Death Preparation

Summary:

The Holy Prophet^-saww, said the cleverest among the believers is the one who is most frequent in remembering death, and the most intense in preparing for it.^[1]

ين، كتاب حسين بن سعيد و النوادر عَلِيُّ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الْمَوْتَ الْمَوْتَ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ جَاءَ بِالرَّوْحِ وَ الرَّاحَةِ وَ الْكَرَّةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ لِأَهْلِ دَارِ الْخُلُودِ الَّذِينَ كَانَ لَهُمْ سَعْيُهُمْ وَ فِيهَا رَغْبَتُهُمْ

The book of Husayn Bin Saeed, and ‘Al Nawadir’ – Ali Bin Al Numan, from Ibn Muskan, from Dawood Bin Abu Yazeed, from Abu Shayba Al Zuhry,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The death! The death! The death comes with whatever is in it, with the comfort and the rest and the Blessed turning to the lofty Garden for people of the eternal house, those who had their striving for them, and in it are their desires!’

وَ قَالَ إِذَا اسْتَحَقَّتْ وَلَايَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ الشَّقَاوَةُ جَاءَ الْأَمَلُ بَيْنَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ وَ ذَهَبَ الْأَجَلُ وَرَاءَ الظَّهْرِ.

And he^-saww said: ‘When the wilayah of the Satan^-la and the wretchedness expire, the wishes come in front of the eyes and the death goes behind the back’’.^[2]

قَالَ وَ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَكْيَسُ

He (the narrator) said, ‘And he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww was asked, ‘Which of the Momineen is the cleverest?’

قَالَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ ذِكْراً لِلْمَوْتِ وَ أَشَدُّهُمْ لَهُ اسْتِعْدَاداً.

He^-saww (Rasool Allah^-saww) said: ‘The ones most frequent in remembering the death, and their most intense in preparation for it’’.^[3]

What is the Preparedness for Death?

عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام الْمُفَسِّرُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ: قِيلَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا الِاسْتِعْدَادُ لِلْمَوْتِ

(The book) ‘Uyoon Akhbar Al-Reza^-asws’ – The interpreter, by his chain to Abu Muhammad Al-Askari^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^-asws having said: ‘It was said to Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, ‘What is the preparedness for the death?’

قَالَ أَدَاءُ الْفَرَائِضِ وَ اجْتِنَابُ الْمَحَارِمِ وَ الِاشْتِمَالُ عَلَى الْمَكَارِمِ ثُمَّ لَا يُبَالِي أَنْ وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَوْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يُبَالِي ابْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَنْ وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَوْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ‏.

He^-asws said: ‘Fulfilling the Obligations, and shunning the Prohibitions, and inclusion upon the noble needs. Then he should not care if he falls upon the death or the death falls upon him. By Allah^-azwj! The son^-asws of Abu Talib^-asws does not care whether he^-asws falls upon the death or the death falls upon him^-asws!’’^[4]

لي‏، الأمالي للصدوق ن، عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام الْمُفَسِّرُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْحُسَيْنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ: قِيلَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا الِاسْتِعْدَادُ لِلْمَوْتِ

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq, (and) ‘Uyoun Akhbar Al-Reza^-asws’, may the greetings be upon him^-asws – Al Mufassir, from Ahmad Bin Al Hassan Al Husayni,

‘From Abu Muhammad Al-Askari^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^-asws having said: ‘It was said to Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, ‘What is the preparation for the death?’

قَالَ أَدَاءُ الْفَرَائِضِ وَ اجْتِنَابُ الْمَحَارِمِ وَ الِاشْتِمَالُ عَلَى الْمَكَارِمِ ثُمَّ لَا يُبَالِي أَ وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَمْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يُبَالِي ابْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَ وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَمْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ‏.

He^-asws said: ‘Fulfilling the obligations, and shunning the Prohibitions, and the inclusion upon the honourable (manners), then he should not care whether he falls upon the death, or the death falls upon him. By Allah^-azwj! The son^-asws of Abu Talib^-as does not care whether he^-asws falls upon the death or the death falls upon him^-asws!’’^[5]

يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ

In a lengthy Hadith, Rasool Allah^-saww said to Abu Zarr^-ra:  ‘O Abu Zarr^-ra! Would you^-ra love to enter the Paradise?’

قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فِدَاكَ أَبِي

I^-ra said, ‘Yes, may my^-ra father be sacrificed for you^-saww!’

