[أم مُعاذ]

the DEATH





by:


Ahmad ibn Roysten Boulter






Every man has a fixed period of life given to him when he is


born. This is called Qadar. We do not live longer or shorter than


this fixed period of life. When we have finished this period of life,


the Angel of Death takes the soul from our body. This is called


death.



Concerning the journey of the soul after death, the following is a


saheeh hadeeth(3) from the Messenger of Allah r.(4) He said,



When the believer is about to depart from this world and


proceed to the next, angels with faces as bright as the sun


descend from the heavens and sit around him in throngs


stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of


Death comes and sist at his head and says, “Good soul,


come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah!”



His soul then emerges like a drop of water that flows from


a water-skin, and the angel takes hold of it. When he has


grasped it, the other angels do not leave it in his hand even


for the twinkling of an eye.



They take it and place it in a perfumed shroud, and it gives


off a fragrance like the sweetest scent of musk found on


the face of the Earth.



Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a


company of angels, they ask, “Who is this good soul?” The


angels with the soul reply, “So-and-so, the son of so-and-


so,” using the best names by which people used to call him


in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask


for the gate to be opened for him.



It is opened for him, and angels who are near Allah from


each of the heavens accompany him to heaven.



Allah U says, “Register the book of my slave in 'Illiyun(5)


and take him back to Earth. I created them from it and I


return them to it, and I will bring them forth from it again.”



His soul is then returned to his body and two angels come


to him. They make him sit up and they ask him, “Who is


your Rubb.”(6)



He replies, “My Rubb is Allah.”



They ask him, “What is your religion?”



He replies, “My religion is Islam.”



They ask him, “Who is this man who was sent among


you?”



He replies, “The Messenger of Allah.”



They ask him, “How did you come to know these things?”



He replies, “I read the book of Allah, believed it, and de-


clared it to be true.”



Then a voice from on high declares, “My slave has spoken


the truth, so spread out carpets from the Garden for him


and open one of its gates!”



Then some of its fragrance and perfume reaches him, his


grave is expanded for him as far as the eye can see, and a


man in beautiful garments with a fragrant scent comes to


him and says, “Rejoice in what delights you, for this is the


day which you were promised.”



He asks, “Who are you? Yours is a face which presages


good.”



He replies, “I am your good actions.”



Then he says, “O Rubb, let the Last Hour come soon so


that I may rejoin my family and my property!”



When an unbeliever is about to depart from this world and


proceed to the next, angels with black faces descend from


the heavens carrying a rough haircloth and sit around him


in throngs stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the


Angel of Death comes and sits at his head and says, “Foul


soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah!”



Then his soul scatters within his body and it is dragged out


like a skewer is pulled out of a wet piece of wool. Then the


angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it, the other


angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of


an eye. They take it and wrap it in a rough haircloth, and a


stench comes out of it like the worst stench of a corpse on


the face of the Earth.



Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a


company of angels, they ask, “Who is this foul soul?” The


angels with the soul reply, “So- and-so, the son of so-and-


so,” using the worst names by which people used to call


him in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and


ask for the gate to be opened for him, but it is not opened.



The Messenger of Allah r then recited,



}‏لاَ تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاء وَلاَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ {



‘The gates of heaven will not be opened to them nor


will they enter the Garden until the camel passes


through the eye of the needle [i.e never].’


[Surah al-A'raaf (7):40]



Then Allah Uwill say, “Register his book in Sijjeen(7) in the


lowest earth.” And then his soul is flung down.



The Prophet rthen recited,



}‏وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ {



“Whoever associates anything with Allah, it is as


though he has fallen the sky, and the birds snatch


him away, or the wind sweeps him headlong into a


place far away.”


[Surah al-Hajj (22):31]



Thenhis soul is returned to his body and two angels come


and say to him, “Who is your Lord?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then they say to him, “What is your religion?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then they say to him, “Who is this man who was sent


among you?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then a voice calls from on high, “My slave has lied, so


spread out carpets from the Fire and open one of its gates


for him!”



Then a hot blast from Hell-fire comes to him, his grave is


made so narrow for him that his ribs are pressed together,


and a man with a hideous face and clothing and a foul


odour comes to him and says, “Grieve on account of what


has brought you disgrace, for this is the day which you


were promised.”



He asks, “Who are you? Yours is a face which presages


evil.”



He replies, “I am your bad actions.”



Then he says, “O Lord, do not let the Last Hour come!”


[Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah]


ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ


(3) A narration of anything attributed to the prophet r, whether it be his ac-


tions, statements, affirmations, or attributes. Pl. ahaadeeth.



(4) Salla Allahu alaihi sallam: trans. ‘May Allah exalt him and grant him Peace’.



(5)The register in which the deeds of the righteous are inscribed.



(6) Rubb: usually translated as Lord, is one of the Names of Allah, the Provider


and Sustainer of all that exists.



(7)The register in which the deeds of evil people are inscribed.