بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ ‏“‏ ‏.‏ يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Increase in remembrance of the severer of pleasures.” Meaning death.¹

If I die today…

…have I fulfilled my duties towards Allah ? Would I have achieved the purpose for which He created me ? Would I have honored the pact I made to Him ?

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.²

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَا ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَافِلِينَ

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.”³

…have I preserved the pillars of the religion, starting with Salat, followed by Zakat, fasting and Hajj?

عن عبد الله بن قرط رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: أول ما يحاسب عليه العبد يوم القيامة الصلاة فإن صلحت صلح سائر عمله وإن فسدت فسد سائر عمله

Abdullah Ibn Qart رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said : « The first thing on which the servant is judged on the day of resurrection is Salat, if it is good, the other acts will be good and if it is not good, the other acts will not be good ».⁴

وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ۝ يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ

And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful punishment. The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], “This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.”⁵

…have I preserved the few good deeds I did during this short episode in this world, without defiling them with association ?

لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers.”⁶

إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ

Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.⁷

…have I protected my deeds from innovated and unfounded practices in the Sunnah ?

عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُمِّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: قَالَ: رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم : مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ ، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ

On the authority of the mother of the faithful, Aisha رضي الله عنها, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “He who innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not of it will have it rejected (by Allah).” In another version in Muslim it reads: “He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected (by Allah).”⁸

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَهْلاً، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏“‏ أَنَا فَرَطُكُمْ، عَلَى الْحَوْضِ مَنْ وَرَدَ شَرِبَ وَمَنْ شَرِبَ لَمْ يَظْمَأْ أَبَدًا وَلَيَرِدَنَّ عَلَىَّ أَقْوَامٌ أَعْرِفُهُمْ وَيَعْرِفُونِي ثُمَّ يُحَالُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ ‏“‏

أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ لَسَمِعْتُهُ يَزِيدُ فَيَقُولُ :‏ إِنَّهُمْ مِنِّي ‏.‏ فَيُقَالُ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَدْرِي مَا عَمِلُوا بَعْدَكَ ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ سُحْقًا سُحْقًا لِمَنْ بَدَّلَ بَعْدِي

Sahl (b. Sa’d) رضي الله عنه reported:

I heard Allah’s Apostle ﷺ as saying: I shall go to the Cistern before you and he who comes would drink and he who drinks would never feel thirsty, and there would come to me people whom I would know and who would know me. Then there would be intervention between me and them. Abu Hazim said that Nu’man b. Abu ‘Ayyash heard it and I narrated to them this hadith, and said: Is it this that you heard Sahl saying? He said: Yes, and I bear witness to the fact that I heard it from Abu Sa’id Khudri رضي الله عنه also, but he made this addition that he (the Holy Prophet) would say: They are my followers, and it would be said to him: You do not know what they did after you and I will say to them: Woe to him who changes (his religion) after me.⁹

…have I repented of the sins I have committed, which may expose me to the punishment of the grave and of the Hell-Fire ?

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”¹⁰

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا

O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance¹¹

…will death befall me while I am in a state of obedience or disobedience to Allah ?

عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ : ‏ يُبْعَثُ كُلُّ عَبْدٍ عَلَى مَا مَاتَ عَلَيْهِ ‏

Jabir رضي الله عنه reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle ﷺ as saying. Every servant would be raised (in the same very state) in which he dies.¹²

…would I have left to my offspring, the religious instruction necessary for them to lead their lives as Muslims ?

أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ الْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن بَعْدِي قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ آبَائِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac – one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”¹³

…will I see, at the moment of death, the angels of mercy who collect the soul softly or the angels of punishment who tear it off harshly ?

وَالنَّازِعَاتِ غَرْقًا ۝ وَالنَّاشِطَاتِ نَشْطًا

By those [angels] who extract with violence and [by] those who remove with ease¹⁴

إنَّ العبدَ المؤمنَ إذا كان في انقِطاعٍ من الدنيا ، وإقبالٍ من الآخرةِ ، نَزَلَ إليه ملائكةٌ من السماءِ ، بِيضُ الوُجُوهِ ، كأنَّ وجوهَهُمُ الشمسُ ، معهم كَفَنٌ من أكفانِ الجنةِ ، وحَنُوطٌ من حَنُوطِ الجنةِ ، حتى يَجْلِسُوا منه مَدَّ البَصَرِ ، ثم يَجِىءُ مَلَكُ الموتِ عليه السلامُ حتى يَجْلِسَ عندَ رأسِهِ فيقولُ : أَيَّتُها النَّفْسُ الطيبةُ وفي رواية : المطمئنةُ ، اخْرُجِي إلى مغفرةٍ من اللهِ ورِضْوانٍ ، قال : فتَخْرُجُ تَسِيلُ كما تَسِيلُ القَطْرَةُ من فِي السِّقَاءِ

وإنَّ العبدَ الكافرَ– وفي روايةٍ : الفاجرَ– إذا كان في انقطاعٍ من الدنيا ، وإقبالٍ من الآخرةِ ، نَزَل إليه من السماءِ ملائكةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ ، سُودُ الوجوهِ ، معَهُمُ المُسُوحُ من النارِ ، فيَجْلِسُونَ منه مَدَّ البَصَرِ ، ثم يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الموتِ حتى يَجْلِسَ عند رأسِهِ ، فيقولُ : أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الخبيثةُ اخْرُجِي إلى سَخَطٍ من اللهِ وغَضَبٍ ، قال : فتفَرَّقُ في جَسَدِهِ فيَنْتَزِعُها كما يُنْتَزَعُ السَّفُّودُ الكثيرُ الشُّعبِ من الصُّوفِ المَبْلُولِ ، فتَقْطَعُ معها العُرُوقَ والعَصَبَ ،

Indeed the believing servant, when he comes to the departure of this life and the arrival of the hereafter, angels come down to him from the sky, their faces so white and bright, it is as if their faces were the sun. They will have with them a shroud from Paradise and embalms from Paradise, and they will sit as far away from the deceased as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death عليه السلام will come and sit beside his head and say, “Oh good soul (In another narration: “Oh soul, safe and peaceful”), come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah.”. The believer’s soul then comes out (easily and gently) like a drop flows from the spout of a waterskin.

