The death of a believer, the death of a disbeliever and the life to come
"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!"
(Qur'an 4:78)
It is reported that al Bara bin Azib said:
"We went out with the Prophet in order to participate in the funeral rites
of a man from the Ansar (a group of people from among the Companions of
the Prophet). We arrived at the grave, but the inner chamber had not been
prepared yet; so Allah's Messenger sat down facing the direction of the
Qiblah, and we sat around him so attentively it was if the birds were
sitting on our heads.
He had a stick in his hand with which he
sketched upon the ground. Then he began looking alternately to the heavens
and to the earth, razing his gaze and then lowering it. Finally, he said
two or three times: 'Seek refuge in Allah from the torment of the grave.'
Then he said: 'O Allah, verily I seek refuge in You from the torment
of the grave.' He repeated it three times, then he elaborated:
'Verily, when the believing servant is leaving
this world and entering the next, angels from the heavens descend to him-their
faces white with brightness like the sun and carrying with them burial
sheets and scents from Paradise. They sit before him at a distance as
far as the eye can see.
Then the Angel of Death comes to the person,
sits at his head and say's: 'O good soul, come out to your Lord's forgiveness
and pleasure.' Thereupon, the soul flows out of the body like water
flowing from the mouth of a waterskin, and all of the angels between the
sky and the earth supplicate for Allah's blessing upon him. The doors
of the heaven are opened for him, and the keepers of these doors all plead
with Allah that this soul might pass in front of them as it is being carried
upward. The Angel of Death barely receives the soul in his hands, whereupon
the other angels take it from him and wrap it with fragrant winding sheets.
This is what is meant by Allah's saying: "Our messengers seize his
soul, and they do not fall short of their duty."
Then the Prophet said: 'There exudes from
the soul a scent like the most beautiful fragrance of musk that one could
find on the face of the earth. The angels ascend with the soul, never
passing a host of angels without hearing them ask: 'Who is this wonderful
soul?' They reply, 'So and so, the son of so and so,' addressing him with
the best names he was known by during his earthly life. Upon reaching
the first heaven, the angels request that it be opened for the soul -
which is granted. The soul is then accompanied by the angels of each heaven
until it reaches the one above it and finally arrives at the seventh heaven.
Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic says:
'Place the record of My servant in Illyyun." The person's record
is then placed in Illiyyun, whereupon a command is heard: 'Return
him to the earth, for verily I have promised mankind that having created
them from the earth I will return them to it. And I will make them come
out of it, yet another time. Then the soul is returned to the earth, back
into its body. Verily the deceased hears the shuffling feet of his companions
who attended his burial as they turn away and leave his grave. Thereupon,
two angels, severe in interrogation, come to him, and sitting him up,
they begin to ask him questions. They say, 'Who is your Lord?'
He replies, 'Allah is my Lord.' They continue, 'What is your religion?'
He answers, 'Islam is my religion.' They proceed with the questioning,
saying, 'Who is this man that has been sent to you?' He responds,
'He is the Messenger of Allah.' Finally, they ask him about his deeds,
to which he replies, 'I read Allah's Book and believed in it.' A voice
is then heard in the heavens, saying, 'My servant has told the truth,
so clothe him in the clothing of Paradise, spread for him the furnishings
of Paradise, and open for him a window with a view of Paradise.' Thereupon,
he is engulfed by a breeze of fresh air and fragrance, while the expanse
of his grave is extended before him as far as the eye can see. There appears
before him a man with a wonderful face and beautiful clothing, emitting
a splendid fragrance. He says to the soul, 'Rejoice at the news which
will gladden you. Rejoice at Allah's pleasure and His Paradise, who's
joys and delights never end. This is the day which you were promised.'
The deceased says to him, 'And who are you, for your face bears good tidings?'
