Part 11

) (14: 29) The agreed version continues: "Then a crier will call from Heaven, 'My servant has spoken the truth, so spread a bed for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a door for him into Paradise.' So some of its air and perfume will come to him, and space will be made for him as far as the eye can see." He also describes the death of the kafir and says: "His spirit will be restored to his body and two angels will come to him and make him sit up and ask him, 'Who is your Lord?' He will reply, 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' They will ask him, 'What is your deen?' He will reply, 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' They will ask, 'Who was the man who was sent on a mission among you?' He will reply, 'Alas, alas! I do not know.' Then a crier will call from Heaven, 'He has lied, so spread a bed for him from Hell, clothe him from Hell, and open a door for him into Hell.' Then some of its heat and pestilential wind will come to him, and his grave will be compressed so that his ribs are crushed together." Jabir's version adds: "Then someone who is blind and dumb will be put in charge of him. He will have such a sledge-hammer that if a mountain were struck with it, it would become dust. He will give him a blow with it, which will be heard by everything between the east and the west, except by men and jinn, and he will become dust. Then his spirit will be restored to him."37 The Fear of a Bad End and the Punishment of the Evil-Doers in the Fire of Hell Fear of a bad end even breaks the hearts of the righteous because it is one of the agonies of death. They fear this moment the most because they are waiting to hear whether the Angel of Death will give them the glad tidings of Paradise or the bad news of Hellfire. 37 Abu Dawud, 3196; Al-Hakim, 1 / 37-38; Ahmed, 4 /287-288. It is related that when he was in his death throes, Hudhaifah Ibn al-Yamani, told 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'oud, "Go and see what time it is." Ibn Mas'oud went out and came back, saying, "The sun has just risen." Hudhaifah Ibn al-Yamani replied, "I seek refuge with Allah from a morning in the Fire." When he was in his death throes, Abu Hurairah wept and said, "I swear by Allah that I am not crying because I am leaving the life of this world, or because I am leaving you, but because I am waiting for one of two summons from my Lord — which will be either to the Garden or to the Fire." It is related in the Sahihain, on the authority of 'Ubada Ibn as-Samit, that the Prophet said, "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him — and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him." 'A'isha, or some of the wives of the Prophet said, "But we dislike death." He replied, "It is not like that. What this means is that when the time of a believer's death approaches, he is given the good news of Allah's being pleased with him and His blessings on him, and so at this time nothing is dearer to him than what is coming to him. So he loves to meet Allah, and Allah loves to meet him. But when the time of a disbeliever's death approaches, he receives the bad news of Allah's being angry with him and His punishment, and so at that time nothing is more hateful to him than what is coming to him. So he hates to meet Allah, and Allah hates to meet him."38 Allah says: ( The angels descend on those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then go straight: 'Do not fear and do not grieve but rejoice in the Garden you have been promised. We are your protectors in the life of the dunya and the akhira. You will have there all that your selves could wish for. You will have there everything you demand. Hospitality from One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' ) (41: 29-31) Recommendations for when You are Dying When the time comes for you to die you should relax. Your tongue should only be repeating the shahada. You should hope for good from Allah. You should be calm and at peace with yourself, because you will see the angels of mercy who will take away your soul and give you glad tidings of Paradise. As Allah says: ( Those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.' ) (16: 32) As for the evil-doers and unbelievers, Allah says: ( If only you could see when the angels take back those who were kafir at their death, beating their faces and their backs: 'Taste the punishment of the Burning!