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assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaah
This quotation from Imaam an Nawawee was mentioned in the Riyaad us Saaliheen dars given by Aboo Talhah Daawud Burbank (hafidhahullaah) last week.
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What the person who has lost hope of living should say and do
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It is desirable that he should be plentiful in his recitation of the Qur?aan and of the adhkaar (words of remembrance of Allaah).
And it is hated for him that he should express anger or vexation or show evil character, abuse, arguing and disputing about matters which are not affairs of the deen.
And it is desirable that he should be being thankful to Allaah, the Most High, with his heart and with his tongue, and he should be keeping in mind that this time is the last few moments of his time in this world ? so therefore he should strive to conclude it (his life) with good.
And he should hasten to fulfill any dues or rights that he owes to people with regard to making up any wrongs or giving back anything which he holds as a trust or anything which he has been loaned.
And he should seek of his family that they excuse him (for any wrong he may have done to them) ? his wife, his parents, his children, his servants, any neighbours, and any friends and anyone with whom he has had dealings or companionship or any form of connection (he should ask them to excuse him for any shortcomings which they have seen from him).
And it is befitting that he should give instructions regarding the affairs of his children, if they have no grandfather who is suitable to take charge of them.
And he should give instructions concerning matters which he is not able to carry out himself in his condition, with regard to paying off any debts and so on.
And he should be upon having good thoughts with regards to Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, thinking that He will be merciful to him.
And he should keep in mind that he is just an insignificant creature, from the created beings of Allaah, the Most High and that Allaah, the Most High has no need to punish him and has no need of his acts of obedience either. And that he is His slave.
So therefore he should not seek pardon for his sins, and should not seek kindness, and he should not seek the overlooking of sins and should not seek favour ? (all of this should not be done) except from Him.
And it is desirable that he should make himself strive upon recitation of those aayaat of the Mighty Book of Allaah which are an encouragement upon having hope, reciting them with a voice that is tender or having someone else recite them whilst he is listening.
And likewise he has someone recite to him, the ahaadeeth expressing hope ? and the quotes and narrations from the righteous people of old (as to) how they were at the point of death.
And it is desirable that he should be such that his good (which he is doing) is increasing. And he should be careful to be observing the (obligatory) prayers and avoiding impurities and so on from the duties of the religion ? he should keep upon that. And he should have patience upon the difficulties involved in that.
And he should beware of those people who are too lax in that regard because the most evil of the foul things is that a person?s final conduct in this world ? which is a planting ground for the Hereafter ? should be (that of) being negligent about what is obligatory upon him or what is recommended for him.
And it is befitting that he should not accept the saying of someone who tries to dissuade him from anything which we have mentioned, because this will be a trial for him. And someone who does that (dissuading) is an ignorant friend and a hidden enemy ? so do not accept his dissuading!
Rather let him (the dying person) strive to complete his life in the most complete manner.
And it is desirable that he enjoin his family and his companions that they should have patience over his illness and that they should patiently bear whatever appears from him.
And he should advise them also to have patience with the calamity coming about through his death, and he should strive to advise them not to go overboard in weeping over him ? and he should say to them that it is authentic from Allaah?s Messenger sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam that he said:
The dead person suffers on account of the excessive weeping of his family over him.
(Hadeeth reported in the Saheeh of Imaam Muslim)
So he should tell them ?Beware, o my beloved ones, of increasing my suffering!?
And he should counsel them to be tender with those whom he leaves behind, from small children, boys and girls and others.
And he should counsel them to be good towards his friends, and he should teach them that it is authentic from Allaah?s Messenger sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam that he said:
The best dutifulness of a person is that he keeps ties with those whom his father loved.
(Hadeeth reported in the Saheeh of Imaam Muslim)
And that it is authentic from Allaah?s Messenger sall Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam that he used to show respect and honour towards the friends of Khadeejah radi Allaahu anhaa after her death.
(Hadeeth reported by Imaams Al Bukhaaree and Muslim)
And it is desirable ? and it is a stressed recommendation ? that he should counsel them to keep away from those innovations that are commonly and customarily done in funerals. He should stress that upon them.
And he should enjoin them to keep on making supplication for him and that they do not forget him when a long time has passed by.
And it is recommended for him that he should say to them from time to time, ?If you see me falling short in anything then draw my attention to it with kindness and give me advice about it because I am prone to inattentiveness and slackness and negligence. So if I fall short then encourage me and aid me to make preparation for this long journey of mine??
?And when it is time for the soul to actually depart, then he should say frequently ?laa ilaaha ill Allaah? (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah) such that it becomes his final speech.
(Taken from ?al Adhkaar? of Imaam an Nawawee rahimahullaah)
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Nasser.Alvi
06-01-2006 @ 10:44 PM
