Shaikh Sadooq quotes from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that he said, "1f a person wishes that his last moments should be easy, he should maintain cordial relations with his kith & kin, and be kind to his parents. Whoever does so, death will be eased, and he will never fall prey to misfortunes in his lifetime".
It is narrated that once the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) went to see a youth who was in his last moments. He told him to recite Kalamae Tawheed (There is no God but
Allah), but they youth could not utter it because his tongue had turned speechless. The Prophet repeated his order but with no awail. He repeated it twice but the youth could not answer. The Prophet turned towards a woman who was sat near the youth's head and asked her if she was his mother. She replied in affirmative. He then asked her if she was unhappy with her son. She answered that she was certainly unhappy, but would forgive him if the Prophet commanded her to do so. The Prophet told her to forgive him. As soon as she forgave, the youth's speech returned and he recited
the 'Kalema'. The Prophet asked him as to what he saw. He answered that he saw an ugly looking man who had held
When he did so, the Prophet asked him as to what he saw now. He answered that he saw that a handsome man had come to his rescue while the ugly man had turned
back. The Prophet ordered him to recite the above du'a again and after having done so asked him what he saw. He replied that the ugly man had left, and the handsome youth was there by his side comforting him. He uttered these words and breathed his last. The above narration should be understood well, and lesson should be learnt that parents's displeasure becomes the reason for anguish in death. Even after being a companion (Sahabi) of the Prophet, and the Prophet being present besides him, the youth could not recite the 'kalema' and was in agony till his mother forgave him.
Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says, "For a person who gives clothes to his brother believer during the summer or in winter, it is incumbent upon Allah to present the dress of Paradise to him, make his end easy, and save him from the narrowness of the grave." The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, "A person who offers to eat something sweet to his brother believer, the pangs of death will be easy on him".
Reciting Surah-al-Yaseen, Surah-as-Saffat and the following supplication (du'a) eases the tribulation during
death:
Shaikh Sadooq narrates from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that he said, "For the person who fasts on the last day of the month of Rajab, Allah will save him from the
after effects of death". Fasting on the 24th of Rajab carries great reward (Sawab). One of it's merits is that when the Angel of death comes to remove his spirit (Rooh), he comes in the form of a handsome youth carrying a bowl of the pure drink (Sharabe Tahoora) and offers him to drink. The dying person does so and dies in peace.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says that if a person recites four unit (Rak'at) Namaz on the night of 7th Rajab in a manner that in each unit (Rak'at) after Surah-al-Hamd
recites thrice Surah-at-Tawheed, once Surah-al-Falaq, and once Surah-an-Naas. After finishing the Namaz, sends Salawat on Us and recites ten times Tasbeehate Arba.
Almighty Allah will offer him shelter under the Throne (Arsh), and give him reward of a person fasting in the month of Ramazan. Till the time he finishes the prayers, the
Angels pray for his forgiveness. Allah will ease the pangs of death on him, and save him from the squeeze in the grave (Fishare Qabr). He will not die until he sees his
place in Paradise, and will be safe from the hardships of Resurrection (Qay'amat)
Shaikh Kafami quotes from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.), that he said that a person who recites the following supplication (Du'a) 10 times daily, Allah will forgive four thousand major sins (Gunahane Kabeera) of his, offer him refuge from one lac calamities at the time of death, the squeeze in the grave (Fishare Qabr) and Qayamat.
Allah will also save him from satan (shaitaan) and his army, will pay off his dues and save him from troubles and anxieties.
The recitation of the following du'a seventy times carries great reward. The least of which is that he will be given
Shaikh Kulaini relates from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that he said that the one who recites Surah-az-Zilzal in the Supererogatory Prayers (Nafela), Allah will save him from earthquake, lightening and the calamities of the land and sky. And during death He will send this Surah in the form of a handsome youth who will sit besides him and request the Angel of death (Malekul Maut) to remove his spirit with ease.
It means that a person should turn away from the Right Path (Sirat-al-Mustaqeem) during death. At the time of death satan (shaitaan) comes to the dying man and tries his best to deceive him and puts him in doubt, so as to turn him away from faith (Eeman). Fakhr Muhaqqeqeen says that, 'A person who wishes to remain safe from the mischief of shaitaan at the time of death should preserve five proofs
regarding the fundamental principals of faith (Usoole Deen) in his mind, and present it to Allah's custody, so that during death these may come as a handy against shaitaan's
deceit. Then he should recite the following supplication (du' a):
Fakhrul Muhaqqeqeen also says that those who wish to remain safe from shaitaan's mischief of abandoning faith during death, should recite dua'e Adeelah with a pure mind and heart. (Du'ae Adeelah is found in all the renowned books of du'as, and also in the first volume of Mafateehul Jinaan by the same author).
Shaikh Toosi relates from Mohammad b. Sulayman Daylami that I asked Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that, "Some of your faithful followers (Shi'ahs) say that faith
(Eeman) is of two types: (1) Permanent & firmly established, and (2) One which has been given to us as a trust, and also can be ruined. Please give me a du'a by
which my faith may also become permanent and firmly established." Imam (A.S.) told him to recite the following du'a after every obligatory prayers (Wajib Namaz):
The best deed is to perform Prayers (Namaz) on time. It is related that there is no person in the east or the west on whom the sight of the Angel of death (Malekul Maut) does not fall at least five times during the time of Prayers. Whenever the time of death of that person comes, the Angel of death (Malekul Maut) recognizes him and helps
him to recite Kalema and shuns away satan (shaitaan) from him. It is narrated that once Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) wrote to a person: "Do you wish that you may face death while on the Right path? And do you wish that your spirit (Rooh) may be removed from your body while you be performing good deeds? Then hold Allah's orders dear to yourself and obey them, and do not waste the bounties offered by Him by being disobedient to Him, and do not take undue advantage of His Mercy, nor become arrogant. Honour those who follow Us and respect those who love Us".
The recitation of Dua-e-Tamjeed (Du'a No. 11) of 'Saheefae Kamelah' is beneficial, so as to die while on the Right path and to be saved from turning away from it.
To recite the following supplication (dua) in the Namaz of sundays in the month of Zilqad:
The other beneficial acts are: To always recite Tasbeehe Fatema (A.S.) (34 times Allaho Akbar, 33 times Alhamdo Lillah, and 33 times Sub-hanallah), to wear ring of
Carnelian (Aqeeq, specially of red colour), it is better if the following is engraved on it: 'Mohammadun Nabiyyullahe wa Aliyyun Wahyyullahe". To recite Surah-al-Mo'menoon every friday, to recite the following supplication (du'a)
seven times after morning (Subh) and evening (Maghrib) Prayers:
To recite 8 units (Rak'at) Namaz on the night of 22nd Rajab, in each unit (Rak'at) after Surah-al-Hamd recites 7 times Surah-at-Tawheed. After ending Namaz, recite 10
times 'Salawat', and 10 times 'Istighfar' (Astagferullah Rabbi wa atoobo Ilayh).
Sayyed ibne Tawoos quotes the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) as saying, that if a person recites 4 units (Rak'ats) Namaz in the month of Sha'ban, such that in each
unit (Rak'at) after Surali-al-Hamd recites 50 times Surah-at- Tawheed, then during death his spirit will be removed with ease, and his grave will become spacious, and on the day of Qayamat when he comes out of his grave, his face will be shining bright like a full moon and kalmae Shahadat will be
The following Incidents will prove helpful for further explanation:
For further explanation of the above narrative, I state below an incident quoted by Shaikh Kulaini, who quotes Abu Baseer as saying that, Once I was seated in the
presence of Imam Jatfar-as-Sadiq (A.S.), when Umme Khalid binte Ma'badiyyah came and told the Imam (A.S.) that since she knew the prohibition of it's use, she had come to the Imam (A.S.) to take advice regarding it. Imam Sadiq (A.S.) asked her, "What stopped you from using it"? She said that being one of His devout followers, she wished to be saved from shame, and on the day of Qayamat if she be
questioned about it she could reply that it's use (or prohibition) was ordered to her by the Imam (A.S.) himself. The Imam (A.S.) turned towards me and said, "O Abu
Mohammad! (referred to Abu Baseer), do you pay heed to what this woman says"? Then Imam Sadiq (A.S.) answered By Allah I never give you permission to consume even a drop of it, for if you do so, you shall have to regret when your spirit reaches here". and Imam (A.S.) pointed towards his neck and repeated the sentence thrice,
and took the woman's assurance that she had understood it well.
