Thursday, February 4, 2016

LIFE AFTER DEATH - PART ONE

No one knows the time of his or her death. Hence, it is imperative to think about it and start preparations right now. The signs of death appear and the man can feel it. It is the state when the mind and the senses start to become dull.
The Glorious Qur’an Surah Qa’f Ayah 19: “The agony of death will reach the human being as a matter of all truth and he (the dying man) will be told, “This is what you have been trying to run away from.” This is the moment the dying man has a last look at the world he is about to leave, his entire life flashes in front of his eyes, how he had wasted the time and failed to discharge his duties as prescribed by the Creator. Also Surah al-Waqi’ah Ayah 88 to 94: “(If a dying soul) is of those near to Allah, it will have rest, happiness, (in his grave) and a beautiful Paradise. If it is of the people of the right hand, it will be with the people of the right hand, living in peace and security. If it is of those who have rejected theTruth and have gone astray, its dwelling will be boiling water and the heat of Hellfire.”
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) says in Nahjul Balagha: “He shall remember the wealth which he had overlooked where it had come from, the consequences of having collected are now round his neck, haunting him, as he is about to leave it behind for those who will enjoy it, thus the pleasure will be for others while he bears the burden.”
The dying person’s sight and hearing becomes very sharp, he is able to see the angels and hear his family and friends around him but cannot show any reaction because he has lost the control of his temporal body and his soul takes over. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Qa’f Ayah 22: “(He will be told), “You were completely heedless of this day. We have removed the veil from your eyes and your vision will be sharp and strong.”
According to Bihar-ul-Anwar volume 6, the dying man will see the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Progeny (a.s.). The Cursed Shaytan and his helpers will also be at hand trying their best to deprive him of his faith at the last minute. It is reported that the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) was at the bedside of a young man who was at the death bed.  He (s.a.w.a.s.) told the young man to recite “there is no God but Allah” but he could not speak. He (s.a.w.a.s.) asked a woman sitting at the head of the man if she was his mother. She replied in affirmative. When asked if she was angry with the man, she replied that she did not speak with him for the past six years. He (s.a.w.a.s.) asked her to forgive him. When his mother forgave him then he could speak “La Ilaha Illallah”. He (s.a.w.a.s.) asked the man to tell what he was seeing. The man replied that he saw an ugly man was pressing his mouth and respiratory passage. He (s.a.w.a.s.) told him to recite”Ya Man Yaqbal al Yaseera wa Yafu Anil Kaseera, Iqbal Minni alyaseera wa Afu Anil Kaseera, Innaka Antal Ghafur ar Raheem.” “O One Who accepts little of good deeds while forgiving lot of sinning, do accept what is little of good deeds I have done and forgive a lot of my sins; surely You are the Forgiving, the most Merciful.” When the young man recited the supplication, he told the Prophet that the ugly man had gone and a man with glowing face was with him and the young man died. It is also reported in Mustadrak Wasa’il ash-Shia.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “One who gives an outfit to his Muslim brother, Allah will provide an outfit of Paradise, ease his dying moments and expand his grave.” Recitation of Surah al-Yaseen, Surah Saffa’at and Dua-e-Faraj also eases his pain.
Al-Kaf’ami quoted in Musbah that the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said that if one recites the following supplication ten times a day, 10,000 of his major transgressions will be forgiven by Allah, Who will ease his death pains, save the constriction of the grave, grant security from the horrors of the Day of Judgment, save from Shaytan and worries:
“Aadattu le kulle howlin La Ilaha Illallah, wa Le Klle Hammin wa Ghammin Masha Allah, wa le Kulle Ne’matin Alhamdullilah, wa le Kulle Rakha’in Shukru Lillah, wa le Kulle A’jubatin Subhanallah, wa le Kulle Zanbin Astaghfirullah, wa le Kulle Musibatin Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Ra’jeun, wa le Kulle Zaiqin Hasbi Allahu wa Nemal Wakil, wa le Kulle Qaza’in wa Qadarin Tawwakaltu Alllah, wa le Kulle Aduwin A’tasamtu Billah, wa le Kulle Ma’siyatin La Hawlu wa la Quwwata Illah Billah Al Ali al Azeem.”

Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an

Manazil al-Akhira by Maulana Abbas al-Qummi (r.a.)

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