Sudden Death

There have been many incidents in which people suddenly die in circumstances that portend evil; such case have often been witnessed by righteous, whose faith increased in consequence, thus making them more prepared for the Hereafter. For example Ibn Rajab related from ‘Abdul – Aziz bin Abi Rawwad, who said

“I was with a man who was dying and who was being prompted to say the Shahadah: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. His last words were, ‘ He is a disbeliever by what you say.‘ I asked about him and found out that he was an alcoholic.“

‘Abdul-Aziz said,

“Protect yourselves from sins, for it were sins that were his ruin”

Qurtubi related from Rabi’ bin Sabrah bin Ma’bad Al Juhani, a pious person from Basrah:

“I met people from Sham who reported that it was said to a man who was dying ‘Say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and his response was, ‘I drink (alcohol), so give me something to drink’

And Ibn Qayyim (Rahimahullah) related in Al-Jawab Al-Kafi

“It has been said to some of them, ‘’Say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ They answered, ‘Ahh Ahh, I am not able to say it.”

(Gems and Jewels, Wise sayings, Interesting Events & Moral lessons from Islamic History. Compiled by Abdul-Malik Mujahid, pg 95)

Reckon yourself before you are reckoned by Allah on the day of Judgement

Al-Hasan al Basri said:

“He among mankind who will receive the least reckoning on the Day of Judgment, is he who reckons his own self in the life of the world for Allah’s sake. He who contemplate his intentions and actions; if whatever he has intended is for Allah’s sake, he persists in it, otherwise he refrains from doing it. Verily, reckoning on the Day of Judgment becomes heavy for those who were hasty in this life and did not hold themselves accountable. They will find that Allah has counted their deeds, including what equals an atom.” (Life is a Fading Shadow, by Abdul-Malik Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman al-Qasim, p.50 [English translated version])

Allah says

“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” (Surah Ali Imran, 3:185)