Death in Words of Infallibles
These descriptions can give us a different perspective of death and cause a change in behaviors and conducts.
The Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) said about death that believers’ death and leaving the world is like a baby leaving its mother’s womb, going from darkness, tightness and pressure to a large and bright place.
Imam Hassan (AS) was asked what death is. He answered: “Death is the highest happiness occurring to a believer.”
Imam Hussein (AS) said death is like a bridge that takes you from the troubles of the world to happiness and God’s favor, while for the enemies of God, it is like moving from a palace to a prison.
According to a Hadith narrated from Imam Sajjad (AS), death for a believer “is like taking off dirty clothes, undoing shackles and heavy chains, and changing into the finest and most scented of clothes. It is the smoothest of mountable animals and the most comforting of abodes. As for the infidel, it is like taking off fine clothes, transferring from comfortable abodes, and changing into the dirtiest and roughest of clothes, the most terrifying of stations and the greatest of punishments.”
Imam Baqir (AS) said: “(Death) is the sleep which comes to you every night, except that it is of long duration.”
Imam Sadiq (AS) said: “(Death) is for a believer like fragrant breeze, by smelling which he becomes revived, and every trouble and sorrow is removed from him. And for an unbeliever it is like snake-bite and sting of the scorpions, and even worse.”
According to other Hadiths, death for believers is like a medicine or like taking a bath, which involves a little difficulty but brings about cleanliness, purity and joy.
And let’s conclude this topic with another Hadith narrated from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), who said death in his view is like when a thirsty person drinks a cool drink on a very hot day.