The figure answers, 'I am your good; by Allah, I've always known you to
be quick in obedience to Allah and slow to His disobedience. So may Allah
award you with a good reward.' Then a door to Paradise is opened, and
a door to Hell, whereupon it is said to him regarding the Hellfire, 'This
would have been your final abode had you disobeyed Allah, however, it
has been exchanged for this other abode.' When the soul sees what is in
Paradise, he cries, 'My Lord, hasten the arrival of the Hour so that I
might be joined with my family and wealth.' Thereupon it is said to him,
'Rest in tranquillity.'
Allah's Messenger continued, 'When the disbelieving
, sinful servant is about to leave this world and enter the next, angels,
powerful and severe, descend to him from the heavens - their faces black
and carrying with them coarse strips of cloth from Hell. They sit before
him at a distance as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death arrives,
and sitting at the head of the disbeliever, he says, 'O you foul soul,
come out to the anger and wrath of your Lord.' The soul inside the disbelievers
body is overcome by terrible fear, where upon the Angel of Death violently
pulls it out like multi-pronged skewers being yanked out of wet wool -
tearing with them the arteries and nerves. Upon this, the soul is cursed
by every angel between the heavens and the earth and by those inside the
heavens. Then the doors of the heavens are closed to him, and every single
guard at these doors begs Allah that this soul not be carried up in front
of him.
The Angel of Death barely receives the soul
in his hands, whereupon the other angels grasp it from him and wrap it
up in coarse cloth. There emits from it the foulest odour that could be
found on the face of the earth. They ascend with it, never passing a host
of angels without being asked, 'Who is this ugly soul?' They reply, 'So
and so, the son of so and so,' using the worst names by which he was known
in this world. When they arrive at the lowest heaven, they request that
it be opened for this soul, but the request is denied.' And the Prophet
recited the verse: 'The gates of the heavens will not be opened for
them, nor will they enter the Garden of Paradise until a camel goes through
the eye of a needle.' After that he continued, 'Then Allah the Mighty
and Majestic, says to the angels: 'Place his record in Sijjeen-in
the lowest heaven. Return my servant to the earth, for verily I have promised
mankind that having created them from the earth, I will return them to
it. And will make them come out of it, yet another time.' Upon this command,
the deceased soul is thrown down from the sky until it lands in its body.'
The Prophet then recited the verse: 'And whoever ascribes partners
with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky, such that the
birds snatch him up or the wind throws him to a remote place.'
Then he commented, 'Verily the deceased hears
the sound of his companions footsteps as they turn away from his grave.'
The Prophet resumed his explanation, 'Then the two angels, severe in interrogation,
come to him, and sitting him up, they begin to question him, 'Who is
your Lord?' He answers, 'Aah! Aah! I don't know.' They continue by
asking him, 'What is your religion?' He answers, 'Aah! Aah! I don't
know.' So they ask, 'Then what do you say about this man who was sent
to you?' The disbeliever does not appear to understand who they are
referring to, so it is said, 'Muhammed.' Again he states, 'Aah! Aah! I
don't know. I only heard the people talking about him.' Then it is said,
'You did not know, and you did not read!' Thereupon a voice from the heavens
is heard, 'He has lied! So spread out for him a place from the Fire and
open for him a window to the Fire.' The searing hot winds of Hell engulf
him while his grave closes in upon him, crushing him until his rib cage
is broken by the force - causing the ribs of one side to intertwine with
the ribs of the other. Then there appears to him a person with an ugly
face and ugly clothing and exuding a foul odour, who says, 'Tidings of
evil to you, for this is the day which you were promised!' The deceased
says to him, 'And you, too; may Allah give you evil tidings! Who are you,
for yours is a face which portends evil.' The person rejoins, 'I represent
your wicked deeds. By Allah, I have always known you to be slow in obedience
to Allah and quick in disobedience to Him. May Allah reward you with evil!'
