View Full Version : The Death of A Believer
It has been narrated from Sayyidena Bara' Ibn Azib RA that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "When a true Muslim is in between the state of his departure from the mortal world and the state of his arrival into what lies beyond called Akhirah, angels from the heavens come to him. Their faces radiant like the sun, they have the shroud and the perfume of Paradise with them. Then they seem to sit by the farthest limit of human sight.
Then the angel of death descends close down by his head and says "O life at peace, with the command of the Lord, return to they Lord, towards His forgiveness and pleasure". So, the spirit comes out(easy) like some drop (of water) sliding down a leather water-bag, even though you may see it (outwardly) otherwise (since the excrutiating pain of the disengagement of the spirit from the mortal body is visible on the body everyone can see, but the spirit itself finds it comfortable).
In short, once the angels have drawn this spirit out, they do not leave it in the hands of the angel of death even for a wink, rather they take it and put it in the shroud and perfume that they had brought from Paradise. This releases a unique scent, somewhat like the strongest fragrance of musk we could smell in mortal world.
Then the angels, spirit in hand, ascend upwards and when they pass by one or the other group of angels, they are asked: "Whose blessed spirit is this"? They tell them the best of his names by which he was known with in the world he left, his name and his fathers name, until they reach the firmament closest to the world in that state, from where they take him towards the seventh heaven (passing through the rest of the heavens).
Now Allah Almighty says: " Enter his deeds in the 'Illiyyin and take him back to earth (to answer questions asked in the grave)". The spirit is then returned to the body (corresponding to the conditions of the state of Barzakh which is a state in between, and not like the world of our experience). Then two angels come to him, make him sit and put two questions to him: "Who is your Lord, and What is your religion?" He replies: "My Lord is Allah, and my religion is Islam".
"Who was this man (Muhammad SAW), sent to you from among you?" He replies: "He is the messenger of Allah". They ask: "How do you know?" He replies:" I read the Quran and I believed in it and I attested to its veracity".
Then there comes a voice, a proclaimer proclaiming (the word of Allah): "The answer given by my servant is correct. Lay the floor of paradise for him. Dress him in the apparel of Paradise and open for him a door facing Paradise." The breeze and the fragrance of Paradise reach out to him and the space in his grave extends all around him as far as he can see.
Then a person, elegantly dressed and annointed, comes and speaks to him: "Congratulations to you for this is the blessed day you were promised" He asks: "who are you? Your face seems to be making that promise good" He replies: "I am your good deeds." The deceased repeats again and again: "O my Lord, let the Doom come so that I can go and see my family." (Shauq-i-Watan p 17-20).
jazak Allah, this is why I always look forward to your posts
Jazakallahu Khairal Jaza for your support, may Allah reward you and keep us all on the Sunnah of Mustafa SAW.
Inshallah I plan to write more in this section with regards to this topic of what happens to a believer after his death. May Allah give me the strength to continue it until the segment is finished.
Sayyidena Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "When the spirit of a true Muslim is take out in full, the servants of Allah already dead reach out and meet him very much like people of this world would go forward and greet some harbinger of good news. Then, (some of them) say: 'Give him respite for a while because he was in great pain (in the physical world)'. Then, they start asking him about certain people- How is he? Is he single? Is he married?- and if they happen to ask him about a person who had died before him, who announces the fact of his death earlier than him, then they recite:
Ina lillahi wa Ina Illayhi Raajioon
" To Allah we belong and to him we are to return" and then say "That is it. He has been taken to his abode, meaning (The Hell Fire). That is an evil place to go and an evil place to live'.
Towards the end of this very hadith, the Holy Prophet SAW is reported to have said: "Your deeds are presented before those of your relatives and family members who are in the Hereafter (meaning in the intermediary state of Barzakh). If the deed is good, they are delighted saying: This is by Your Grace and Mercy. Let these blessings of Yours cover him all the way through his life and then, let him meet his death in that very state.
Also presented before them is the deed of the sinner, when they say: "O Allah, let there be good in his heart, good that becomes the pathway to Your pleasure and nearness" (Shauq i Watan p 24-25)
Sayyidattena A'ishah RA said: "Ya Rasulullah SAW since the day you ahve frightened me by talking about the voices of Munkar and Nakeer and the bear-hug of the grave, I do not seem to like anything." He said: O 'A'ishah, the voice of Munkar and Nakeer will feel as nice and soft into the ears of true Muslims as the applying of Kohl into the eyes, and the bear-hug of the grave will be, in the case of a true Muslim, something like a loving mother applying a tender hold on the head of her child, when he complains of a headache. But, O 'A'ishah, woe be to him who used to have doubts about Allah. He will be ground in the grave like an egg being ground with a heavy grind-stone." (Nurus-Sudur, p64).
Sayyidena Amru Ibn Dinar RA narrates: 'The spirit of a person who dies rests in the hand of an angel. It sees its body, how it is bathed, how it is shrouded and how it is raised and carried off to the buria place. The angels around tell him while the abondoned body is still lying on the bathing board: 'Listen to the good words people are saying about you (initial glad tidings pointing to forthcoming blessings).' (Shauq-i-Watan, p26)
Wonderful stuff !
Keep on posting more.
Sayyidena Ibn Masood RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: One who dies towards the end of the month of Ramadan will be a Jannati (One who will go to paradise); and one who dies on the Day of 'Arafah, that is in the later part, of the day on the 9th of Dhil-Hijjah, will be a Jannati; and the person who dies after having given sadaqah, will be Jannati." (Nurus-Sudur p148).
