Hadiths on Remembering Death
There are several narrations from the Sunnah regarding death. Below are some notable ones:
- Abdullah bin Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) drew lines and said: ‘This represents hope, and this represents the appointed time (death). While he was speaking, a line representing the closest (death) came forth.'”
- Abdullah bin Mas’ud – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) drew a square, then drew a line extending beyond it. He drew smaller lines towards the central line, stating: ‘This is man; his appointed time surrounds him. What lies outside is his hope. The smaller lines represent various distractions. If this one misses him, that one will seize him.'”
- Shaddad bin Aws – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘The wise person is the one who holds themselves accountable and works for what comes after death. The foolish one is the one who follows their desires and has wishes towards Allah.'”
- Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him – stated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) frequently said: ‘Increase your remembrance of the destroyer of pleasures (death).'”
- Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with both of them – remarked: “I was with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when a man from the Ansar asked: ‘Who is the wisest and most generous of people, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied: ‘Those who remember death the most and prepare for it the best are the true wise; they have succeeded in the worldly life and earned honor in the Hereafter.'”
- Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘Hasten to do good deeds, for there are seven situations you might be waiting for: poverty that makes you forget, wealth that leads to corruption, a debilitating illness, old age causing decline, sudden death, the Dajjal (the false messiah) – the worst expected adversary, or the Hour (the Day of Judgment) – and what an ominous time that will be.'”
Hadiths on Human Aversion to Death
There are also reports from the Sunnah about humanity’s dislike for death. Aisha, the Mother of the Believers – may Allah be pleased with her – narrated: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him; and whoever dislikes meeting Allah, Allah dislikes meeting him.’ It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, does this dislike of meeting Allah refer to the aversion to death?’ He replied: ‘No, this is only at the moment of death. If one is given glad tidings of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, they will love to meet Allah; hence Allah will love to meet them. Conversely, if one is given the news of Allah’s punishment, they will dislike meeting Allah, and thus Allah will dislike meeting them.'”
Hadiths Prohibiting the Wish for Death
Numerous hadiths from the Sunnah discourage the desire for death. Some of these include:
- Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘None of you should wish for death, whether they are doing good, fearing they may increase their good deeds, or doing wrong, hoping they might seek repentance.'”
- Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him – further noted: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do not wish for death nor call for it before it comes; for when one dies, their deeds cease, and a believer’s lifespan only increases towards good.'”
- According to Anas bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: ‘Do not wish for death due to the harm that has befallen you. Instead, if you must, say: ‘O Allah, keep me alive for as long as life is better for me, and take me when death is better for me.'”
Hadiths on the Agonies of Death
Many narrations from the Sunnah depict the agonies experienced at the time of death. Here are some reported:
- Aisha, the Mother of the Believers – may Allah be pleased with her – said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had a container of water in front of him. He would place his hands in it and rub his face, saying: ‘There is no deity but Allah. Indeed, there are agonies of death.’ Then he raised his hand, saying: ‘In the highest companionship.'”
- Aisha also stated: “Of Allah’s blessings upon me is that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed away in my house, on my day, between my neck and my chest. Allah united my saliva with his at his death. Abd al-Rahman entered with a miswak in his hand. I was supporting the Prophet (peace be upon him). I recognized that he loved the miswak, so I offered it to him. He nodded his head in approval. I softened it for him, and as he was using it, a container or a bowl of water was before him. He would insert his hands into the water, rubbing his face, stating: ‘There is no deity but Allah. Indeed, there are agonies of death,’ then raised his hand and said: ‘In the highest companionship,’ until his soul departed and his hand lowered.”
Hadiths on a Good Ending
Various narrations in the Sunnah discuss the concept of a good ending (Husn al-Khatimah). Noteworthy hadiths include:
- Mu’ad bin Jabal – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Whoever’s last words are ‘There is no deity but Allah,’ will enter Paradise.'”
- Talha bin Ubaydullah – may Allah be pleased with him – shared: “Umar once saw Talha looking distressed and asked: ‘What is the matter with you? Is it that you are troubled by the actions of your cousin?’ Talha replied: ‘No, but I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) mention a statement that I did not get the chance to ask him about before he passed away. I heard him say: ‘I know a word that no servant says at the time of his death except his face brightens and Allah relieves his burdens.’ Umar replied: ‘I know what it is.’ He asked, ‘What is it?’ Umar responded: ‘It’s the statement he advised his uncle to say at death: There is no deity but Allah.’ Talha affirmed: ‘Indeed, that is it.'”
- Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him – stated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked: ‘Who among you considers the martyr to be? They replied: ‘O Messenger of Allah, whoever is killed in the path of Allah is a martyr.’ He said: ‘Then my martyrs are few.’ They asked: ‘Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied: ‘Whoever is killed in the path of Allah is a martyr, and whoever dies in the path of Allah is a martyr. Also, whoever dies in a plague is a martyr, and whoever dies by a stomach ailment is a martyr.’ Ibn Miqsam stated: ‘I testify about your father regarding this hadith that he said: ‘And the drowned person is a martyr.’ In another narration: ‘Ubaydullah bin Miqsam testified: ‘I testify about your brother that he added: And whoever drowns is a martyr.'”
- Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As – may Allah be pleased with both of them – reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘No Muslim dies on a Friday or during a Friday night except that Allah protects them from the trial of the grave.'”