Then one who is deaf, dumb and blind and is carrying an iron rod is sent
to the deceased. If he were to strike a mountain with it, the mountain
would disintegrate into rubble. He strikes the deceased with a blow which
turns him into dust. Allah returns the deceased to his original form,
whereupon he is struck a second time. This causes him to shriek with such
violence that it is heard by all the creation except mankind and jinn.
Then a door to the Fire is opened, and beddings of the Fire are spread
for him, whereupon he cries, 'Lord, do not establish the Hour!' (i.e.
Day of Resurrection Day of Gathering, Day of Judgement, Day of Decision,
Day of Sorting Out, Day of Grief and Regrets).
The Trumpet will be blown, a single shout,
a single cry, a near torment, pregnant she camels shall be neglected,
suckling mothers will forget their babes, every pregnant will drop her
load, the heaven will shake with a dreadful shaking. Heaven will be split
asunder and shall be rent asunder with clouds Heaven will be rolled up
in His Right Hand, and all those in heaven and earth will swoon away.
Heaven shall be opened, it will become as gates. The sky will be like
boiling filthy oil. The stars shall fall and some stars will lose their
light. The Sun will lose its light. Seas will become as blazing fire,
and some seas will burst forth. The earthquake of the Hour - mountains
will be shaken violently, the earth will be ground to powder, and earth
will be changed into another earth and so will the heavens. The earth
will be stretched forth as a levelled plain. The earth will throw out
its burdens, graves will be turned upside down, and there will be a complete
resurrection from the graves. Wild beasts shall be gathered together,
raised up blind, and the souls will be joined together with their bodies.
This is the True Day, and mankind will be like moths scattered about.
All of mankind will proceed in scattered
groups, as in a drunken state. Relatives shall be made to see one another
- a man shall flee from his relatives - and no friend will ask after a
friend. There will be no friend or intercessor. Everyone will be paid
their wages in full - written pages of deeds shall be laid open, and every
person will know what he she has brought. Every person will be confronted
with all the good and evil he has done. A person will know what he has
sent foreword and left behind. The will be no fear of injustice - the
balances of justice and the scales of deeds - whosoever does good or evil
equal to the weight of an atom shall see it. All the secrets will be examined.
Some records will be given in the right hand, and some records will be
given in the left hand. Some records will be given behind the back. A
hard day for the disbelievers - a heavy day. They bear a heavy burden,
and are not permitted to put forth any excuse. The wrong-doer will bite
his hands. All wrong-doers will be assembled with their companions and
idols. It will be a destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and despair.
The female infants who were buried alive shall be questioned. The greatest
terror - the caller will call to a terrible thing. (On the Day of Resurrection
the life of this world will seem like) a stay no longer than ten days
- a day or part of a day. No person shall have the power to do anything
for another - they will have no power nor any helper.
There will be no fear for believers, and
all believers will be in the shade, and amongst springs and fruits. Angels
will be sent down with a grand descending. The Shin shall be laid bear
and Paradise shall be brought near. Hellfire shall be brought near and
Hellfire shall be stripped off, kindled to a fierce ablaze. The unbelievers
will wish to return and become believers. Hell fire, blazing fire, flaming
fire, crushing Fire, burning flame, raging and roaring - the terrible
drawing in of its breath. The shadow of black smoke, a narrow place, a
place of ambush. This is the worst place to rest - worst indeed is that
destination - the torment will not be lightened. An evil final return.
The fire of Allah, kindled and filled with men and jinns all together,
will say: 'Are there any more?'. For those who took their religion for
amusement and play, the promised place for them all. It spares not nor
does it leave. Disbelievers will be driven to it in groups - criminals
and transgressors known by their marks, they will be seized by their forelocks
and their feet, seized and dragged into the midst of the blazing fire,
bound together in fetters, chained together, wherein they will abide forever.
