This article revolves around an undeniable and inevitable reality of human life: death. It clarifies that no one can escape death—not the Prophets (peace be upon them), nor the saints, nor kings, nor the poor. In the light of the Quranic verses, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the statements of the pious predecessors, it is explained in detail that the time of death is fixed, escape from it is impossible, and the successful one is the one who spends his life before death in obedience to Allah Almighty and preparation for the Hereafter. This section will discuss the reality of death, its appointed time, and the harms of heedlessness towards it.
Death is an Inevitable Reality
Brothers in Islam! Death is a reality from which no one can be freed. It is the decree of Allah Almighty before which everyone is powerless. Someone has rightly said:
اَلْمَوْتُ قَدْحٌ کُلُّ نَفْسٍ شَارِبُہُ
وَالْقَبْرُ بَابٌ کُلُّ نَفْسٍ دَاخِلُہُ
Meaning, death is a cup that every soul must drink from, and the grave is a door through which every person must enter.
Death comes to everyone:
❀ Men and women
❀ The righteous and the wicked
❀ The rich and the poor
❀ The powerful and the weak
And whoever death comes to, neither they themselves can escape it nor their close relatives.
Death in the Light of the Holy Quran
﴿وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِکَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ اَفَإِن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ﴾
Translation
“And We never gave to any human being before you eternal life; so if you die, will they live forever? Every soul shall taste death.”
In this verse, Allah Almighty clearly states that if the best of mankind, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, cannot remain in this world forever, then how can anyone else?
The poet has expressed the same meaning as follows:
لَوْ كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا بَقَاءٌ لَمَا مَاتَ خَيْرُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ مُحَمَّدُ ﷺ
Meaning, if it were possible for anyone to live forever in this world, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would have been the first to remain.
Escape from Death is Impossible
﴿قُلْ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِي تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَاقِيكُمْ﴾
Translation
“Say! The death from which you flee will surely overtake you.”
No matter how much a person runs, death will reach them.
The Time of Death is Fixed
﴿وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا﴾
Translation
“And when the appointed time comes for anyone, Allah will never delay it.”
Neither does death come a moment earlier nor a moment later.
Where and when death will come? No one knows
﴿وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ﴾
Translation
“No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, nor does it know in which land it will die.”
At home or on a journey?
In youth or in old age?
In one’s own country or in a foreign land?
All this is known only to Allah.
Preparation before death
﴿وَأَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ﴾
Translation
“And spend from what We have provided you before death comes to any of you, then he will say, ‘My Lord, why did You not give me respite so I could give charity and be among the righteous?’”
Regret and desire at the time of death are of no use, therefore goodness and repentance before death are necessary.
Remembrance of death and its importance
Brothers in Islam! Remembering death at all times is an important part of a believer’s life. A person who remembers death avoids the heedlessness, indulgence, and sins of this world. One should reflect on those relatives, friends, and acquaintances who were with him until yesterday and today are sleeping in graves.
It is astonishing for a person who:
❀ Has carried many funerals on his shoulders
❀ Has buried many men with his own hands
❀ Has seen the scenes of the cemetery with his own eyes
❀ Has repeatedly heard sudden news of death
And yet remains heedless of his own death.
Types of those who remember death (Imam Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy on him)
Imam Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy on him, divided people into three categories regarding the remembrance of death:
➊ The first category:
Those people who are so engrossed in the love of the world that they do not remember death at all, and if they do remember it, they dislike it. This is the worst condition.
➋ Second type:
Those people who frequently remember death, this remembrance creates fear of Allah in their hearts, they repent and incline towards good deeds. They prefer death, except when they desire to perform more righteous deeds.
➌ Third type:
Those people who constantly remember death and are eager to meet Allah Almighty so that they may be saved from the hardships of this world and reach the house of blessings. These are the best people.
The Virtue of Remembering Death (Hadiths)
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
(( أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ الْمَوْتَ ))
Translation
“Frequently remember death, the thing that ends all pleasures.”
