Question:
Assalamualaikum Dato’ Seri Mufti. I want to ask, what are the signs for us to us to know if a person dies in the state of husnul khotimah? Hope for some explanation. Thank you.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT create life and death to test humans; who among them with the best conduct, as stated in the Quranic verse:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving,”
Surah al-Mulk (2)
There are several hadiths that mention the signs of whether a person dies in husnul khotimah. First and foremost, among the best values are embracing Islam, believing in the Oneness of Allah SWT and says syahadah before he passes away. This is because Allah SWT will not forgive the sins of those who practice shirk (believing god other than Allah SWT). Allah SWT say in the Quran:
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّـهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”
Surah al-Nisa’ (48)
Hence, one of the signs of husnul khotimah is whoever says syahadah before he passes away. This is in accordance with a hadith narrates by Abi Dawud, where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ كَانَ آخِرُ كَلاَمِهِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
“If anyone's last words are "There is no god but Allah" he will enter Paradise.”
Sunan Abi Dawud (3116)
Besides, there are other signs of husnul khotimah which are divided into time, place and circumstances. Among them are:
- Passes away on the day or the night of Jum’ah. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Amru, where Rasulullah SAW said:
مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَوْ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلاَّ وَقَاهُ اللَّهُ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ
"No Muslim dies on the day of Friday, nor the night of Friday, except that Allah protects him from the trials of the grave."
Jami` at-Tirmidhi (1074)
- Say syahadah before his last breath. This is in accordance with a hadith mentioned before where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ كَانَ آخِرُ كَلاَمِهِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
If anyone's last words are "There is no god but Allah" he will enter Paradise.
Sunan Abi Dawud (3116)
- Passes away with some sweat on his forehead. In a hadith recorded by Imam al-Tirmizi, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَوْتُ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِعَرَقِ الْجَبِينِ
"The believer dies with sweat on his forehead."
Sunan an-Nasa'i (1828)
- Bestowed by Allah SWT with taufiq and hidayah to do good deeds before passing away. In a hadith where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ " . فَقِيلَ كَيْفَ يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " يُوَفِّقُهُ لِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ
"When Allah wants good for a slave, He puts him in action." It was said: "How does he put him in action O Messenger Of Allah?" He said: "By making him meet up with the righteous deeds before death."
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (2142)
- He feels happy and content for his meeting with Allah SWT. In a hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ
He who loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah also abhors to meet him.
Sahih Muslim (2683)
- Passes away due to abdominal diseases.
وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْبَطْنِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
“one who dies of cholera is a martyr”
Sahih Muslim (1915)
- Passes away in the state of drowning, fall from a higher place and syahid in the path of Allah SWT.
الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ، وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
"Five are regarded as martyrs: They are those who die because of plague, Abdominal disease, drowning or a falling building etc., and the martyrs in Allah's Cause."
Sahih al-Bukhari (2829)
- Passes away due to giving birth
قَتْلُ الْمُسْلِمِ شَهَادَةٌ وَالطَّاعُونُ شَهَادَةٌ وَالْبَطْنُ وَالْغَرَقُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ يَقْتُلُهَا وَلَدُهَا جَمْعَاءَ
A Muslim who is killed is a martyr, one who dies of plague is a martyr, one who dies of abdominal diseases is a martyr, one who dies of drowning is a martyr and a woman who dies of giving birth is a martyr
Ibn Kathir (5869)
- Passes away due to protecting his property and dignity
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَخْذَ مَالِي قَالَ " فَلاَ تُعْطِهِ مَالَكَ " . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَاتَلَنِي قَالَ " قَاتِلْهُ " . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلَنِي قَالَ " فَأَنْتَ شَهِيدٌ " . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلْتُهُ قَالَ " هُوَ فِي النَّارِ "
A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man comes to me in order to appropriate my possession? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Don't surrender your possession to him. He (the inquirer) said: If he fights me? He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: Then fight (with him). He (the inquirer) again said: What do you think if I am killed? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: You would be a martyr. He (the inquirer) said: What do you think of him (Messenger of Allah) If I kill him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: he would be in the Fire.
Sahih Muslim (140)
- Passes away while doing good deeds
مَنْ قَالَ : لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ابتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ، خُتِمَ لَهُ بهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ، وَمَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا ابتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ خُتِمَ لَهُ بهَا ، دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ، وَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بصَدَقَةٍ ابتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ خُتِمَ لَهُ بهَا ، دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ “
“Whoever says “Laa ilaaha illa Allah” with sincere hope in seeking of Allah’s blessings, and end his life with it will surely be in the Paradise. Whoever fasts with sincere hope in seeking of Allah’s blessings, and end his life with it will surely be in the Paradise. Whoever gives sadaqah with sincere hope in seeking of Allah’s blessings, and end his life with it will surely be in the Paradise”
Musnad Ahmad (23372)
These are the signs of husnul khotimah (beautiful closure) as mentioned in the sayings of the Prophet PBUH. Let us make du’a to Allah SWT for us to die in this beautiful state and make us from the company of the Prophet PBUH as well as the righteous people.
اللَهُمَّ اخْتِمْ لنا بِحُسْنِ الْخَاتِمَة وَلاَ تَخْتِمْ عَلَيْنَا يَا الله بِسُوءِ الخَاتِمَة
O Allah! End our life with husnul khotimah (good ending) and please don’t end our life with suul khotimah (bad ending).
Ameen. Wallahua’lam.