Authored by: Al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
It is narrated by Hazrat Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once visited an Ansari man who was ill. The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“Uncle, say: La ilaha illa Allah.”
The man replied: “Uncle or nephew?” The Prophet ﷺ responded: “No, uncle.” The man asked: “Is saying La ilaha illa Allah beneficial for me?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Yes.”
[Musnad Ahmad 3/154]
This Hadith is authentic according to the criteria of Sahih Muslim.
Muslims are encouraged to prompt their loved ones nearing death to recite the Kalimah of Tawhid in a gentle and respectful manner to ensure their final words affirm their belief in Allah's oneness.
Question:
Should a person nearing death be asked to recite the Kalimah of Tawhid directly, or should the Kalimah simply be recited as a reminder in their presence?Answer:
A dying person should be prompted to recite the Kalimah of Tawhid, and this prompting does not merely mean reciting it aloud for them to hear, but rather encouraging them to recite it themselves. There are several evidences for this.It is narrated by Hazrat Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once visited an Ansari man who was ill. The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“Uncle, say: La ilaha illa Allah.”
The man replied: “Uncle or nephew?” The Prophet ﷺ responded: “No, uncle.” The man asked: “Is saying La ilaha illa Allah beneficial for me?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Yes.”
[Musnad Ahmad 3/154]
This Hadith is authentic according to the criteria of Sahih Muslim.
Key Takeaways:
- It is permissible and recommended to prompt a dying person to recite the Kalimah of Tawhid.
- Encouraging them to recite the Kalimah, as shown in the Hadith, highlights the importance of ending one’s life with the declaration of Allah’s oneness.
- This practice is rooted in the Sunnah and should be observed to help the dying person achieve a blessed ending.
Muslims are encouraged to prompt their loved ones nearing death to recite the Kalimah of Tawhid in a gentle and respectful manner to ensure their final words affirm their belief in Allah's oneness.