The Dying Person:

THE DYING PERSON:

• If one finds oneself on his or her deathbed or what appears to be the deathbed, one is obliged or recommended to do certain acts of worship and people around the dying individual are encouraged to be supportive and to provide certain basic services.

• As much as his senses allow, a dying person should try to conclude his life with good deeds that will guarantee for him Jannah and save him from all forms of punishment. As it becomes harder for him to maintain a balanced mode of action and speech, those attending him should help him in that.

• Those people who are present should encourage the dying person to repeat after them the Declaration of Faith (Shahaadah) until he or she passes away confirming Allaah’s unique oneness (Tawheed). Both Aboo Sa ‘eed al-Khudree and Aboo Hurayrah quoted the Prophet () as saying,

“Prompt your dying ones (to say): “laa ilaaha il-lal-laah” and whoever’s last words before dying are: “laa ilaaha il-lal-laah”, will enter paradise one day, even if he is afflicted before that by punishment.”

[Sahih Muslim: 1996, Sunan Abu Dawud:3111, Sunan Ibn -E- Majah: 1444]

• People present may pray aloud for the dying person, letting them hear their concern and compassion for them. Those present should also avoid saying anything in the dying person’s presence which is not good. Negative words will only increase the difficulties which the sick and dying are facing. On the other hand, good words and positive thoughts will make the process of dying easier and the recovery from illness more bearable. Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet () said

, “If you are in the presence of a sick or dying person, you should say good things for verily the angels say “Aameen” to whatever you say.”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari: 438, Sunan Abu Dawud: 3089]