Shaikh Bahai states in his book 'Kashkol' that there was a person who had spent his entire life in pleasures and luxuries of this world. When he was about to die, the people
gathered around him and requested him to recite the 'Kalema'. But instead of the 'Kalema' the dying man said: Where is that woman who in a state of exhaustion came to me and asked me the way to the public bath (named Manjab). He said so because one day a virtuous and beautiful woman came out of her house to have bath in a famous bath house named 'Manjab'. She forgot her way and was exhausted searching it. She saw this man standing near a door and asked him the way to it. He pointed
towards his house and said that the same was the bath house named 'Manjab' As soon as the woman entered there in, the man locked the door and in tented to have illicit physical relation with her. The virtuous woman sensed that there was no escape from his lustful fold, and hence pretended to be interested in him. She said that she was a state of uncleanliness and was proceeding for a bath. She told the man to go and get some scent for her so that she may perfume and adorn herself for him, and also to get something to eat as she was exhausted. The man was deceived by her words and went to the market to buy things. As soon as he stepped outside, the woman thanked Allah for preserving her chastity and ran away. When the man returned, he understood his mistake and regretted. Now
The Incident is to be reflected upon that when the person was about to die, the sin (even though he had not committed it, but had in tented) stopped him from reciting
the 'Kalema'. Shaikh Kulaini quotes Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) as saying that, "One who does not pay even one Qeerat of Zakat due on him (Qeerat is equal to 21 dinars),
will die the death of a jew or a christian". The same tradition (hadees) is also said about the person who intentionally does not perform Haj even after being capable
of doing so.
After the spirit (Rooh) is separated from the body, it lingers on the top for sometime. There after the Spirit of the believer is taken to the Heavens, while that of a non- believer below. When a believer's bier is being carried, he calls out: "Hasten me to my eternal destination", while a non-believer calls out: "Do not make haste to bury me in
my grave, making way for my chastisement". During bath of the believer's dead body, the Angels ask him if he desires to return to the world back to his kith & kin, to
which he replies that he does not intend to go back to the world of miseries and misfortune.
The Spirit of the dead remains present and witnesses the
The Spirit hears the voices of the people who have come to attend his funeral. Hence it should be borne in mind that one should avoid talking during funeral. A woman in
menses or nifaas (blood discharge after child birth), and a person in the state of pollution should avoid coming near the dead body, because it becomes the reason for the displeasure of the blessed Angels, who turn away in disgust. Such acts should be performed for the dead person which become the reason for Allah's blessings, viz.
remembrance of Allah and Ahlulbait, (A.S.), recitation of Qur'an etc.
It is also narrated that after the dead body is buried, the spirit returns back and maintains relation with the body. When it sees that the people are returning back, knows that from now on it is destined to live alone. It becomes restless,
and says: "Alas! Those children of mine whom I brought up with love and care have abandoned me, and now my only companions are my deeds (A'amal) which I performed while alive". The first glad tidings which a believer receives is in the grave: "Oh you who believe! Allah has forgiven your sins and the sins of those who attended your funeral".
One of the fearsome stages of the Hereafter is the grave, which calls out daily: "I am the abode of loneliness, I am the house of terror, I am the home of worms".
It is quoted in Man La Yahzaruhul Faqih, that when a dead body is brought for burial, it should not be buried immediately. For there is no doubt that the terror of the grave horrifies the dead person, and he seeks refuge from Allah's wrath. The dead body should be laid to rest for sometime far from the grave, so that it prepares itself, and gets accustomed to it. Again one should stop and then take it to the grave. Allamah Majlisi while commenting on the above, says that even though the spirit is separated from the body, it is still maintains relation with it, and remains somewhat attached to it. The darkness and loneliness, questioning by 'Munkir and Nakeer', Squeezing in the grave (Fishar), and the chastisement in hell are some of the frightful stages. Hence it is necessary for man to take lessons from a dead man's state, and reflect upon it, because one day he himself will have to pass through these stages. Yunus narrates that one day he asked Imam Moosa al-Kazim (A.S.) that, "Whenever I think about the door of aBara bin Azib, one of the companions (Ashab) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) says that one day I was in the presence of the Prophet, when we saw a group of people gathered. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) asked them as to why they had gathered? They replied that they had gathered to dig a grave. As soon as the Prophet heard the name of the grave, he hurried towards it and sat on one side of the grave. I sat on the other side facing him so as to get a clear view of what he did. I saw that the Prophet (S.A.W.S) started weeping bitterly so much so that his face became
wet, then he looked at us and said, "O my brothers! Prepare yourselves for this house".