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
(( أَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِكْرًا وَأَحْسَنُهُمْ لِمَا بَعْدَهُ اسْتِعْدَادًا ))
Translation
“The most intelligent among the believers is the one who remembers death the most and prepares the most for what comes after death.”
Benefits of Remembering Death (Words of Daqaqؒ)
Daqaq, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
❀ Whoever remembers death:
➊ Is granted the ability to repent quickly
➋ Is blessed with contentment
➌ Feels pleasure in worship
❀ And whoever forgets death:
➊ Remains deprived of repentance
➋ Becomes afflicted with greed and desire
➌ Feels laziness in worship
Visiting the Graveyard and Remembering Death
Hazrat Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to his mother’s grave, wept himself and made the companions weep, then said:
(( فَزُورُوا الْقُبُورَ فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ الْمَوْتَ ))
Translation
“Visit the graves, for they remind you of death.”
Therefore, a person should occasionally visit the graveyard, take a lesson, and think about their Hereafter.
Treatment for Hardened Hearts
If someone’s heart has become hard, then its treatment is:
➊ Immediately abandon sins and participate in religious gatherings
➋ Frequently remember death
➌ Sit near people who are in the state of dying
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَيْسَ الْخَبَرُ كَالْمُعَايَنَةِ ))
Translation
“Hearing is not equal to seeing.”
Meaning, a person gains more lesson by seeing with their own eyes.
Causes of heedlessness towards death
There are two major causes of heedlessness towards death:
➊ Love of the world
➋ Ignorance
Love of the world
A person becomes so entangled in the desires of this world that they forget that one day they have to leave all this behind.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَطُولُ الْأَمَلِ ))
Translation
“Two things remain young in the heart of an old person: love of the world and long hopes.”
Ignorance and heedlessness towards death
The second major reason for negligence towards death is ignorance. Many people are deceived by their youth and health. They think that death only comes in old age or sickness, whereas the reality is quite the opposite.
If a person looks around, they will realize that:
❀ Many people die before reaching old age
❀ Many healthy people suddenly fall victim to death
Neither youth nor health can protect from death.
Man and His Hopes (Prophetic Hadith)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew a square line, then drew a line in the middle extending outward, and made small lines around it, then said:
(( هَذَا الْإِنْسَانُ، وَهَذَا أَجَلُهُ مُحِيطٌ بِهِ، وَهَذَا أَمَلُهُ، وَهَذِهِ الْأَعْرَاضُ ))
Translation
“This (the middle line) is man, this (the square) is his death surrounding him, this outward line is his hopes, and these small lines are various troubles. If he escapes one, another catches him.”
This hadith clarifies that death surrounds a person from all sides, yet he remains lost in hopes.
Advising to live as a traveler in this world
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ ))
Translation
“Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler.”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar used to say:
“When evening comes, do not expect the morning, and when morning comes, do not expect the evening; prepare yourself from health for sickness and from life for death.”
The hardships of death (Quranic verses)
Allah Almighty has mentioned the hardships of death at several places in the Holy Quran:
➊ ﴿وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ﴾
Translation: “The agony of death will come with the truth.”
➋ ﴿وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ﴾
Translation: “If only you could see when the wrongdoers are in the pangs of death.”
➌ ﴿فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ﴾
Translation: “When the soul reaches the throat.”
➍ ﴿كَلَّا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ التَّرَاقِيَ﴾
Translation: “No! When the soul reaches the collarbone.”
The Passing of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Severity of Death
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was saying at the time of his death:
(( لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ إِنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ لَسَكَرَاتٍ ))
Translation
“There is no deity except Allah; indeed, death has its hardships.”
If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who was the best of mankind, felt the severity of death, then how can an ordinary person avoid it?
The Feelings of Death of the Companions and the Righteous
❀ Hazrat Abu Darda رضي الله عنه cried at the time of death and said:
“I do not know for which sin I will be seized.”
❀ Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه said:
“I am not crying out of sorrow for leaving the world, but I am crying because of the long journey and the little provision for the way.”
❀ Hazrat Ata al-Sulami رحمه الله fainted near death and began to cry thinking about the grave and the Day of Judgment.
