A Fascinating Story About Sakaratul Maut: Lessons on the Moment of Death
Hi all readers! In the previous article, I explained the most severe moments during Sakaratul Maut (the agony of death). In this article, I will share an interesting story about Sakaratul Maut. There are many lessons to be learned if we truly understand it well.
It is said that when Abu Zakariyah az-Zahid was in the throes of Sakaratul Maut, a friend came to him and prompted him to say the sentence ath-Thayyibah (لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله). However, he turned away. His friend prompted him again, but once more, he turned away. A third time, his friend urged him to say it, and he responded, "I will not say that." Then he fainted.
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Abu Zakariyah az-Zahid was unconscious for a few moments. When he regained consciousness and opened his eyes, he asked the people around him, "Did you say something to me?" They replied, "Yes. We prompted you to recite the Shahadah three times. You refused twice, and the third time, you said, 'I will not say that.'"
Abu Zakariyah az-Zahid then explained:
"The devil came to me with a container of water, standing on my right side, shaking the container. He said to me, 'Do you want some water?' I replied, 'Yes.' Then he said, 'Say: Jesus is the son of God!' I turned away from him. He came to me again from the other side and said the same thing. The third time, he said, 'Say: There is no God!' I replied, 'I will not say that.' He then threw the container to the ground and fled. I was rejecting the words of the devil, not yours. Now, I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger."
Mansur bin 'Ammar said:
"When the death of a servant is near, his condition is divided into five parts: his wealth goes to his heirs, his soul to the Angel of Death, his flesh to the worms, his bones to the earth, his good deeds to his enemies, and the devil seeks to take his faith."
Manshur bin 'Ammar continued:
"If the heirs leave with the property, that is no issue. If the Angel of Death takes the soul, that doesn't matter. If the worms consume the flesh, that's acceptable. If his enemies leave with his virtues, that is of no concern. But may Satan never take his faith when he dies, for that would mean separation from religion. Indeed, the separation of the soul from the body is not a separation from Allah. It is truly a departure that no one knows what will happen after, a loss beyond our understanding."
Dear readers, that's the interesting story about Sakaratul Maut. May we all benefit from it, insha'Allah. Amen!
I think that's enough for this article. I hope it has been useful!
See you in the next one!
1 comment for "A Fascinating Story About Sakaratul Maut: Lessons on the Moment of Death"
The lesson that stood out to me the most was the importance of holding firm to our faith, especially when facing life's greatest test: death. The story shows that, despite the trials of death, the most important thing is to stay true to the oneness of Allah and the message of Prophet Muhammad. I also appreciated the explanation shared by Mansur bin 'Ammar about the five parts of a person’s condition near death, and the importance of safeguarding our faith in such moments.
As someone who is still learning about Islam, this article has reinforced my understanding of the spiritual challenges we face in our final moments and has motivated me to strengthen my connection with Allah. I am grateful for the valuable lessons this article has provided, and I pray that Allah grants us all the strength to remain steadfast in our faith until the end. May Allah reward the author for such a beautiful and thought-provoking piece. Ameen.