[…]

Indeed the disbelieving (In another narration: wicked, immoral) servant, when he reaches the departure from this life and the arrival of the hereafter, angels [harsh and severe] come down from the sky to him, their faces dark. They will have with them sackcloth [from the fire.] They will sit as far away from the deceased as the eye can see, then the Angel of Death will come and sit beside his head and say, “Oh filthy soul, come out to displeasure and anger from Allah.”. The disbeliever’s soul will then scatter, dispersing throughout his body, but the Angel of Death will rip it out violently similar to how a skewer [with many forks] is yanked through wet wool [ripping with it the veins and nerves]. ¹⁵

…will I have a good or a bad companion in my grave ?

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ : إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying:

When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).¹⁶

ويَأْتِيهِ– وفي روايةٍ : يُمَثَّلُ له– رجلٌ حَسَنُ الوجهِ ، حَسَنُ الثيابِ ، طَيِّبُ الرِّيحِ ، فيقولُ : أَبْشِرْ بالذي يَسُرُّكَ ، أَبْشِرِ برِضْوانٍ من اللهِ ، وجَنَّاتٍ فيها نعيمٌ مُقِيمٌ ، هذا يومُكَ الذي كنتَ تُوعَدُ ، فيقولُ له : وأنت فبَشَّرَكَ اللهُ بخيرٍ مَن أنت ؟ فوَجْهُكَ الوجهُ يَجِئُ بالخيرِ ، فيقولُ : أنا عَمَلُكَ الصالِحُ فواللهِ ما عَلِمْتُكَ إلا كنتَ سريعًا في طاعةِ اللهِ ، بطيئًا في معصيةِ اللهِ ، فجزاك اللهُ خيرًا

ويَأْتِيهِ وفي روايةٍ : ويُمَثَّلُ له رجلٌ قبيحُ الوجهِ ، قبيحُ الثيابِ ، مُنْتِنُ الرِّيحِ ، فيقولُ : أَبْشِرْ بالذي يَسُوؤُكَ ، هذا يومُكَ الذي كنتَ تُوعَدُ ، فيقولُ : وأنت فَبَشَّرَكَ اللهُ بالشرِّ مَن أنت ؟ فوجهُك الوجهُ يَجِيءُ بالشرِّ ! فيقولُ : أنا عملُكَ الخبيثُ ، فواللهِ ما عَلِمْتُ إلا كنتُ بطيئًا عن طاعةِ اللهِ ، سريعًا إلى معصيةِ اللهِ ، فجزاك الله شرًّا

There will then come to him [In another narration: or there will be portrayed to him the form of] a man with a beautiful face, beautiful clothing, and a beautiful fragrance. This man will say, “Rejoice at that which will please you. [Rejoice at the pleasure of Allah and gardens in which is eternal bliss.] This is your day which you were promised.” So the person will ask the man, “[And you, may Allah give you good,] who are you? Your face is the face that brings good.” The man will reply, “I am your good deeds. [For I swear by Allah, I only knew you to be quick to obey Allah, hesitant to disobey Allah, so may Allah reward you with good.]”

[…]

There will come to him (In another narration: there will be portrayed to him the form of) a man with a hideous face, ugly clothing, and a horrible stench. This man will say to the person, “Rejoice at that which will sadden you; this is your day which you were promised.” So the person will say to this man, “[And you, may Allah give you evil.] Who are you? Your face is the face that brings evil!” The man will reply, “I am your filthy deeds. [For I swear by Allah, I only knew you to be hesitant to obey Allah, quick to disobey Allah.] So may Allah reward you with evil.” ¹⁷

…in which hand will I receive my book of deeds ?

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ۝ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ۝ وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا ۝ وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ ۝ فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُو ثُبُورًا ۝ وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا

Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account and return to his people in happiness. But as for he who is given his record behind his back, he will cry out for destruction and [enter to] burn in a Blaze.¹⁸

…in which side will my scale tilt ?

فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ ۝ فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ ۝ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ ۝ فَأُمُّهُ هَاوِيَةٌ ۝ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا هِيَهْ ۝ نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌ

Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], he will be in a pleasant life. But as for one whose scales are light, his refuge will be an abyss. And what can make you know what that is? It is a Fire, intensely hot.¹⁹

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ ۝ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ

So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.²⁰

…will I see Allah ?

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ ۝ قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمَىٰ وَقَدْ كُنتُ بَصِيرًا – قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ آيَاتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ

And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”. He will say, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?” [Allah] will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.”²¹

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ ۝ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ

[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, looking at their Lord.²²

…questions are many and answers too frail and vague. Every muslim must take himself to account before he is taken to account by Allah, and most importantly rectify himself, prioritize, repent and return to Allah and His religion :

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ حَاسِبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبُوا

Umar ibn al Khattab رضي الله عنه said : « Reckon with yourselves before you are reckoned with ! » ²³

✽ ✽ ✽

والله تعالى أعلم

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Inspired from IF I DIE TODAY… by Muhammad Tim Humble حفظه الله