delivered from their mothers
womb and second, they all tasted death. Who claims he has lived a thousand years?
We all admit the honourable rank of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam and his position
in the eyes of Allah Taala. It is also undisputed that he is the last Messenger of Allah whose message will
survive until the Day of Judgement. We also place his companions radiyallahu anhum superior to others.
The day the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam passed away it was hard for his companions to
believe such a thing could happen to such a highly ranked Prophet who remained active until his last
breath. Umar radiyallahu anhu ascended the pulpit and addressed that anyone who says that the
Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam has passed away I will slit his throat. It was not a strange thing to
address; for the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam held an honourable rank before him. He was a
Prophet whose miracles were numerous. Of which one is the living miracle, the Holy Quraan. How can
the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam leave his friends behind. Suddenly Abu
Bakr radiyallahu anhu, the first nominated khalifah, ordered Umar radiyallahu anhu to descend the pulpit
but Umar radiyallahu anhu remained on it, fully convinced that he was right in what he was saying. Abu
Bakr radiyallahu anhu read the khutbah and recited the following aayat:
"Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away
before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who
turns his back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah Taala will give reward to
those who are grateful."(144:3)
On hearing this, Umar radiyallahu anhu and other companions were astonished that they had
recited this verse many a time but on this occasion it did not come in their mind. They felt as is
the aayat was being revealed to Abu Bakr radiyallahu anhu and all agreed that Muhammad sallallahu
alaihe wasallam had passed away.
Such a great personality experienced death, should we be unmindful of it as if we will never experience
it?
Allah states, "Every soul shall have a taste of death. And only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid
your full recompense." (3:185)
What is Death?
Sheikh Jalaluddin Suyuti rahmatullahi alaihe has recorded the verdict of the Ulama that death is
not mere annihilation but a type of metamorphosis where the soul (rooh) is separated from the body like
the movement from one dwelling to another. (Sharhus-sudoor). A believers death has been explained
analogously by some Ulama as the transference from a world of hardship to that of peace and luxury.
(May Allah grant us such death! Aameen).

How did Death come about?

In Kitaab-ul-Zuhd, Imaam Ahmad has included the narrations of Hazrat Hasan
Basri rahmatullahi alaihe that, when Allah created Hazrat Aadam alaihis salaam and his progeny the
angels expressed much concern about the world being insufficient to accommodate all of them but Allah
assured them by declaring, "I shall create death!" (Ibn Abi Shaybah)
Hearing this, the angels became disturbed and when they remarked that it would instil fear and
remove the pleasure of life, Allah explains, "I shall create hope and ambitions."
According to Hazrat Mujahid rahmatullahi alaihe, when Hazrat Adam alaihis salaam was sent to
Earth, his Sustainer said, "O Adam! Construct buildings destined for destruction and ruination; and beget
for death."(Abu Nuaim)
O dweller of lofty mansions, very soon you will be buried in the sand (a lowly station).
Allah has an angel calling daily: Beget for death and create buildings for destruction.
Remembrance of Death
We are so engrossed in our worldly pursuits that the remembrance of death does not occur to us.
The Holy Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said, "The most intelligent person is the one
who often remembers death. Constant remembrance of it prevents one from evil and sin and motivates
him towards good morals. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "The remembrance of death
defeats joy."
The above narration clearly indicates that we are in this world for a purpose and not just for
pleasure and entertainment. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam says, "Live in the world as
though you are a wayfarer." Concerning this Hazrat Esa alaihis salaam has said, "This world is like a
bridge, cross it and do not build on it."
Life in this world is very short which everyone has to surpass, until he meets his death. Allah
says, "For every Ummah (community or nation) there is a term appointed, when their term is reached,
not an hour (nor a moment) can they cause to delay, nor (an hour nor a moment) can they advance (it)."
(10:49 Tafseer Al-Qurtubi)

How much do we remember Death?

Nowadays, when a person dies, the family and close relatives grieve over the deceased. After some time
all is forgotten and much attention is given to the inheritance, so much so they begin to have disputes over
it. The wealth of the deceased is valued more than the lessons to be taken from his death. If we
remembered it frequently, we would certainly prepare for it.

Prepare for Death!