All these are evidence that the righteous took death seriously.
An Invitation from Negligence to Awareness
Dear respected ones! The time has come for humans to awaken from the sleep of negligence. Before drinking the bitter cup of death, before the breath stops, and before the journey to the grave begins, reflect on your end. When the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them, the saints, and the pious were not spared by death, then who are we to remain heedless of it?
﴿قُلْ هُوَ نَبَأٌ عَظِيمٌ أَنْتُمْ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضُونَ﴾
Translation
“Say! This is a great news, of which you are neglectful.”
Sayings of the Companions: Lessons and Advice
Saying of Hazrat Abu Darda رضي الله عنه
He said:
“Three things made me laugh and three made me cry:
1. The one who seeks the world while death is seeking him
2. The heedless person while Allah and the angels are not heedless of him
3. The laughing person who does not know whether Allah is pleased with him or displeased
And the things that made me cry:
1. The separation from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Companions رضي الله عنهم
2. The fear of a person afflicted by the hardships of death
3. Standing before Allah on the Day of Resurrection”
Saying of Hazrat Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه
He said:
“There are two days and two nights like no other:
➊ The day when the angel comes with the message of Allah’s pleasure or displeasure
➋ The day when the record of deeds will be given
And two nights:
➊ The first night in the grave
➋ The night after which the Day of Judgment will be established”
Difference between the death of the righteous and the wicked
Allah Almighty has clearly stated that the life and death of the righteous and the wicked, the obedient and the disobedient, cannot be the same.
﴿أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَرَحُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ أَنْ نَجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَوَاءً مَحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتُهُمْ﴾
Translation
“Have those who do evil deeds thought that We would make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds, so their life and death would be equal? Evil is that which they judge.”
Good news of the believer’s death
﴿يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي﴾
Translation
“O tranquil soul! Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him]. Enter among My servants and enter My Paradise.”
This good news is given to the believer at the time of death.
Death of the disobedient and the disbeliever
﴿وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُوا أَيْدِيهِمْ﴾
Translation
“Would that you could see when the wrongdoers are in the pangs of death and the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): Take out your souls.”
﴿فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ﴾
Translation
“Then what will be their condition when the angels take their souls and strike their faces and backs?”
The Death of the Obedient and the Disobedient (Surah An-Nahl)
Death of the Disobedient
﴿اَلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ﴾
Translation
“Those whose souls the angels take while they are committing injustice against themselves… they are told: Enter the gates of Hell.”
Death of the Righteous
﴿اَلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ﴾
Translation
“Those whose souls the angels take while they are pure, the angels say: Peace be upon you, enter Paradise.”
The State of Death of the Righteous and the Wicked (In the Light of Ahadith)
After the verses of the Holy Quran, the Prophetic traditions further clarify the difference between the death of the righteous and the wicked.
The State of the Soul of the Righteous and the Wicked
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When the time of a righteous person’s death comes, angels appear to him and say: O pure soul! Leave the pure body, depart in a praiseworthy state and receive the pleasure of Allah and the glad tidings of Paradise.”
And if the dying person is evil, the angel says:
“O impure soul! Leave the impure body, depart in a blameworthy state and hear the news of Hell and punishment.”
At the time of death, the righteous believer is given comfort, fragrance, honor, and glad tidings of Allah’s pleasure, while the evildoer and disobedient is warned of humiliation, harshness, and punishment.
Liking or Disliking the Meeting with Allah
It is narrated from Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ، وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ ))
Translation
“Whoever likes to meet Allah, Allah likes to meet him, and whoever dislikes to meet Allah, Allah dislikes to meet him.”
Hazrat Aisha (RA) asked, “We all dislike death, don’t we?”
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) replied:
“This is not the meaning; rather, at the time of death, the believer is given the glad tidings of Allah’s pleasure and Paradise, so he likes to meet Allah, whereas the disbeliever is given the news of punishment, so he dislikes meeting Allah.”
Complete Description of Death: Hadith of Bara bin Azib (RA)
The famous hadith of Hazrat Bara bin Azib (RA) describes in detail the condition of death, the soul’s departure, and the beginning of the grave.
Death of a Believer
❀ Angels with white faces descend carrying the shroud and fragrance of Paradise
❀ Angel of Death says: “O pure soul! Depart towards Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure”
❀ The soul departs easily like water from a water-skin
❀ The gates of the heavens are opened
❀ The name is written in Al-A’laeen
Death of a Disbeliever and Wicked Person
❀ Dark-faced and hard-hearted angels come
❀ The mat of Hell is brought
❀ The soul is pulled harshly
❀ The gates of the sky are closed
❀ The name is written in the register
The door of repentance is open
﴿أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُمْ مَا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ﴾
Translation
“Did We not grant you a long life so that whoever would receive admonition might receive it? And there has come to you the Warner.”
Age, admonition, and the final opportunity
According to some commentators, the “Warner” refers to:
❀ The Holy Quran
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ
❀ Or the age of forty years and signs of old age
﴿حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً﴾
Translation
“Until when he reached maturity and forty years of age, he said: O my Lord! Grant me the ability to be grateful for Your blessings.”
Sixty years of age and the end of the proof
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أَعْذَرَ اللَّهُ إِلَى امْرِئٍ أَخَّرَ أَجَلَهُ حَتَّى بَلَّغَهُ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً ))
Translation
“Allah Almighty has left no excuse for the person who has been given respite until the age of sixty.”
The Matter of a Good Ending and a Bad Ending
Dear ones! This reality should always be kept in mind that the value of deeds depends on the ending. A person may apparently perform good deeds all his life, but if the ending is bad, then all the effort can be wasted. And a person may remain involved in sins throughout life, but if he ends with sincere repentance and faith, he can be successful.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ الزَّمَنَ الطَّوِيلَ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، ثُمَّ يُخْتَمُ لَهُ عَمَلُهُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ الزَّمَنَ الطَّوِيلَ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، ثُمَّ يُخْتَمُ لَهُ عَمَلُهُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ))
Translation
“Indeed, a man may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise for a long time, then his ending becomes according to the deeds of the people of Hell. And a man may perform the deeds of the people of Hell for a long time, then his ending becomes according to the deeds of the people of Paradise.”
The Value of Deeds Depends on the Ending
It is narrated from Hazrat Suhail bin Saad Al-Saadi (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( وَإِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالْخَوَاتِيمِ ))
Translation
“Actions are judged by their endings.”
Therefore, a believer should neither be arrogant about their deeds nor despair of Allah’s mercy.
The state in which one dies is the state in which one will be raised
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ بُعِثَ عَلَيْهِ ))
Translation
“The state in which a person dies is the state in which he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection.”
Last words and the guarantee of Paradise
It is narrated from Hazrat Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ كَانَ آخِرَ كَلَامِهِ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ))
Translation
“Whoever’s last words are La ilaha illallah (There is no deity but Allah), will enter Paradise.”
Another great glad tidings
It is narrated from Hazrat Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ، خُتِمَ لَهُ بِهَا، دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ))
Translation
“Whoever says La ilaha illallah for the pleasure of Allah and dies upon it, will enter Paradise.”
The frequent supplication of the Prophet ﷺ
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to often supplicate:
(( يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ ))
Translation
“O Turner of hearts! Keep my heart firm in Your obedience.”
When asked, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The hearts of the servants are between the fingers of the Most Merciful; He turns them whichever way He wills.”
Fear of the Hereafter and Success
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ خَافَ أَدْلَجَ، وَمَنْ أَدْلَجَ بَلَغَ الْمَنْزِلَ ))
Translation
“He who fears (Allah) sets out, and he who sets out reaches his destination. Beware! The bargain with Allah is costly, and Allah’s bargain is Paradise.”
Conclusion
It is obligatory upon every Muslim to remember death, prepare for the grave and the Hereafter, continuously supplicate to Allah for a good ending, and always strive so that if death comes at any moment, he meets Allah in a state of satisfaction with Him. May Allah grant us faith, piety, and a good ending, and grant the death of the righteous. Ameen.
