Question:
I have some questions regarding to death. Does Allah ever change the time of a person's death? Does it mention anywhere in the Qur'aan or Hadeeth of this ever happening? Also, the night of Al- Qadar, a night better than a thousand months, Allah writes the destiny of mankind for the upcoming year, right? I am asking these because I have read somewhere where a Muslim was so kind to his/her parents that when the angel off death came to that person, he/she was excused from dying at that time. However, the Qur'aan states, when death comes, it does not delay an hour. I am so confused. I hope you can help me by answering my questions. Thank you for your time and service. May Allah bless you and your family. Take care.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.
Every person has an appointed time and fixed days in this life as Allah says (what means): {And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].} [Quran 7:34].
This appointed time is written in the preserved record, and it does not change. However, some people of knowledge are of the view that what changes is the knowledge of the angel of death. They say that the saying of Allah (what means): {Allah eliminates or confirms what He wills, and with Him is the Mother of the Book} [Quran 13:39] has this meaning.
It is reported that Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said regarding the verse of Allah (what means): {The angels and the Spirit [i.e. Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.} [Quran 97:4]. The angels descend with all decrees that Allah decreed on that year until the coming year.
However, we do not know of any evidence proving that being kind to parents is a reason of warding off the angel of death when he comes to a person. But it is confirmed that the Prophet said: "Whoever wants his age and provision to be extended, has to be dutiful to his parents and keep relations with his kinship." [Ahmad]
The meaning here is based on what is previously mentioned regarding the knowledge of the angel, however, some other people of knowledge are of the view that this means blessings in one's life, and not really having the age extended, and this meaning seems to be more appropriate.
Allah knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb