Source: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Volume 09
"But repentance is not [accepted] of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says, 'Indeed, I repent now'; nor of those who die while they are disbelievers."
(Surah An-Nisa: 18)
This principle is also exemplified in the story of Pharaoh:
"When drowning overtook him, he said, 'I believe that there is no god except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am among the Muslims.' [It was said to him:] 'Now? And you had disobeyed before and were of the corrupters?'"
(Surah Yunus: 90-91)
"Whoever's last words are ‘Lā ilāha illallāh’ will enter Paradise."
(Sunan Abi Dawood)
This Hadith applies to believers who lived their lives in faith and righteous deeds, not to those who embraced the Kalimah only at the moment of death after a lifetime of disbelief.
❖ Question:
If a person engages in polytheistic (shirk) practices throughout their life and recites the Kalimah Tayyibah at the time of death, will such a person enter Paradise?❖ Answer:
According to Islamic belief, a person who spends their life in shirk or disbelief and only declares faith by reciting the Kalimah at the time of death, will not have their repentance accepted. The time for repentance closes when the signs of death become apparent.❖ Qur’anic Evidence:
Allah ﷻ states in the Qur’an:"But repentance is not [accepted] of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says, 'Indeed, I repent now'; nor of those who die while they are disbelievers."
(Surah An-Nisa: 18)
This principle is also exemplified in the story of Pharaoh:
"When drowning overtook him, he said, 'I believe that there is no god except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am among the Muslims.' [It was said to him:] 'Now? And you had disobeyed before and were of the corrupters?'"
(Surah Yunus: 90-91)
❖ The Status of the Kalimah at Death:
If someone lives their life in shirk or disbelief and recites the Kalimah at the moment of death, claiming faith, that faith and repentance are not accepted. The benefit of the Kalimah Tayyibah is reserved for those who live by its demands throughout their lives.❖ Regarding the Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:"Whoever's last words are ‘Lā ilāha illallāh’ will enter Paradise."
(Sunan Abi Dawood)
This Hadith applies to believers who lived their lives in faith and righteous deeds, not to those who embraced the Kalimah only at the moment of death after a lifetime of disbelief.
