Contemplating and Reflecting over the Terrors which Follow Death

Contemplation and reflection upon death makes one fear the terrors and horrors which follow, beginning with the terrors of the grave and the barzakh (transitional period in the grave prior to the Day of Judgement). Do not think that death is far off, since the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has warned us from thinking in this way. He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said "Paradise is closer to anyone of you than your shoe lace as is the Hellfire". (Reported by Bukharî) There are many texts concerning this, and I will be mentioning a few of them as exhortation and remembrance. On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) who said:

"We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) when we heard a loud thud. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) asked: "Do you know what that was?" We replied "Allah and His Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) know best". He then told us: "That was a stone which was thrown into the Hellfire seventy years ago, it was sinking further into the Fire and has just reached the bottom."" (Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:       

"Verily the eyes of the Companion of the horn (blown into when the Day of Judgement is to be established, reported by Ibn al Mubarak in az-Zuhd and at-Tirmidhî, Abu Dawud and others) ever since he was appointed with it are fixed, gazing towards the Throne (of Allah) not looking away fearing that he will be ordered to blow the horn before his eyes fall back on the throne and his eyes are like two brilliant stars" (Reported by al Hakim and others)

In another narration:         

"How can I lead a life of ease when the angel of the horn has put it to his lips and raised his forehead anticipating to hear the call, so when he is ordered to blow he will blow" So the Muslims said: "What should we say (supplicate) O Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)?" He replied: "Say Sufficient is Allah for us and He is the best of Guardians, we put our trust in Allah, our Lord" - and perhaps Sufyan said: "upon Allah we put our trust".

How could he (the Prophet saw) take pleasure and he had the lawful things in mind! How is it then, for the one who commits offences and sins, while the angel of the horn has already put the horn to his lips, anticipating to hear the call, such that when he is ordered, he will blow. On the authority of Anas ibn Malik (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) who related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:    

"Weeping will be sent to the inhabitants of the Hellfire whereby they will be made to weep until their tears have been used up, then they will weep tears of blood until it (the blood) leaves trenches in their faces and if ships were placed therein, they would sail" (Reported by Ibn Majah)

On the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

"Indeed the inhabitants of the Hellfire will call upon Malik (an angel) and he will not answer (their call) for forty years, and then he will say: "Verily you are dwellers here". Then they will call upon their Lord saying "O Our Lord, take us out from here, for if we return (to committing sins) then verily we are transgressors." Allah will not respond to their call for a span equivalent to the time span of this world, and then the Most High will say: "Away with them to the Hellfire, and do not speak." Then the people will give up all hope and there will only be (the sound) of moaning, sobbing, and brayng. Their voices will be similar to the sounds of donkeys, the first of them braying and the last of them moaning". (Reported by al Mundhiri said in at-Targheed wat-Tarheeb reportd by at-Tabrani in mawquf form.)

Umm Darda on the authority of Abu Darda she said,

"I asked him (Abu Darda), "What is it with you, you do not ask for that which such and such a person asks for?" He replied: "Verily I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say: "Indeed behind you is an insurmountable obstacle, which those with a heavy burden will not be able to pass." So indeed I wish to lighten my load in preparation for that obstacle" (Reported by at Tabrani, sahîh, also al Mundhiri)