Intelligent students always prepare for exams. It is also a matter of intelligence to prepare for the account
to be given after death. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam has mentioned in a Hadith, "Clever
is the one who prepares for life after death." The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam has also said,
"Take importance of life before death."
(Riyaadh-us-Salhiheen)
Once, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam came to the Masjid for salaah, when he noticed some
people laughing and giggling. He remarked, "If you remembered death, I would not see you like this.
Think of your death often. Not a single day passes when the grave does not call out: I am a wilderness, I
am a place of dust, I am a place of worms. When a believer is placed in the grave, it says; Welcome, it is
good of you to have come to me. Of all the people walking on the Earth, I liked you the best. Now you
have come in to me, you will see how I entertain you. It then expands as far as the occupant can see. A
door from Paradise is opened for him in the grave and through this door he gets fresh and fragrant air of
Paradise. However, when a evil man is laid in the grave it says; You are not welcome here. Your coming
into me is very bad for you. Of all the people walking on the Earth, I disliked you the most. Now that you
have been put into me, you will see how I treat you! It then closes upon him so much that his ribs of one
side penetrate into the ribs of the other. As many as seventy serpents are then set upon him, to keep biting
him until the day of resurrection. These serpents are so venomous that if one of them happened to spurt its
venom upon the earth, not a single blade of grass would ever grow."
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Prepare for Death and Die a Muslim!
It is stated in a Hadith that a person will be raised in the state he dies.
Hazrat Yusuf alaihis salaam who had been given the Leadership of Egypt, prayed to Allah that He gives
him death in the state of a Muslim and be raised amongst the righteous. Although being a Prophet of
Allah, yet Hazrat Yusuf alaihis salaam feared that Allah would raise him amongst the leaders, as he was
the Leader of Egypt. What extreme humblenessYusuf alaihis salaam expressed!
How lucky are those souls who after finding out about the signs of their death, turn towards Allah, ask
His repentance for any previous sins and prepare for it by doing good deeds. Such people are the ones
who are truly gifted with the kalimah or a good outcome before departing from this world. This tends to
be the sign of their being fortunate and people witness a sign of their salvation from the punishment of the
Hereafter.
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No Escape from Death!
There is no doubt that there is a cure for every disease. If anyone is infected with a disease then it may be
cured through medicine. His life may prolong to some extent but one day the same person will experience
something with no cure at all. That is death. Allah states, "Wherever you may be, death will overtake you
even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high."

The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "When Allah decides for a person to pass away at a
certain place, he makes a need for that person at that place."
(Tirmidhi)
It is in another tradition narrated on the authority of Kuthaima radiyallahu anhu that once the angel of
death (Hazrat Izraeel alaihis salaam) appeared in the form of a human being in the court of Hazrat
Sulaiman alaihis salaam and gazed continuously at a person present there for some time. That person
asked Hazrat Sulaiman alaihis salaam, "Who was that person?" He told him that, that was the angel of
death. He remarked: The angel of death had gazed at me in such a manner as if he had determined to take
my life." Hazrat Sulaimanalaihis salaam asked him, "What do you want?" He requested him to take him
to India. He commanded the cloud to pick him up and drop him in India. Consequently the cloud carried
him to India. The angel of death came to Hazrat Sulaiman alaihis salaam. He asked him, "Why did you
fix your gaze at that person?" He said, "I wondered that the Almighty Allah had commanded me to take
the life of this person in India whereas he was sitting hear in your presence."
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The Description of the Throes of Death
There is a bind between the body and the soul. This can be explained by portraying the attraction between
two magnets. It is hard to pull them apart, likewise, the attraction of the soul to the material body is more
due to the love of the materialistic world. In other words, the more the magnetic field in both the magnets,
the greater the attraction will be. Similarly, the more the love towards the worldly life, the greater the pain
of pulling apart of the soul from the body will be.
Imaam Ghazzi rahmatullahi alaihe explains, that the soul is removed from the body in stages (as
mentioned in the Holy Quraan): it is first taken out from the feet followed by the shin and then the thighs
after which the chest is affected and at that moment the power of speech is lost. When the soul is taken
from the throat, the faculties of sight and hearing are exterminated.
There are two things here. Firstly, the pain felt at the introduction of death. Secondly, the pain felt at the
extraction of the soul. Here the latter is implied.
The severity of death varies from person to person. a believer feels the pain similar to the hair that is
taken out from flour by a finger. Whereas, the disbeliever feels so much pain that it is impossible to
describe.
The severity of death has been mentioned in numerous Ahaadith, some of which are as follows:
1. Hazrat Anas Ibn Malik radiyallahu anhu has reported that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam had
mentioned that the grasp of Malikul Maut is more severe than one thousand hacks (cuts) with a sword.
(Sharhus-sudoor)
2. There is a narration regarding Hazrat Moosa alaihis salaam that he was questioned by Allah after death
about how he had undergone the experience of dying and he replied that it could be described as the case
of a live bird being put in to a hot boiling pot of bubbling oil.

3. In another narration, Hazrat Moosa alaihis salaam is reported to have replied that the experience was
like that of a goat being skinned alive by a butcher.
(Sharhus-sudoor)
4. It is narrated from Shaddad Ibn Aus radiyallahu anhu that there is not as much pain, torture in being
spilt by a saw, shredded by scissors or scalded by fiercely boiling water than in experiencing death.
5. Hazrat Abu Qatadah radiyallahu anhu reports that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said that all
distress, displeasure and agony at the time of death can be likened to that of an ant-bite.
6. Hazrat Ibrahim alaihis salaam asked the angel of death to show him in which form he visits an evil
person. Angel of death replied, "You will not be able to tolerate the sight." Hazrat Ibrahim alaihis
salaam insisted, the angel of death told him to turn around, while he transformed himself. After which he
told Hazrat Ibrahim alaihis salaam to look. Upon seeing him he fell unconsciousness due to the pitiful
sight. Thereafter, Hazrat Ibrahim alaihis salaam remarked that the sight was so horrifying that just
looking at him was enough punishment for the evildoer.
It is a pity for us today that we are inattentive enough to remember all other worldly matters and forget
the main purpose of our creation. How unfortunate will anyone of us be not to take heed after knowing
ones reality - what one is made of, where one came from and where one will return. May Allah Taala
give us the ability to remember death and grant us thekalimah, Laailaaha illallah on our lips at the time
of death, Aameen.