Death (2/2)

Another authentic Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmed states that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said two or three times, "Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave,” then he said, “When a believer is about to leave this world, angels with bright faces like the sun come down to him from heaven with a shroud from the shrouds of paradise and some of the perfume of paradise and sit away from him as far as the eye can see.

Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says, “O good soul, come out to forgiveness and acceptance from Allah.” The soul then comes out gently as a drop flows from a water faucet and he seizes it.

Then the other angels take the soul from the angel of death and shroud it with the shroud from paradise, perfume with the perfume of paradise; its fragrance will be like that of the sweetest musk found on the face of the earth.

They then take the sweet-smelling soul up, and whenever they pass by a group of Angeles, they ask, “Who is this good soul?” The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the best of his names that people used to call him by during his life, “So and so, the son of so and so.” When they reach the first heaven they request permission to enter, and the gates will open to them.

The same is done in the following heavens until they reach the seventh heaven, and Allah says, “Record the book of my slave in the highest place and take him back to earth, for I created mankind from it, into it they shall return, and from it shall be brought another time.”

The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to him, make him sit and ask him, “Who is your Lord?” He replies, “My Lord is Allah.” They ask, “What is your religion?”’ and he replies, “My religion is Islam”. They ask again, “Who is this man who was sent among you?” He replies, “He is Allah’s Messenger”’. They ask, “What is your knowledge?” He replies, “I read the Book of Allah, believed in it and declared it to be true.”

Then it will be said, “My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out carpets from paradise for him, cloth him from paradise, and open a gate for him into paradise”.

Then some of its joy and fragrance come to him, his grave is made spacious for him as far as he can see, a man with a glorious face, beautiful garments and sweet perfume comes to him and says, “Rejoice in what pleases you for this is your day which you have been promised.”

He asks, “Who are you, for your appearance brings goodness?” The man replies, “I am your good deeds.” He then says, “O Allah, bring the hour, so that I may return to my family and property.”

But when a non-believer is about to leave this world, angels with ugly faces come down to him from heaven with a hard and rough cloth, and sit away from him as far as the eye can see.

Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says, “O wicked soul, come out to anger and displeasure from Allah.” It then becomes dissipated in his body.

The angel draws it out violently as a spit is drawn out from moistened wool, and he seizes it; then the other angels take the soul and put it in that rough cloth which emits a very offensive bad stench like the worst smell found on the face of the earth.

They then take the foul smelling soul up, and whenever they pass by a group of Angels, they ask, “Who is this wicked soul?” The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the worst of his names that people used to call him by during his life , “So and so, the son of so and so,” when they reach the first heaven they request permission to enter and the gates will not open to them.

Then the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) recited this verse from the Qur’an, “The gates of the heaven will not be opened to them," (Qur’an, Surah Al-A'raf, 7:40) the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) continued saying, “Allah then says, “Record his book in the lowest place,” and his soul falls down to earth.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) then recited another verse from the Qur’an, "He who assigns partners with Allah is as if he had fallen down from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or made to fall by the wind in a place far distant." (Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj, 22:31)

The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to him, make him sit and ask him, “Who is your Lord?” He replies, “My Lord? Oh, I do not know.” They ask, “What is your religion?” and he replies, “My religion! Oh, I do not know.”

They ask again, “Who is this man who was sent among you?” He replies, “Oh, I do not know”. Then it will be said, “He has lied, so spread out carpets from hellfire for him, and open a gate for him into hellfire.”

Then some of its heat and poison come to him, his grave is made so narrow for him so that his ribs are pressed together in it.

A man with a horrifying face, ugly garments and offensive odor comes to him and says, “Be grieved with what displeases you for this is your day which you have been promised”. He asks, ‘Who are you, for your appearance brings evil?’ The man replies, “I am your wicked deeds.” He then says, “O Allah, do not bring the hour.” (Authentic-Ahmed)

All of this and the Day of Judgment has not yet started. So I remind myself first and I remind you as my brothers and sisters to prepare for this day; prepare for it by truly and sincerely submitting to Allah, doing good deeds according to Allah’s commands in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet.

Avoid all types of wrong and evil which Allah and the Prophet asked us to avoid, but do not delay or postpone since you do not know when death will come.