By Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi – 20 Muharram 1438

His Eminence Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday khutbah entitled, “Preparing for Departing This Life,” in which he talked about the necessity of preparing for death, showing how this can be achieved by drawing closer to Allah, Exalted be He, through performing acts of obedience to Him and through avoiding sins and forbidden deeds. He also referred to some of the causes that lead one to have a good ending or a bad ending.

Praise be to Allah, the Self-Subsisting, the Ever-Living, Who never dies. He is the Owner of the Kingdom and Dominion and the Owner of Might and Power. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I turn to Him in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the All-Dominant over all His servants. He does and commands that which He wills. I also bear witness that our Prophet and Master, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger. O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon Your chosen servant and messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions, who adhered to the religion of true monotheism.

Now then,
Fear Allah, Exalted be He, by seeking His good pleasure and keeping away from disobedience to Him; for fearing Allah sets right your affairs in this worldly life and prepares you to overcome the fears and concerns that lie ahead of you. It is the fortress that protects you from destructive sins and the means to attain Paradise, which Allah has promised the good-doers.

Servants of Allah!
Everyone in this life strives to attain whatever benefits him, sets right his affairs, and secures his livelihood. Some people seek to set right their religious affairs along with their worldly affairs. These are the ones whom Allah will give in this world that which is good and in the hereafter that which is good, and whom He will save from the torment of the Fire. Other people seek only this worldly life and lose their share in the hereafter. These are the ones who enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their abode.

Every concern and every act has an appointed term in which it will come to an end. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And that to your Lord (Allah) is the End (Return of everything).” (An-Najm: 42)

Glorified be our Lord, Who has made all hearts occupied with various concerns and worries, and Who has created everyone with will and determination, so that he can do or abandon anything whenever he wants, and Allah’s will is dominant over all other wills and desires.

Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills – the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (At-Takwir: 29)

Whatever Allah wills, will be; and whatever He does not will, will never be. Death is the fate of every creature on earth and the end of every living thing in this worldly life. Allah has decreed it for all creation, even the angels, such as Jibril, Mika’il, and Israfil, peace and blessings be upon them. The Angel of Death will also die, just like all the other angels. Allah, Exalted be He, says:  “Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever.” (Ar-Rahman: 26-27)

Death is the end of this worldly life and the beginning of the hereafter. When it strikes, the enjoyment of the worldly life will cease, and after that, everyone will either enjoy great bliss or suffer painful torment. Death is also one of the signs of the power of Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, and a manifestation of His dominance over His creation. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.” (Al-An‘am: 61)

All creatures are equal when it comes to death; for Allah, Glorified be He, has justly decreed death for all of them. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Everyone shall taste death. Then unto Us you shall be returned.” (Al-‘Ankabut: 57)

Death disrupts all worldly pleasures, puts an end to all one’s acts, dissipates all gatherings, and deprives people of whatever they are familiar with and find pleasure in. Allah is the Only One Who determines death, just as He is the Only One Who gives life. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And it is He Who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of night and day. Will you not then understand?” (Al-Mu’minun: 80)

Death cannot be held back by a gatekeeper or pushed away by a guard. No wealth, son, or companion can avail one anything when death comes. No one can escape death, whether young or old, rich or poor, great or lowly. Allah, Exalted be He, says: ““Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!” … (An-Nisa’: 78)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “Say (to them): “Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.” (Al-Jumu‘ah: 8)

Death comes suddenly, at an appointed time. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.” (Al-Munafiqun: 11)

Death does not take leave before it comes from the one who is to die, except in the case of the prophets, peace and blessings be upon them, because of the honour bestowed upon them by Allah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No prophet dies until Allah grants him the choice between eternal life in this world and death, and he chooses death.”

It is the will of Allah, Exalted be He, that the children of Adam depart this worldly life through death, to cut off all strings with it, so that no believer will long for it at all. Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “No one who has a place near Allah will desire to return to this world even if he should be given all that is on the earth, except for martyrs, who will wish to return to the world and be killed ten times because of the honour that they received by virtue of their martyrdom.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Death is an unavoidable calamity. The pain that a dying man goes through is indescribably severe and intense. During death, the spirit is taken out from the veins, flesh, and nerves. Any severe pain is incomparable to that of death. ‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was dying. He had a drinking bowl with water in it. He would dip his hand into the bowl, wipe his face, and then say, “O Allah! Help me over the pangs of death and the agonies of death.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi)

According to some other narrations of this hadith, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would then say, “Death indeed has its agonies.”