Sayyidena Ibn Abbas RA narrate that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "Whoever keeps reciting Ayatul-Kursi after Fard salah, Allah Almight will bless him with the heart of the Grateful and the deed of the Truthful and the reward of the Prophets and will shower His mercy on him - and it is (only) death which stops him from entering Paradise (meaning he will enter Paradise soon after death)." (Nurus-Sudur, p147)
Sayyidena Ibn Umar RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "A true Muslim who dies during the day or night of Jumu'ah will be delivered by Allah Almighty from the Punishment of the grave.'
Sayyidena Ata Ibn Yasar RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: " A Muslim, man or woman, who dies during the day or night of Jumu'ah, will be safe from the punishment of the grave and the questioning of the two angels, Munkar and Nakeer, and he will not have to account for his deeds on the Day of Judgement; and his deeds will be witness to him being a jannati." (Nurus- Sudur, p.77)
Wonderful stuff !
Keep on posting more.
Jazakallahu Khairal Jaza, may Allah be with you.
The celebrated Imam Al-Bukhari narrates from Sayyidena Abu Hurairah RA that the Holy Prophet SAW used to recite the following Du'a (to educate his community):
Allahuma Inee A'uthu bika Min A'thabil Qabr
O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment of the grave (Nurus-Sudur, p.82)
Sayyidah Aishah RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "The punishment of the grave is haqq (true, real and fit for the deserving) for men (not having repented from sins) punished in the grave, and all living creatures (except human beings and the Jinn) hear (sounds of) the punishment of the grave." (Nurus-Sudur, p.82)
It has been narrated from Sayyidena Ka'b RA that soon after a righteous servant of Allah has been buried in his grave, his good deeds - salah, sawm, hajj, jihad, sadaqah - come to him. Then come the angels of death, from the side of his legs, when salah says: 'stay away from him. No way can you go through here. With these feet, he has gone to the masjid and on these he has stood to offer his salah.' Then they come from his head, then sawm says: 'No way can you go through here. He has braved the hardship of hunger and thirst in the world for the pleasure of Allah. 'Then they come from the sides, when Hajj and Jihad say: 'Stay away from him. He has endured extreme hardships on him. He has carried out Hajj and Jihad for Allah. No way can you go through here.' Then they come from the sides, where his hands are, and Sadaqah says: 'You stay away from him. With these hands he has given Sadaqah. No way can you go through here.' Then from the unseen comes the voice: 'Congratulations to you. You were good in life and good you are after death.' The angels of mercy bring floor-covering from Paradise and lay it in his grave. The space in the grave is widened as far as he can see, and they bring a filigreed candelabrum of light (qindil) from the Paradise and place it in his grave, a source of light which keeps his grave illuminated right through the Day of Doom.' And another narration says that for him in the grave a door is opened, a door towards the Paradise. He sees Paradise and admires it's aroma, when his good deeds tell him: 'You have certainly endured a lot of hardships for us in your life in the world. This day we shall be with you right through the time we take you to Paradise.' (Nurus-Sudur, p.139)
Isal Thawab and Sadaqah Jariyah
Sayyidena Anas RA narrates that he heard the Holy Prophet SAW say: "When anyone dies in a family, people in the family give sadaqah on his behalf. Sayyidena Jibra'il AS the noble angel of Allah carries the reward for this act of charity on a tray of light all the way to his grave, stands there and says:' O inmate of the grave, this is a gift sent to you by your family. Please accept it' So, the person in the grave is delighted and passes on the good news to his neighbour who, like others who have not received such gift from anyone, sulks under a sense of deprivation. (Nurus-Sudur, p.138)
Performing Hajj on Behalf of the Parents
Sayyidena Abdullah Ibn Umar RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "To anyone who, after the death of his parents, performs Hajj on their behalf, Allah Almighty grants freedom from the fire of Hell and both of them are blessed with the real and full reward of a regular Hajj, without any reduction." (Nurus-Sudur, p.138)
Childrens Prayers for Parents
Sayyidena Abu Hurairah RA narrated: 'Allah Almighty will confer on His righteous servant a great rank in Paradise. All surprised, he would say: ' O my Lord, whence did I get this rank?' Allah Almighty would say: 'From the barakah and benedication of what your son did- he prayed and sought forgiveness for you.' (Nurus-Sudur, p.140)
Seven Things The Reward Keeps Reaching the Dead
Sayyidena Abu Hurairah RA narrates that they Holy Prophet SAW said: 'When a true Muslim dies, his time to act is all over, but there are seven things the reward for which reaches him even after his death;
1. Whoever imparts the knowledge of Faith to anyone gets its reward continuously as long as his knowledge continues circulating in the world.
2. Having good Children who keep praying for him.
3. Leaving the Holy Quran behind (a copy which people would read)
4. Making a Masjid
5. Making a rest-house for the comfort of travellers.
6. Making a well or canal available for public use
7. The giving of Sadaqah in one's life time.
So, the reward for all these things shall continue reaching the deceased as long as they remain." (Nurus-Sudur p.140)
Two Other Forms of Sadaqah Jariyah
Sayyidena Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said: "Whoever teaches anyone some of the Holy Quran, or explains a religious question, Allah Almighty keeps increasing his reward right through the Day of Doom, until its becomes like a hill." (Nurus-Sudur, p.104)
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.