Surely, death has agonies the extent and severity of which are known only by those who have experienced it. The dying person loses his voice and the ability to scream out in pain; death impairs his body and weakens his limbs and senses, and leaves him with no energy to ask for help. His color changes and each part of his body feels the misery of death until his soul reaches his throat and he loses the link with this life; whereupon he becomes miserable if he is amongst the sinners or joyful if he is from the pious.
Aa’ishah said, “During his death sickness, the Prophet had a bowl of water in which he used to dip his hand then wipe his face and say: ‘There is none worthy of worship but Allah; indeed death has agonies.’” [Al-Bukhari] In another narration, he used to say: “O Allah! Help me through the agonies of death.” [At-Tirmithi]
Yazeed ibn Tameem said: “One who is not prevented from sinning by remembering death and hearing the Quran, nothing else can prevent him, even if he were to see the mountains move in front of his very eyes.”
It is narrated that one of the Prophets said to the Angel of Death, “‘Do you not have any messengers whom you send before you arrive, so that people can be aware? The angel replied, ‘Indeed, I have many messengers; illnesses, grey hair, anxieties and weakness in hearing and sight.’”
Allah The Almighty has left no excuses for people by sending these messengers, as He says (what means):
- {…And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).} [Quran 17:15]
- {…And the warner came to you. …..} [Quran 35:37]
It was said that this refers to the Quran and the Messengers of Allah; however, Ibn Abbaas said, “It is when one becomes grey-haired.”
Is it not time for the heedless to ponder over the agonies of death and its bitter difficulties. Death is a promise and a certain event which will definitely come true; the thought of death is enough to lacerate the heart, bring tears to the eyes of the most hard-hearted ones, destroy one's enjoyment of the pleasures of life and prevent one from having long-term hopes and overreaching ambitions for this life.
Does not the one who is hoarding wealth, eager to build and prosper in this life realize that the only wealth he has is his shroud? Riches will eventually vanish, your body will mix with dust. What will happen to the treasures you accumulate? Will they rescue you from the agonies of death? Indeed not! You will be leaving them all behind.
The ones who said interpreting the Saying of Allah The Almighty (what means): {….and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;…..} [Quran 28:77] to mean the shroud have done well in interpreting. It is connected to the previous part of the verse where Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter,….} [Quran, 28:77] meaning, seek the rewards in the Hereafter (Paradise) by utilizing what Allah The Almighty has granted you in this life. It is a duty upon the Muslim to utilize what Allah The Almighty granted him in this life to gain the benefit of the Hereafter; so it is just like saying: “Do not leave all your wealth behind to be used for your funeral.”
It is time we asked ourselves these questions:
- What is our preparation for death and its agonies?
- What is our preparation for the pressing of the grave?
- What is our preparation for answering the two angels in the grave?
- What is our preparation for the meeting with Allah, the Most High, the All-Competent?
All our worldly pursuits pale into insignificance beside these all-important questions, upon which depends our happiness and success not just in this world, but in the eternal Hereafter.