قَالَ فَاقْصِرْ مِنَ الْأَمَلِ وَ اجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ نُصْبَ‏ عَيْنَيْكَ‏ وَ اسْتَحِ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ

He^-saww said: ‘Shorten your wishes and make the death to be in front of your eyes and be embarrassed from Allah^-azwj as is the right of being embarrassed!’

قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كُلُّنَا نَسْتَحِي مِنَ اللَّهِ

He (Abu Zarr^-ra said), ‘I^-ra said, ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww! All of us are embarrassed from Allah^-azwj!’

قَالَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ الْحَيَاءَ وَ لَكِنَّ الْحَيَاءَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَا تَنْسَى الْمَقَابِرَ وَ الْبِلَى وَ الْجَوْفَ وَ مَا وَعَى وَ الرَّأْسَ وَ مَنْ حَوَى وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ كَرَامَةَ الْآخِرَةِ فَلْيَدَعْ زِينَةَ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ أَصَبْتَ وَلَايَةَ اللَّهِ-

He^-saww said: ‘That isn’t the embarrassment, but the embarrassment from Allah^-azwj is that you don’t forget the graves and the decay, and the interior (stomach) from what it contains, and the head from what it whims, and the one who wants the honours of the Hereafter, let him leave adornments of the world. When you were to be like that, you will attain the Wilayah of Allah^-azwj’’.

Also in a similar Hadith:

ب، قرب الإسناد مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ

(The book) ‘Qurb Al Asnaad’ – Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Qaddah,

‘From Ja’far^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘The Prophet^-saww said: ‘Be embarrassed from Allah^-azwj as is the right of embarrassment!’

قَالُوا وَ مَا نَفْعَلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ

They said, ‘And what shall we do, O Rasool-Allah^-saww!’

قَالَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ فَلَا يَبِيتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَ أَجَلُهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ لْيَحْفَظِ الرَّأْسَ وَ مَا وَعَى وَ الْبَطْنَ وَ مَا حَوَى وَ لْيَذْكُرِ الْقَبْرَ وَ الْبِلَى وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ فَلْيَدَعْ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا.

He^-saww said: ‘If you were to do, then not one of you should spend a night except and his death should be in front of his eyes and let him preserve the head and what it has retained, and the belly and what it contains, and let him remember the grave and the decay; and the one who wants the Hereafter, let him leave adornments of the worldly life’’.[6]

ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي فِيمَا كَتَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى أَهْلِ مِصْرَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَوْتٌ فَاحْذَرُوا قَبْلَ وُقُوعِهِ وَ أَعِدُّوا لَهُ عُدَّتَهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ طَرْدُ الْمَوْتِ إِنْ أَقَمْتُمْ لَهُ أَخَذَكُمْ وَ إِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْهُ أَدْرَكَكُمْ وَ هُوَ أَلْزَمُ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظِلِّكُمْ

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al-Tusi –

‘Among what Amir Al-Momineen^-asws wrote to the people of Egypt: ‘Servants of Allah^-azwj! The death, there isn’t any escape from it, therefore, be cautious before its occurrence and prepare for it – its preparation, for you will be expelled by the death (from the world). If you were to stand for it, it will seize you, and if you were to flee from it, it will catch-up with you, and it will stick more with you than your shadows (do).

الْمَوْتُ مَعْقُودٌ بِنَوَاصِيكُمْ وَ الدُّنْيَا تُطْوَى خَلْفَكُمْ فَأَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ عِنْدَ مَا تُنَازِعُكُمْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْفُسُكُمْ مِنَ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ وَاعِظاً

The death is tied to your forelocks and the world is folding up behind you, therefore, frequently remember the death during whatever from the lustful desires snatches you to it and suffice with the death as a preaching.

وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَثِيراً مَا يُوصِي أَصْحَابَهُ بِذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ فَيَقُولُ أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِنَّهُ هَادِمُ اللَّذَّاتِ حَائِلٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ الشَّهَوَاتِ‏.

And Rasool-Allah^-saww used to frequently advise his^-saww companions to remember the death and he^-saww would say: ‘Frequently remember the death for it is a demolisher of the pleasures, a barrier between you and the lustful desires’’.^[7]

– وَ رُوِيَ‏ أَنَّ يَحْيَى بْنَ زَكَرِيَّا ع كَانَ يُفَكِّرُ فِي طُولِ اللَّيْلِ فِي أَمْرِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ فَيَسْهَرُ لَيْلَهُ وَ لَا يَأْخُذُهُ نَوْمٌ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ عِنْدَ الصَّبَّاحِ اللَّهُمَّ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرُّ وَ أَيْنَ الْمُسْتَقَرُّ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ‏.

