More on Death
Everyone will die at their appointed time. It is reported that Umm Habiba, the wife of Rasulallah (saw) supplicated “Oh Allah give me pleasure by giving a long life to my husband, Rasulallah (saw), and to my father, Abu Sufyan, and to my brother, Mu’awiya.” Rasulallah (saw) told her “You are supplicating towards Allah in regards to fixures and counted days and ordained provisions that are already divided. If you would have asked Allah (swt) to save you from hellfire and to save you from the punishment of the grave, that would have been better for you.” (Sahih Muslim)
Rasulallah (saw) described death as the destroyer of pleasures. There is a period of preparation before death when the angels descend. Allah (swt) says in the Quran, “Until when death approaches one of you, our messengers take his soul and they never neglect their duty.” The messengers are the angels.
Rasulallah says in the hadith “if the believing servent is leaving this world and moving into al Aakhira, angles will descend from the heavens. White, bright faces like the sun. They have with them a coffin from Paradise and incense from Paradise. And then the angel of death will descend and he will sit next his head (the person entering into the aakhira), and he says “Oh you pure soul, come out to the forgiveness of Allah and His pleasure.” This soul will come out so easily, so smoothe, that is like a drop of water coming out of a jug.”
For the evildoer and the nonbeliever, if he is leaving dhunya and approaching aakhira, dark angels will come down and they are carrying with them coffins made of harsh material (it could be from hellfire). The angel of death will come and sit next to him and say “Oh you evil soul, come out to the anger of Allah (swt) and the wrath of Allah (swt) is waiting for you.” Rasulallah (saw) says when the angel makes this announcement, the soul will disperse in the body, running around, not wanting to leave. Then the angel of death will grab the soul and pull it out like a branch with many thorns pulled out of a ball of wet wool. Just as the wool would be torn apart, the soul will be tearing the muscles and the nerves of the person.
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