**** A Good Death *****
{O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.} [Surah Al-‘Imran 3:102]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ} آل عمران: 102
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha haqqa tuqatihi wala tamootunna illa waantum muslimoona
In this address, the order to fear Allah and die as a Muslim is directed, not simply to non-Muslims and Muslims, but rather to the Believers. Thus showing the great importance Islam places, not only on a good life, but also a good death. As such even the believers are warned against complacency that could result in a bad ending.
Most people tend to avoid talking about death, despite it being one of the few certainties in one’s life. However there is not a single soul except that he or she would wish for a good death. So what is a good death? The Institute of Medicine defines it as follows, “A decent or good death is one that is: free from avoidable distress and suffering for patients, families, and caregivers; in general accord with patients' families' wishes; and reasonably consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards.”[1]
Most people would like a pain-free death, having lived life to the full, fulfilling their dreams and to die doing what they loved most. As Muslims our wishes are generally the same, however the purpose of our life ultimately determines for us what is and isn’t a good death. Allah says in the Quran, {And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).} [Surah Ad-Dhariyat 51:56]
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} الذاريات: 56
Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illaliyaAAbudooni
Therefore a soul created for the worship of Allah must also die in such a state for it to have achieved a good death. As such we marvel at the endings of those engaged in acts of worship at the point of death, such as those mentioned by Imam Adh-Dhahabi in his Siyar A’lam An-Nubala,
‘Abu Bakr ibn Al-Ismaeli died on a Thursday night during the Maghrib prayer while he was reciting from Surah Al-Fatiha “You alone we worship and from You alone we seek help.”’
‘Abu Hakeem ‘Abdullah ibn Ibrahim Al-Khabri was writing out the Quran, and then he laid down his pen, said “Indeed this is a delightful death!” and died.’
‘Mus’ab said, “‘Aamir(ibn Abdullah ibn Az-Zubair ) heard the call to prayer and said, “Take me by my hand.” So it was said to him, “You are ill.” To which he replied, “How can I hear the call to Allah and not respond?” So they took him by his hand and he entered with the Imam for the Maghrib prayer. He bowed with him and then died.’
‘Abu Bakr ibn Ziyad said, “I entered upon Ibrahim ibn Hani (An-Naysaburi) on his death bed and he said, “I am thirsty.” So his son brought some water and he asked his son, “Has the sun set?” It was said “No” so he turned it away and recited, “For the like of this let the strivers strive” and he died.’
These are just some of the beautiful examples of a good ending from our predecessors, besides what we know from the good endings from companions. Such as the one whom upon hearing that Paradise was as wide as the heavens and the earth flung himself into the midst of the battle to attain it.
Such sacrifices and exertions displayed by our role models and replicated throughout the ages by those seeking the pleasure of Allah stand as a stark reminder to us all as to our true purpose in life. As much as we strive to good by people, gain their pleasure and acceptance, and bring about benefits and avoid harms and hardships, we should never lose sight of the fact that our ultimate aim is to seek the pleasure of Allah.
As the above examples showed, these great men could have taken the concessions available to them, yet they chose to exert themselves to seek the greater reward with Allah. We ask Allah to give us steadfastness and a good ending, making us from the honourable ones, {It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): “Enter Paradise.” He said: "Would that my people knew! (26) “That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!”} [Ya-Sin 36:26-27]
{قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ} يس: 26-27
Transliteration: Qeela odkhuli aljannata qala ya layta qawmee yaAAlamoona (26) Bima ghafara lee rabbee wajaAAalanee mina almukrameena
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