IQNA

Tenets of Islamic Belief; Resurrection/37

What Happens at Time of Death?

8:12 - September 13, 2023
News ID: 3485131
TEHRAN (IQNA) – The moment one dies is a very sensitive and dangerous moment. Even good-doers and righteous people are afraid of it.

Death

 

It is understandable to be afraid of death even though they are keen to meet with their Lord. It is like a diver who is eager to find a pearl, but at the same time is afraid of drowning.

There are many verses of the Quran and Hadiths about the moment of deaths, including the following:

* “And when the agony of death comes in truth (they will say): ‘This is what you have been trying to avoid!’” (Verse 19 of Surah Qaaf)

Sukr, the Arabic word used in this verse, refers to the state of intoxication. Just as a drunken man does not understand what he is saying or others are saying about him, a person who is experiencing the moment of death is confused and mixed up as result of fears related to death itself and to separation from relatives and loved ones as well as properties, positions, etc.

* “When death approaches one of the unbelievers, he says, ‘Lord, send me back again so that perhaps I shall act righteously for the rest of my life.’ Although he will say so but his wish will never come true. After death they will be behind a barrier until the day of their resurrection.” (Verses 99-100 of Surah Al-Muminoon)

* “So spend of that with which We have provided you before death comes upon any of you and he then says: ‘O my Lord, if only You would defer me to a near term, so that I could give in charity and be among the good doers.’” (Verse 10 of Surah Al-Munafiqoon)

On the Day of Resurrection, too, unbelievers ask to be returned to the world to do good deeds: “They will say: ‘Our Lord, we have now seen and heard. Send us back and we will do righteous deeds, we are certain.’” (Verse 12 of Surah As-Sajdah)

* “But, when (the soul) reaches the collar bone and it is said: ‘Who is a healing chanter?’ and when he thinks it is the time of departure and when leg is intertwined with leg.” Verses 26-29 of Surah Al-Qiyamah)

These verses underline that people should not prefer this world to the hereafter and that everyone should be mindful that death will come and there will be no escape from it.

The Holy Quran, in Surah Al-Waqi’ah (Verses 83 to the end) describes how a person leaves this world.

* Imam Ali (AS) in Nahj al-Balagha described the moment of death like this:

“Whatever they were ignoring has befallen them, separation from this world, from which they took themselves safe, has come to them and they have reached that in the next world which they had been promised. Whatever has befallen them cannot be described. Pangs of death and grief for losing (this world) have surrounded them. Consequently, their limbs become languid and their complexion changes.

Then death increases its struggle over them. In some one it stands in between him and his power of speaking although he lies among his people, looking with eyes, hearing with his ears, with full wits and intelligence. He then thinks over how he wasted his life and in what (activities) he passed his time. He recalls the wealth he collected when he had blinded himself in seeking it, and acquired it from fair and foul sources. Now the consequences of collecting it have overtaken him. He gets ready to leave it. It would remain for those who are behind him.”

Now with so many verses and Hadiths that clearly talk about the moment of death and so many warnings, is there any room for neglect?

 

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