And it is reported,

‘Yahya^-as Bin Zakariya^-as was thinking in the length of the night regarding the matter of Paradise and Fire. He^-as stayed awake his^-as night and the sleep did not seize him^-saww. Then he^-as said in the morning: ‘O Allah^-azwj! Where is the fleeing and where is the staying, O Allah^‑azwj, except to You^-azwj!’’^[8]

Allah^-azwj Says: Do not Forget your Death

دَعَوَاتُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيا أَيْ لَا تَنْسَ صِحَّتَكَ وَ قُوَّتَكَ وَ فَرَاغَكَ وَ شَبَابَكَ وَ نَشَاطَكَ وَ غِنَاكَ أَنْ تَطْلُبَ بِهِ الْآخِرَةَ

(The book) ‘Dawaat’ of Al Rawandy –

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said regarding Words of the Exalted: and do not forget your share from the world, [28:77]: ‘I.e., do not forget your health, and your strength, and your free time, and your youth, and your activeness, and your riches in seeking the Hereafter with it’.

وَ قِيلَ لِزَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ ع مَا خَيْرُ مَا يَمُوتُ عَلَيْهِ الْعَبْدُ

And it was said to Zayn Al-Abideen^-asws, ‘What is the best of what the servant can be dying upon?’

قَالَ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ فَرَغَ مِنْ أَبْنِيَتِهِ وَ دُورِهِ وَ قُصُورِهِ

He^-asws said: ‘If he happens to be free from his buildings, and his houses, and his castles’.

قِيلَ وَ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ

It was said, ‘And how is that so?’

قَالَ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ تَائِباً وَ عَلَى الْخَيْرَاتِ مُقِيماً يَرِدُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَبِيباً كَرِيماً.

He^-asws said: ‘That he happens to be repentant from his sins, and staying upon the good deed, he will return to Allah^-azwj as Beloved, Honoured’’.^[9]

– وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَانْظُرْ مَا سَلَكْتَ فِي بَطْنِكَ وَ مَا كَسَبْتَ فِي يَوْمِكَ وَ اذْكُرْ أَنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ أَنَّ لَكَ مَعَاداً.

‘And Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Whenever you go to your bed, then look at what has gone into your belly, and what you have earned in your day, and remember, you will be dying and that there is a Hereafter for you!’’^[10]

Allah^-azwj Considers the latest Status of a Believer:

– لي، الأمالي للصدوق ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ لَمْ يُؤَاخَذْ بِمَا مَضَى مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَنْ أَسَاءَ فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ أَخَذَ بِالْأَوَّلِ وَ الْآخِرِ.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Ibn Idrees, from his father, from Ayoub Bin Nuh, from Muhammad Bin Ziyad, from Giyas Bin Ibrahim,

‘From Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^‑asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who is good in what remains from his life span (becomes pious) will not be Seized with (by Allah^-azwj) what has passed from his sins, but one who is worse in what remains from his lifespan would be Seized (by Allah^‑azwj) with the former and the latter (deeds)’’.^[11]

The Prayer for death on one’s bed:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِدِرْعِكَ الْحَصِينَةِ وَ أَعُوذُ بِجَمْعِكَ أَنْ تُمِيتَنِي غَرَقاً أَوْ حَرَقاً أَوْ قَوَداً أَوْ صَبْراً أَوْ هَضْماً أَوْ تَرَدِّياً فِي بِئْرٍ أَوْ أَكِيلَ السَّبُعِ أَوْ مَوْتَ الْفَجْأَةِ أَوْ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ مِيتَةِ السَّوْءِ وَ لَكِنْ أَمِتْنِي عَلَى فِرَاشِي فِي طَاعَتِكَ وَ طَاعَةِ رَسُولِكَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

O Allah^-azwj! I seek Refuge with Your^-azwj Fortified shield, and I seek Refuge with Your^-azwj Whole from Causing me to die by drowning, or burning, or struck, or strangled, or starved, or falling into a well, or devoured by the predators, or dying suddenly, or with anything from the evil deaths, but Cause me to die upon my bed being in Your^-azwj obedience, and obedience to Your^‑azwj Rasool^-saww, may the Salawaat of Allah^-azwj be upon him^-as and his^-saww Progeny^-asws! (An extract).[12]

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 13 b

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 13 a

[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 13 b

[4] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 40, The book of History – Amir Al Momineen^–asws, Ch 99 H 9

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 1

[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 77 H 11

[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 4

[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 8 d

[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 17 a

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 76 H 17 c

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 90 H 1

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 83 – The Book Salat  – Ch 67 H 34