Shaikh Bahai says that at times he saw many kings and rulers regretting their sins and wailing over their lives while dying. The Shaikh asked one such person who was about to die as to what was the reason for such regret. The dying
king replied, "What do you have to say about the person who is proceeding for a journey without having gathered any provisions for it, and devoid of a helpful companion. He is stopped on the way in a horrifying grave, to be
produced later before the Almighty Ruler, without having
Allamah Qutubuddin Rawandi says, that after the death of Hazrat Maryam (A.S.), her son Prophet Isa (A.S.) called her, "0 mother! Please speak to me, and tell me whether
you are desirous of returning back to this world". Hazrat Maryam (A.S.) answered, "Yes, I desire to return back, so that during the cold winter nights I could recite Namaz, and during the hot summer days I could fast. 0 my dear! Verily
the way to the hereafter is very difficult."
It is narrated that when the last moments of Hazrat Fatema (A.S.) neared, She called Amirul Mo'meneen Ali (A.S.) and said, "When I die, you bathe me, shroud me, pray Namaz over my dead body, and bury me. When you do so, sit near my grave for sometime and recite the Holy Qur'an, and pray for my forgiveness. For verily after death the dead person relies totally on the prayers (dua's) and
affection of the living ones".
When Hazrat Fatema binte Asad (the mother of Hazrat Ali) died, Amirul Mo'meneen (A.S.) came weeping to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) and gave Him the new of her
death. The Prophet was grieved and said, "My mother has died". History bears witness that she had brought up the Prophet affectionately like a mother. The Prophet (S .A.W. S) gave her his own gown for the shroud (Kafan), and Himself lay in the grave for sometime before burying her. After burying her, he stood near the grave and called out: "Your son, your son, not Aqeel, nor Ja'far". People were surprised and asked him the reason for uttering these words. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) replied that, "One day we were discussing about Qayamat, and I said that on that day people will be coming out of their graves in a state of nakedness. My aunt (Fatema binte Asad) started crying, so I assured her that I would give her my own gown for shroud, so she would not have to face that humiliation. She was scared of the squeeze in the grave (Fishare Qabr), so I lay myself in her grave so as to save her from this too. After burying her, Munkir & Nakeer came to question her. They asked her about her Lord, she replied that Almighty Allah was her Lord. Then they asked her about
Prophet hood (Nabuwwah), she bore testimony that I was Allah's Apostle. But when they questioned her about her Imam, she was a bit confused. Hence I called out to her that "Your son, your son, not Aqeel nor Ja'far (but Ali)". Fatema binte Asad was a distinguished lady, who had the honour of giving birth to a son like Ali (A.S.), and herself remaining in the Ka'bah for three days as Allah's guest. She
was the second woman who accepted the Prophet hood of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) the first being Hazrat Khadija (A.S.) even then she was fearful of the hereafter and wept. And we being sinful have forgotten our end, and do not
take account of our deeds, but are averse to the terror of the hereafter.
Sayyed ibne Tawoos relates from the Holy Prophetاللهم صل على محمد وآل محمد وابعث ثوابها إلى قبر ذلك الميت وفلان بن فلان
(here take the name of the dead man)
Allah will immediately send one thousand Angels to the grave of the dead person with attires of Paradise, and expand his grave till Qayamat. And for the one who recites
this Namaz, Allah will offer him great rewards and exalt his position forty times.
The other Namaz to be recited on the first night of burial is as follows: Two Rak'at Namaz is to be recited, in the first Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite once Ayatal Kursi, and in the second Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite ten times surah-al-Qadr. After finishing Namaz say:
اللهم صل على محمد وال محمد وابعث ثوابها الى قبر فلان
(here take the name of the deceased person).
My teacher Allamah Mirza Husain Noori (may Allah exalt his position) quotes in his book Darus Salaam from