A man once said to his dying father, who was still conscious, “Describe death to me so that I may take heed of it.” His father replied, “O my son! It is as if hooked thorns were pulled within me, and as if I were breathing through a needle’s eye.” Another dying man was asked, “How do you feel?” He answered, “As if daggers were stabbing me from the inside.” Another one was asked, “What is the pain of death like?” He replied, “It is as though fire were burning within my body.”

Anyone who is inclined to remember death becomes soft-hearted, does righteous deeds, and sets right all his affairs. He will not dare to commit sins or neglect religious duties, nor will he be tempted by the lure of this present life. He will long for standing before his Lord and entering the Gardens of Delight. Conversely, whoever forgets death will have a heart of stone. He will incline to the worldly life, get used to evil deeds, and have high hopes for a longer life. Therefore, remembering death is the greatest of all admonitions.

Abu-Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Often remember the destroyer of pleasures” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa’i, and classified as sahih (authenticated) by ibn Hibban). This hadith refers to death, which eliminates and puts an end to all pleasures. Ubay ibn Ka‘b, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “When one third of the night passed, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,‎ would get up and say, “O People! Remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease) has come, followed by the Radifah (i.e., the second blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, “It is a good (Hasan) Hadith”)

Abu ad-Darda’ narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Sufficient is death as an admonisher, and sufficient is time as a disperser. Today we are in houses, and tomorrow we shall be in graves” (Reported by Ibn ‘Asakir).

True happiness, success, and gain lie in preparing oneself for death; for death is the first gate to Paradise or the first gate to Hellfire. The most important means to prepare for death is to fulfil the belief in the Oneness of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, by worshipping Allah without associating partners with Him, and by avoiding all forms of polytheism. Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “Allah, Exalted be He, says [in the Holy Hadith], ‘O Son of Adam! Were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to stand before Me, ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as the earth.’” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, “It is a good (hasan) Hadith”)

In addition, one should prepare for death by observing the limits and the obligations set by Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) … Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).” (Al-Ahzab: 35)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… and who observe the limits set by Allah (do all that Allah has ordained and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden). And give glad tidings to the believers.” (At-Taubah: 112)

One should also prepare for death by abstaining from the major sins and evil deeds. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall expiate from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).” (An-Nisa’: 31)

We should also prepare for death by giving people their due rights, without denial or procrastination. Allah may forgive neglecting His rights, except for associating partners with Him, but He will not forgive violating the rights of His servants and His creation unless He takes them from the oppressor and gives them back to the oppressed. In addition, one should prepare for death by writing one’s last will and testament, without any negligence whatsoever in this regard. Death may come at any time, and one should always be prepared for it.

When Allah, Exalted be He, revealed the verse, And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam … (Al-An‘am: 125), the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It is a light that Allah casts in the heart.” The Companions then asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What are its signs?” He said, “Turning towards the eternal abode (i.e., the Hereafter), turning away from the deceptive abode (i.e., the worldly life), and preparing for death before it strikes.”

The greatest happiness and achievement are attained if one’s last deeds are righteous. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Deeds are but [judged] by the last of them.” Mu‘adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “He whose last words are ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (There is no god but Allah), will enter Paradise” (Reported by Abu-Dawud and al-Hakim, with an authenticated chain of transmission).

It is confirmed that one should kindly and compassionately prompt a dying person to recite the testimony of faith (the shahadah). The dying person should be assisted in this by reciting the shahada every now and then so that he may remember it and recite it himself. This should be done in such a manner as not to annoy him, as he is going through extreme agony. Abu-Sa‘id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Prompt your dying ones to recite La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah)” (Reported by Muslim).

Real misery lies in being unmindful and forgetful of death and failing to prepare for it. Those who forget death tend to have the audacity to commit sins and acts of disobedience to Allah, to disregard the Oneness of the Lord, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and to engage in acts of aggression and transgression, such as shedding protected blood, taking ill-gotten money, neglecting others’ rights, and indulging in forbidden desires and pleasures until death suddenly strikes, at which time regret will be to no avail.

One’s appointed time of death is never delayed. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, so that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.” (Al-Mu’minun: 99-100)

On the Day of Judgment, the grief and remorse of those who neglected their duties towards Allah will intensify greatly. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur’an, and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and at the faithful believers].” Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqun (the pious).” Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the Muhsinun (good-doers).” Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers.” (Az-Zumar: 55-59)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words and benefit from the guidance and right sayings of the Imam of Messengers. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims. Ask Allah for forgiveness.