The transition of the soul from the temporary realm of this world to the everlasting realm of the Hereafter is called death. It is the most critical stage of a human’s existence, and marks the beginning of an eternal life of either success and bliss or failure and punishment. After a person departs, he is unable to do anything more for the betterment of his eternal life. It is thus imperative to adequately prepare for such a juncture before reaching it.
Firstly, we should keep ourselves dedicated to preparing for death in a manner that our own deeds are sufficient to attract the Mercy of Allāh S, and we do not remain in need of anybody else to pray for our forgiveness and send us reward after we pass away.
Secondly, we should also have concern for those of our relatives and associates who have already passed away or are expected to pass away soon. A person in an emergency will receive instant help from worried and concerned individuals who, despite not knowing him, will desperately rush to his aid. When this is our response to an emergency related to this temporary life, then what should our response be to an emergency associated to the everlasting life of the Hereafter? Should our response be limited to condolences, grieving and meeting one another or should we be more focused towards those actions that will help the deceased in his eternal abode? When a person departs, it is the family members and friends who should do their utmost to help him. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarise ourselves with the correct steps to take in order to help a dying person succeed in the stages of the Hereafter.
When a person is on his deathbed, family and friends should try to adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Ensure cleanliness and purity of the body, clothes and bedding of the dying person. If possible, you may also give them a bath.
2. Clean their teeth with a miswak. A short while before his demise, Nabī s cleaned his teeth with a miswāk.
3. Apply or diffuse a pleasant scent on them and around them.
4. If possible, lay them onto their right-hand side with the body facing the qiblah. If this is not possible or uncomfortable, then they can be made to lie on their back with the legs facing the qiblah and the head tilted slightly towards the qiblah by placing an extra pillow behind it. If this is also not possible or uncomfortable, then they can be left to lie in whichever position is most convenient and comfortable for them.
5. Carry out talqīn of the kalimah. Rasūlullāh s said,
Exhort your dying ones to recite ‘Lā ilāha illallāh’. (Muslim)
The method of talqīn is to recite the kalimah shahādah,
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ
or the kalimah ṭayyibah,
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ
loud enough for the person on his deathbed to hear so that they are reminded and encouraged to recite it. Talqīn should continue until they recite the kalimah or display any sign of Īmān such as uttering the Name of Allāh S or even raising the shahādah finger. Once this happens, talqīn should be stopped. If they then speak about any worldly matter, talqīn should be renewed. There should be pauses during the talqīn to give them a chance to recite the kalimah.
The dying person should not be instructed to recite the kalimah, as this could frustrate them in their state of pain and agony, and consequently result in them saying something inappropriate.
Another dhikr Nabī s instructed to do talqīn of is:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
There is no deity except Allāh, the Most-Forbearing, the Most-Generous. Pure is Allāh, the Rabb of the magnificent throne. All praise is for Allāh, Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of all the worlds. (Ibn Mājah)
Anyone present by the person in his final moments can and should do talqīn, but the talqīn of a pious individual will be more beneficial.
6. Recite Sūrah Yāsīn next to the person. Rasūlullāh s said,
Recite (Sūrah) Yāsīn upon your deceased. (Abū Dāwūd)
This Ḥadīth refers to reciting Sūrah Yāsīn upon three junctures: when someone is close to death; after the ghusl has been performed; and once the burial has taken place.
The mashāyikh would say that when it is recited upon the dying person, death is made easy for them. (Musnad Aḥmad)
The more times it is recited besides the dying person, the better. Each family member who visits should try to recite it at least once. Passing on the reward of this recitation to the dying person would also be fruitful.
7. Help and encourage the dying person to recite the following du‘ā:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ
Rasūlullāh s said, ‘One who recites this du‘ā during an illness and thereafter passes away, will not be touched by the fire (of Jahannam).’ (At-Tirmidhī)
The virtue mentioned in this du‘ā can be acquired when recited in any illness after which one passes away, be it a minor illness or a severe one. Therefore, whenever somebody becomes ill, they should try to recite this du‘ā. If the dying person had not recited this du‘ā at an earlier stage of their illness or had suddenly become severely ill and thus was unable to do so, they should be made to recite this du‘ā with affection. If the dying person is unable to recite the du‘ā, even then one should recite it audibly in their presence. It is not beyond the Mercy of Allāh that He grants salvation to the dying person upon him just following the du‘ā in his mind or having a desire to recite it.
8. Speak only good in the presence of the dying person and make du‘ā for ease and success in the critical stages they are soon to encounter. Rasūlullāh s said,
When you visit a sick or dying person, speak good words; for indeed, the angels say āmīn to what you say. (Muslim)
9. Say things that will make them have hope in the Mercy of Allāh and success in the Hereafter. Rasūlullāh s said,
None of you should die except with good thoughts regarding Allāh. (Muslim)
10. Do not speak to the dying person regarding anything that will turn their attention towards matters of this world and away from Allāh S and the Hereafter. Soon they will be departing from this world to their Creator, thus we should not try to attach their heart to the creation. Unfortunately, due to not understanding this, even at this critical stage, we try to bring to their attention family members, loved ones and visitors.
What to do After a Person's Demise >>>
Extracted from Riyadhul Jannah