Dying a good death occurs when you constantly check yourself throughout the day, and here are some tips:
1 — The most important self-check is to ensure you’re not falling into any “agreed upon” kuffr, since if you die upon this, you will never witness paradise for eternity.
We learn this from Prophet Ibrāhīm (as) as Allāh says: “And (mention, O Muhammad), when Ibrāhīm said, "My Lord, make this city (Makkah) secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” [14:35]
And that’s why several Imāms of the Salaf really begged Allāh to die upon Tawhīd without corrupting their Īmān with any form of disbelief. This is something the 2nd rightly guided caliph ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattāb feared, i.e. hypocrisy, to show Īmān, but have disbelief inwardly.
2 — The second most important self-check is to ensure you’re not falling into any “differed upon” kuffr, since even if you don’t believe it’s kuffr, you must still reject it as being Bātil and harām, otherwise if you accept it or fall into it, then you’re either falling into a serious sin or falling into disbelief, and you’re at a place of dispute.
An example of this is to pray Salāh when its time comes, don’t risk delaying it beyond its time, it’s so scary!
Also, another place of dispute is that if you do fall into kuffr, according to 1 of 2 opinions, all your good efforts will be nullified, so you should really fear this upon yourself.
Even though the official position of the Hanbalī madhab which was also adopted by Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Rajab is that good deeds only nullify if you die upon kuffr which is how they understood the Āyah, but it’s still a place of dispute you don’t want to risk.
3 — The scholars wrote about innovations, minor shirk and major sins in their books so that you don’t fall into them, so it’s required to learn these matters and really fear falling into any major sin or minor shirk (like showing off) whereby you’ll be under the will of Allāh, if you don’t repent from it, He may choose to punish you temporarily or forgive you!
Infact according to a minority opinion, if you don’t repent from minor shirk, you must be punished by Allāh, whether during the agony of death, grave, or even hellfire, may Allāh protect us! Even though most scholars stated minor shirk takes the same ruling as major sins, and this is what Shayhk Al-‘Alwān stated was most correct, especially when commenting upon the Āyah that Allāh doesn’t forgive shirk, whereby it refers to major kuffr only.
How can we avoid innovations and major sins? By seeking knowledge and NOT seeking desires! The khawārij were sincere and people of ‘Ibādah, but their Ijtihād didn’t save them from being a misguided sect opposing the Sunnah.
Some major sins include boasting about favours to someone, taking false oaths in selling goods, and being arrogant such as whoever pridely walks with trousers beneath the ankle, as the hadīth mentions in “Sahīh Muslim.”
4 — Minor innovations and harām minor sins are the next thing you must avoid, so be careful what your eyes are looking at it, don’t risk looking at harām and listening to harām, and speaking about harām.
As the scholars said if you constantly do these minor sins without sincere regret (i.e. Tawbah), then it could become a major sin due to not being concerned with Allāh looking at you in such a state! This is a famous principle mentioned by Imām al-Qarāfī al-Mālikī (Died 684AH) and others.
5 — I’m sure you can see that alot of these previous points stipulate making tawbah, and it only shows you the significance of Tawbah and seeking forgiveness for sins we can recall and sins we can’t recall. I can recall new sins I have committed almost every week!
Throughout your day, follow the way of Rasūlullāh (saws), infact follow the first Prophet Ādam (as) who was told to make tawbah, subhānAllāh every prophet would turn to Allāh.
If you recall a specific sin, you must make specific tawbah from it, and this is done by regretting it, rejecting it and being determined to not return back to it. As for sins or kuffr you can’t recall, you don’t have to worry about that as long as today you reject such things and don’t perform them, as Allāh doesn’t hold you to account for forgetfulness as explicitly stated in the Qur’ān.
6 — Now we have the matters which are not considered a sin in Islām, but they could revolve around halāl and makrūh. You are able to perform these, however if you want to attain the highest level of Zuhd (abstinence from worldly pleasures) and Taqwā, then abstaining from a few halāl matters and solely wanting to attain rewards by fulfilling what’s a sunnah and wājib will be something we should all strive towards. I’m nothing on this level, infact I’m a sinner who fears punishment of Allāh due to so many sins, but I am just relating what our scholars have stated.
7 — After going through all these steps, Inshā’Allāh you would be considered so purified, and always ask Allāh to keep you firm upon that.
Shaytān can still come to you through other avenues, and that is by distracting you from greater priorities.
For example when you have guests over, you are obliged to treat them well, so despite Dhikr being a great ‘Ibādah, it’s actually more important in such a situation to spend time with your guests.
8 — Finally, if you want to remain firm upon the obedience of Allāh and want a good ending, always thank Allāh as He will give you more.
We study ‘Aqīdah to learn about the rewards in Jannah, such as the believers seeing the face of Allāh, drinking from the fountain of Rasūlullāh (saws), whereby it will quench your thirst for eternity, it’s whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. And we also study ‘Aqīdah to learn about Allāh’s punishments, especially matters in the grave and hellfire.
Infact, part of ‘Aqīdah is knowing the role of angels, and that we have two angels on our shoulders, so this will really help you in obeying Allāh just knowing how close these noble angels are!
1 — The most important self-check is to ensure you’re not falling into any “agreed upon” kuffr, since if you die upon this, you will never witness paradise for eternity.
