Part 3

On hearing this, ‘A’ishah (si) exclaimed, “But we do hate death!” The Prophet (4) responded:

<This is not what it means! When death comes to a believer, he is given the tidings of Allah’s acceptance and bounties. Nothing is then dearer to him than what is ahead: he loves to meet Allah; and Allah loves to meet him. But when death comes to a disbeliever, he is given the tidings of Allah’s torture and punishment. Nothing is then more hateful to him than what is ahead: he hates to meet Allah; and Allah hates to meet him. |

Similar to this is Abt Hurayrah’s hadith (presented in full in Chapter 2) that Allah’s Messenger (8) said:

<Verily, when death descends upon a believer, and he witnesses things (implying his forthcoming rewards),

1 Al-Bukhart and Muslim.

he wishes that his soul would depart (quickly), and Allah Joves to meet him ...

And when death descends upon an enemy of Allah, and he witnesses things (implying his imminent punishment), he wishes that his soul would never depart, and Allah hates to meet him. '

Allah Hesitates to Take a Believer's Soul

Allah (88) loves the believers in proportion to their obedience to Him and His Messenger (8%). When Allah loves a person, he becomes so supportive to him and so protective that He would prevent any harm from reaching him, and He would even hesitate to inflict death on him — except that it is an avoidable thing that He (38) had decreed for all human beings. Abi Hurayrah (5) reported that Allah’s Messenger (#8) said that Allah (88) said:

<Whoever harms a walt? of Mine, I declare war against him.

My ‘abd? does not draw closer to Me with anything dearer to Me than the religious duties I have mandated upon him.

And My ‘abd continues to draw closer to Me with voluntary acts (of worship) until I Jove him; when I fove him, I become his ears with which he hears, his eyes with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Would he then ask me for anything, I surely grant it to him; and would he seek refuge in Me, I surely shelter him,

t Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 2628). 2 Walz: Ally. 3. ‘Abd: A slave or worshipper.

Life in Al-Barzakh 3 The Approach of Death

Satan's Presence at the Time of Death

Shaytan ? works hard to entice people to commit evil actions. He is intent to be present when a person does any action that he may be able to influence by introducing into it any possible amount of sinning. The moment of death is a final chance that Shaytan wants to try, hoping to make the dying person end his life with evil, impiety, or disobedience. Jabir Bin ‘Abdillah (#) reported that the Prophet (4) said:

<Verily the Shaytan attends with you in all your actions. He attends when you eat; if any morsel of food drops, wipe the dirt off it, and eat it instead of leaving it for the Shaytan. After finishing, lick your fingers, because you do not know where in the food the blessing lies.> *

The Disbeliever's Wish to Return to Life

As indicated in the hadiths of ‘Ubadah and Abii Hurayrah (#) (p. 1 above), when the reality of death comes to a believer, he welcomes it and longs to meet his Lord (38). A disbeliever, on the other hand, fears such a meeting and hates it. Allah (8%) says:

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| Al-Bukhari. 2. Shaytdn: Satan. 3. Muslim.

Death arrives with pains and agonies of which no human being is spared — not even the prophets. ‘A’ishah (wi) reported that Allah’s Messenger (i) said:

Too Late for the Disbelievers to Declare Faith

A disbeliever's declaration of faith at the time of Death will be rejected. Ibn ‘Abbas (tt) reported that Allah’s Messenger (86) said:

There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah.

Recorded by Ahmad and at-Tirmitht; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-

Life in Al-Barzakh 5 The Approach of Death

The First Step into the Hereafter

Death is the first step into the hereafter, and the grave is the first of the hereafter's domiciles. Hani, ‘Uthman Bin ‘Affan’s (<%) servant, said that whenever ‘Uthman stood over a grave, he would cry until he soaked his beard. He was told, “You remember Jannah and the Fire without weeping, but you weep when you remember the grave!” He replied, “Indeed, I heard Allah’s Messenger (&) say:

And I heard Allah’s Messenger (8) say:

1 Recorded by at-Tirmithi; verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ut-Targhibi wat-Tarhib).

CHAPTER 2 TEXTS DESCRIBING AL-BARZAKH

In this chapter, we present a number of long hadiths, each describing various happenings in al-Barzakh. The incidents mentioned in these (as well as other hadiths) are summarized and segmented in the next four chapters to cover the four stages of the life of al-Barzakh.

<O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.

1 These are the companions of the Prophet (B) from al-Madinah who helped and supported him when he migrated to them. The Qiblah: The direction of al-Ka‘bah.

enter the next life ', angels descend from heaven. Their faces are white (and bright) like the sun. They carry with them a shroud from the clothes of Jannah, and embalmment from the fragrance of Jannah, They sit away from him at the limit of his eyesight. The angel of death then arrives, sits by his head, and says, “O good and peaceful soul, depart to Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure.” On hearing this, the soul leaves the body (as easily) as water drops flow from the spout of a water skin; and he (the Angel of Death) takes it.

When the soul leaves his body, all angels between the heavens and the earth, and all angels in the heavens, pronounce salah on him *. All gates of the heavens open for him; the guardians of every gate implore Allah that this soul ascends in their direction.

When the Angel of Death takes the soul, they (the other angels) do not leave it in his hand for as little as the blinking of an eye. They take it and place it in their shroud and embalmment. To this apply Allah’s (8%) words:

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There emanates then from the soul the best smelling scent of musk that ever existed on the . surface of the earth.

i The angels then ascend with it. As they pass by a gatherings of angels, they ask them, “What is this good soul?” They (the angels holding it) repiy, “He

1 ite,, he is close to death. 2 i.e, they ask that he be forgiven.

Life in Al-Barzakh 9 Texts Describing al-Barzakh

is so and so, son of so and so,” using the best names with which he had been addressed in the first life. When they reach the lowest heaven, they ask for permission to enter; and the gates open for them. The most elite (angels) of each heaven escort him to the next one, until he reaches the seventh heaven. Allah (@%) then says, “Write My servant’s records in ‘Illiyyain ',

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Thus, his records are inscribed in ‘Illiyyin; and the angels are told, “Take him back to the earth, because I promised them that from it I create them, into it I return them, and from it I resurrect them once again. *”

He is then returned to the earth; and his soul is returned to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companions’ shoes as they walk away from his grave.

Two angels of severe reprimand then come to him, and shake him. They make him sit up, and ask him, “Who is you Lord?” He replies, “My Lord is Allah.” They ask him, “What is your Din (religion)?”’ He replies, “My Din is Islam.’ They ask him, “Who is that man who was sent to you?” He replies, “He is Allah’s Messenger (48).” They ask him, “What did you do?” He replies, “I read Allah’s Book, believed in it, and obeyed it.” They shake him again, asking,

1 A place most high; the highest register. 2 Al-Mutaffifin 83:19-21.