Death will come from all angles, yet they will not die. Therein they will
neither die or live. Every time they seek to get away, they will be driven
back. They will find neither protector nor helper. They will be made to
drink boiling festering water and boiling hot water - given from a boiling
spring. It will melt away what is in their bellies. Boiling oil will boil
what is in their bellies. Nothing cool shall they taste therein Water
and provision will be forbidden to the disbelievers - only the food of
poisonous thorny plant - from the tree of zaqqum. . Food for the
sinners. Nor shall they have any drink, except a taste of boiling fluid
and puss, filth from the washing of wounds, in fierce hot wind and boiling
water. Boiling water poured down over their heads, burning their skins.
Their skins will be burnt off then replaced with fresh skins. Their faces
will be turned and rolled from all sides in the Fire. They will wear garments
of pitch, and fire will cover their faces. Garments of fire will be cut
for them, and on them will be hooked rods of iron. Their abode will be
the Fire - the torment of the Fire that they used to deny. This is that
whereof they used to doubt. Destruction with deep regrets and sorrow.
(They will say:) 'Had we but listened or used our common sense!' They
will dispute with their leaders in the Fire. Nineteen angels will be its
guardians and keepers.
And in Paradise . . . Gardens underneath
which rivers flow. Everlasting gardens. Gardens of Eternity. Gardens of
delight. Gardens with everlasting delights. Gardens and grapevines, fruits
of two gardens, fruits of all kinds as desired in plenty. Fruits will
be near at hand, fruit and meat, flesh of fowls, thornless lote trees
and banana trees, a running spring - a spring called Salsabil,
a spring called Kafur, a spring call Tasnim. A river in
Paradise named Kauthar. Rivers of wine, milk and clear honey A
cup mixed with Zanjabil water, trays of gold cups, vessels of silver and
cups of crystal, green garments of fine and thick silk, adorned with bracelets
of gold and pearls. Coaches lined with silk brocade, green cushions and
rich beautiful mattresses set in rows. Thrones woven with gold and precious
stones raised high. Rich carpets spread out, beautiful mansions, lofty
rooms, one above another, abiding therein forever. An eternal home, facing
one another on thrones. They will never taste death therein, nor will
they be asked to leave it. All hatred, jealousy or sense of injury will
be removed from their hearts. All grief will be removed and no sense of
fatigue, toil or weariness will touch them. Neither will there be any
hurt, abdominal pain, headache or intoxication. There will be no vain
speaking nor sinful speech, neither harmful speech nor falsehood. They
will be free from sin. There will be neither excessive heat nor bitter
cold. There will be a known provision, in peace and security. The home
of peace, with greetings therein, and whoever does righteous deeds will
enter. Those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led in groups,
and be made to inherit because of their deeds. Allah is pleased with them
and they with Him. My Paradise, the greatest bliss, the great success
and the supreme success. For the believers are Gardens as an entertainment.
The dwellers of Paradise will be busy in joyful things that Day. They
will be amidst gardens and water springs, and will see the angels surrounding
the Throne, near the Omnipotent King. They will have all that they desire.
Houries - chaste females with wide and beautiful eyes, as if preserved
eggs. Pure wives - wives in a pleasant shade - reclining on thrones. Young
full-breasted maidens of equal age, immortal boy-servants to serve them
as scattered pearls.
The Death of Death.
Abu Hurayra reported that Allah's Messenger said: "After the people of Paradise enter Paradise and the People of the Fire enter Hell, Death will be brought foreword in the form of a spotted ram. It will be on the wall which separates the people of Paradise from the people of the Fire. Then it will be said: 'O people of Paradise!' Thereupon they will raise their heads and stare apprehensively. Then it will be said: 'O people of the Fire!' Whereupon its inhabitants will raise their heads in hope of intercession. After this the people of Paradise and the inhabitants of the Fire will be addressed thus: 'Do you know what this is?' They will all reply: 'We know it; it is Death, which assigned to us.' Thereupon Death will be placed on its side and slaughtered on the wall. Finally it will be said: 'O people of Paradise, only eternity and no more death. O people of the Fire, only eternity and more death.'"