We learn this from Prophet Ibrāhīm (as) as Allāh says: “And (mention, O Muhammad), when Ibrāhīm said, "My Lord, make this city (Makkah) secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” [14:35]
And that’s why several Imāms of the Salaf really begged Allāh to die upon Tawhīd without corrupting their Īmān with any form of disbelief. This is something the 2nd rightly guided caliph ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattāb feared, i.e. hypocrisy, to show Īmān, but have disbelief inwardly.
2 — The second most important self-check is to ensure you’re not falling into any “differed upon” kuffr, since even if you don’t believe it’s kuffr, you must still reject it as being Bātil and harām, otherwise if you accept it or fall into it, then you’re either falling into a serious sin or falling into disbelief, and you’re at a place of dispute.
An example of this is to pray Salāh when its time comes, don’t risk delaying it beyond its time, it’s so scary!
Also, another place of dispute is that if you do fall into kuffr, according to 1 of 2 opinions, all your good efforts will be nullified, so you should really fear this upon yourself.
Even though the official position of the Hanbalī madhab which was also adopted by Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Rajab is that good deeds only nullify if you die upon kuffr which is how they understood the Āyah, but it’s still a place of dispute you don’t want to risk.
3 — The scholars wrote about innovations, minor shirk and major sins in their books so that you don’t fall into them, so it’s required to learn these matters and really fear falling into any major sin or minor shirk (like showing off) whereby you’ll be under the will of Allāh, if you don’t repent from it, He may choose to punish you temporarily or forgive you!
Infact according to a minority opinion, if you don’t repent from minor shirk, you must be punished by Allāh, whether during the agony of death, grave, or even hellfire, may Allāh protect us! Even though most scholars stated minor shirk takes the same ruling as major sins, and this is what Shayhk Al-‘Alwān stated was most correct, especially when commenting upon the Āyah that Allāh doesn’t forgive shirk, whereby it refers to major kuffr only.
How can we avoid innovations and major sins? By seeking knowledge and NOT seeking desires! The khawārij were sincere and people of ‘Ibādah, but their Ijtihād didn’t save them from being a misguided sect opposing the Sunnah.
Some major sins include boasting about favours to someone, taking false oaths in selling goods, and being arrogant such as whoever pridely walks with trousers beneath the ankle, as the hadīth mentions in “Sahīh Muslim.”
4 — Minor innovations and harām minor sins are the next thing you must avoid, so be careful what your eyes are looking at it, don’t risk looking at harām and listening to harām, and speaking about harām.
As the scholars said if you constantly do these minor sins without sincere regret (i.e. Tawbah), then it could become a major sin due to not being concerned with Allāh looking at you in such a state! This is a famous principle mentioned by Imām al-Qarāfī al-Mālikī (Died 684AH) and others.
5 — I’m sure you can see that alot of these previous points stipulate making tawbah, and it only shows you the significance of Tawbah and seeking forgiveness for sins we can recall and sins we can’t recall. I can recall new sins I have committed almost every week!
Throughout your day, follow the way of Rasūlullāh (saws), infact follow the first Prophet Ādam (as) who was told to make tawbah, subhānAllāh every prophet would turn to Allāh.
If you recall a specific sin, you must make specific tawbah from it, and this is done by regretting it, rejecting it and being determined to not return back to it. As for sins or kuffr you can’t recall, you don’t have to worry about that as long as today you reject such things and don’t perform them, as Allāh doesn’t hold you to account for forgetfulness as explicitly stated in the Qur’ān.
6 — Now we have the matters which are not considered a sin in Islām, but they could revolve around halāl and makrūh. You are able to perform these, however if you want to attain the highest level of Zuhd (abstinence from worldly pleasures) and Taqwā, then abstaining from a few halāl matters and solely wanting to attain rewards by fulfilling what’s a sunnah and wājib will be something we should all strive towards. I’m nothing on this level, infact I’m a sinner who fears punishment of Allāh due to so many sins, but I am just relating what our scholars have stated.
7 — After going through all these steps, Inshā’Allāh you would be considered so purified, and always ask Allāh to keep you firm upon that.
Shaytān can still come to you through other avenues, and that is by distracting you from greater priorities.
For example when you have guests over, you are obliged to treat them well, so despite Dhikr being a great ‘Ibādah, it’s actually more important in such a situation to spend time with your guests.
8 — Finally, if you want to remain firm upon the obedience of Allāh and want a good ending, always thank Allāh as He will give you more.
We study ‘Aqīdah to learn about the rewards in Jannah, such as the believers seeing the face of Allāh, drinking from the fountain of Rasūlullāh (saws), whereby it will quench your thirst for eternity, it’s whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. And we also study ‘Aqīdah to learn about Allāh’s punishments, especially matters in the grave and hellfire.
Infact, part of ‘Aqīdah is knowing the role of angels, and that we have two angels on our shoulders, so this will really help you in obeying Allāh just knowing how close these noble angels are!
Alhamdulillah Dear Sisters! This is very beneficial for all Muslims, and is certainly a wake-up call for me! Jazak Allah khair.
ReplyDeleteWa’iyyaak Brother David, BarakAllahu feek.
ReplyDeleteAlhumdulillah you found it beneficial. May our Rabb indeed have mercy upon us all and bless us with a death that pleases Him - Allahumma Ameen Ya Rabbil A’alameen!!!