The Final Hour

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By Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

“(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them) “Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden, because of the good which ye did (in the world).” (16:32)

“If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death!― the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying) “Yield up your souls. this day shall ye receive your reward a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and scornfully to reject of His Signs!” (6:93)

Death is a tense moment both for the dying and for relatives and friends. The dying person is in a process of passing into the other world, and experiencing things which the living would never understand. He has a complete replay of his entire life’s performance in flash, and has intimations of what awaits him in the other world. Thus the believer is given good tidings and the disbeliver is given bad tidings. A believer rejoices, and a disbeliver feels depressed, dejected and vainly asks for a second chance.

Allah says,

“And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say “O my Lord! why didst thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.” But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come: and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.” (63: 10-11)

The dying is visited by the angels of death who seize his soul. In a hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah, The Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace) said: The angels will descend upon a person who is nearing death. If he is good the angels will say, “Come out! O good soul proceeding from a good body! Come out in an honorable way, and rejoice in God’s bounty and favor, and a Lord who is ever happy with you.”

“The angels  will then escort his soul to the higher heavens, and in each heaven he will be greeted with the same sweet words. When the door opens, the inhabitants will ask, “who is there?” The angels will reply, “So and so (mentioning the person’s name).” The inhabitants will say, “Welcome! O good soul proceeding from a good body, enter ye with full honor, and rejoice in the bounty and pleasure of Allah.” His soul is then taken from one heaven to the next and eventually is escorted to the presence of Allah, the most exalted.”

“As for the evil soul, the angels will say, “Come out, O evil soul dwelling in an evil body. Come out despised, and be warned of a fire, bitter drinks, and all sorts of torments.” His souls will then be escorted to the heavens by angels, but he will be met with a stern, harsh greeting. The angels will ask for the door to open and the inhabitants will ask, “who is there?” The angels will then reply “So and so (Mentioning the person’s name).” The inhabitants will further respond, “O evil soul proceeding from an evil body! Ye are unwelcome! Return ye despised! For the doors of heavens are not open for ye. His soul will then be sent back from heaven and returned to the grave.” (Reported by Ibn Majah)

A Muslim, therefore, constantly keeps the final hour in his consciousness and is never slack with respect to his duties in this life and prior to his death. He desires to appear before his Lord in a state that is pleasing to Allah. He should be praying all along

Say: “Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds” (6:162)

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