Death, and the exit of the soul (2)

Death, and the exit of the soul

The agonies of death are very difficult.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) suffered the agonies of death like other Muslims. During his dying illness, there was a container between his hands in which there was water, so he would put his hand in water and wash his face saying: “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Death has its agonies”[1] The most honorable soul (the soul of the Prophet) said so, how about other Muslims; may my parents be ransomed for him! How terrible moments you suffer in these agonies!

   Some of reasonable people described the agonies of death when they experienced it and among them was the great Companion, `Amr ibn Al `Aas (may Allah be pleased with him). When death came to him, his son said to him: O my father! You say: I wish I could come across a reasonable person to describe death for me, could you describe it for us? He said: O my son! By Allah, it is as if my side is in agony, as if I am breathing from a needle eye, and as if a thorny branch is pulled out from my feet to my head. Then he started reciting poetry:

Before what I have known, I wish I had been

in hills herding mountain goats.[2]   
        

Question 4/20: When the time of death comes, a person wishes to return to the world.

If the deceased is a disbeliever, he wishes to return so that he might believe, but if he is disobedient he wishes to return so that he might repent. The Almighty said:

{ حَتَّى إِذَا جَاء أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ * لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ }

“[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back¹ That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” [Al Mumenoon: 99-100]

But this belief and repentance will not benefit him when death comes and a person rattles. The Almighty said:

{ وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الآنَ وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيمًا}

“But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.” [Al Nisa: 18]

In the Sunan of At-Tirmidhy and Ibn Majah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed Allah accepts the repentance of a person as long as (his soul does not reach his throat).”[3]              

It is incumbent on an individual to prepare himself and repent to the Lord Almighty before death comes: