❖ The Permissibility and Avoidance of Wishing for Death ❖
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لا يتمنين أحدكم الموت لضر نزل به"
"None of you should wish for death due to a calamity that has befallen him."
However, if one feels compelled to express such a desire, he should say:
"اللهم أحيني ما كانت الحياة خيرا لي وتوفني ما كانت الوفاة خيرا لي"
"O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me."
➤ [Bukhari: 2351, Kitab al-Da‘wāt: Bab al-Du‘āʾ bi al-Mawt wa al-Ḥayāh; Muslim: 2680; Abu Dawood: 3108; Tirmidhi: 971; Nasa’i: 1820; Ibn Majah: 4265; Ahmad: 3/101]
In another narration, when al-ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما wished for death due to illness, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"يا عم لا تمن الموت"
"O uncle, do not wish for death."
He further explained:
"If you are righteous, then perhaps you will increase in your good deeds, which is better for you. And if you are sinful, then perhaps you may repent from your sins, which is also better for you. Therefore, do not wish for death at all."
➤ [Sahih: Ahkam al-Jana'iz, p. 12; Ahmad: 6/339; Hakim: 1/339 — Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله stated that this hadith meets the conditions of Bukhari]
Islam encourages the believer to remain patient during trials and not to long for death. Life provides an opportunity for increased righteousness and repentance, which are far more beneficial than an escape from hardship.
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori❀ Wishing for Death is Not Permissible ❀
➊ Hadith of Anas رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لا يتمنين أحدكم الموت لضر نزل به"
"None of you should wish for death due to a calamity that has befallen him."
However, if one feels compelled to express such a desire, he should say:
"اللهم أحيني ما كانت الحياة خيرا لي وتوفني ما كانت الوفاة خيرا لي"
"O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me."
➤ [Bukhari: 2351, Kitab al-Da‘wāt: Bab al-Du‘āʾ bi al-Mawt wa al-Ḥayāh; Muslim: 2680; Abu Dawood: 3108; Tirmidhi: 971; Nasa’i: 1820; Ibn Majah: 4265; Ahmad: 3/101]
➋ The Prophet’s Advice to His Uncle al-ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
In another narration, when al-ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما wished for death due to illness, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"يا عم لا تمن الموت"
"O uncle, do not wish for death."
He further explained:
"If you are righteous, then perhaps you will increase in your good deeds, which is better for you. And if you are sinful, then perhaps you may repent from your sins, which is also better for you. Therefore, do not wish for death at all."
➤ [Sahih: Ahkam al-Jana'iz, p. 12; Ahmad: 6/339; Hakim: 1/339 — Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله stated that this hadith meets the conditions of Bukhari]
✔ Conclusion:
Islam encourages the believer to remain patient during trials and not to long for death. Life provides an opportunity for increased righteousness and repentance, which are far more beneficial than an escape from hardship.
