According to Islam, death is not nothingness, eternal separation, absence, coincidence, or destruction. In Islamic religion death is not the end of life, but rather is the beginning of an eternal life.
Death in Islam is a change of place, end of life’s duties and obligations; but it is not the end of one’s own existence, it is the continuation of this existence in a different form.[1] For example, the decaying and opening of the seed thrown into the soil results in its greening and coming to life. Such a decay (that is death) for the seed is more valuable than its survival as a seed.
If life order without death is considered, it is understood that necessary needs (eating, drinking, and sheltering) cannot support the human population. People will not find time to live their own lives without even taking care of the ancestors of their ancestors who are old and have lost their health.[2] From this point of view, death is a blessing for people.
The following statements are mentioned in the Qur’an as the reason for the creation of death: ” ˹He is the One˺ Who created death and life to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.”[3] As seen in the verse, death is a test;It means a transition to a world where the rights of the weak are taken away from the strong, by bringing the person who died due to the injustices in this world and the person who did evil to an equal position.
Muslim scholars define death as a person’s entry to a place where he will be held accountable for the injustices he has experienced in this world [4], where he will receive the reward for the difficulties he has faced [5] and the result of his life test[6]. In a sense, death is like the end of the compelling duties of the military and the discharge of the soldier.[7]
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “Every servant will be resurrected upon the way that they died.” [8] Some of the people who will die are candidates for punishment and pain, some for happiness and peace. What will determine this situation is how these people prefer to live their lives: “We already showed them the Way, whether they choose tobe grateful or ungrateful.” [9]
In Islam, the world is like the field of the hereafter.[10] In other words, if a person can make good use of his life in this world, he will attain good things in the hereafter. Therefore, every moment lived in the world is precious. Because people do not know when they will die. Those who live the way Allah wants until the moment of death comes to them, will encounter Allah’s mercy at the time of death and after they die. The moments of death of these people are described as follows in the Qur’an: ” those whose souls the angels take while they are virtuous, saying to them, ‘Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you used to do.’”[11]
According to Islam death is not a situation that is avoided, nor is it a desirable situation. A Muslim should not desire death no matter how much he suffers. Because the difficulties experienced are also tests, and there are great rewards for those who endure these tests. As a matter of fact, The Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said about this situation: “None of you should wish for death because of some harm that befalls him, rather he should say: ‘Allahumma ahini ma kanatil-hayatu khairanli wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairanli (O Allah, keep me alive so alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is good for me.)” [12]
Every person must prepare himself for the reality of death. It is a good deed for every Muslim to commemorate death and be prepared for life after death. As a matter of fact, The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) expressed this situation as follows: “Remember death often. It is the destroyer of all tastes.”[13] The encouragement here is not to take pleasure from anything, but to forget the one who gave these flavors and to be returned to Him.
Among the things that a Muslim has right over another Muslim is attending his funeral when he dies: “A Muslim has six rights over a Muslim. When you meet him, give him the greeting of peace, when he invites you, respond to his invitation, when he seeks your advice, advise him, when he sneezes and praises Allaah, supplicate for mercy upon him, when he becomes ill, visit him, and when he dies follow him (i.e. his funeral).”[14]
Words that will please and make happy about death should be said to the dying patient. Because even if the fact of death of the patient does not change, his heart will be relieved.[15] The patient should be encouraged to repent and make wills. Because the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, ” It is the duty of a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without having his will written down regarding it.”[16]
For those who do not believe in the Hereafter, death is a situation that is avoided and seen as ugly. As a matter of fact, it is stated in the Qur’an that there is no escape from death:“Wherever you may be, death will overcome you—even if you were in fortified towers.”[17]
People who do not believe in Allah and the existence of the Hereafter are afraid of death, just as a man about to be executed is afraid of the execution table. As a matter of fact, these people are described as follows in the Qur’an: Say, “The death you are running away from will inevitably come to you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”[18] This verse shows that running away from death and being afraid is not a reason for salvation.
[1] Badiuzzaman Said Nursi,The letter(Maktubat),Risala Al-Nur
[2] “And whoever We grant a long life, We reverse them in development. Will they not then understand?” (Ya-sin,68)
[3] Al-Mulk,2
[4] Az-Zalzalah, 7-8
[5] Al-Isra, 71
[6] Ali-Imran, 145
[7] Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, Shualar ,Risala Al-Nur
[8] Al-Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir Sharh al-Jami` al-Saghir ,Volume V,663
[9] Al-Insan, 3
[10] Al-Ajluni Kashfal Khafa Arabic, Volume I, 412
[11] Al-Nahl, 32
[12] At-Tirmidhi, Day of Judgment,26
[13] At-Tirmidhi, Chapter on Zuhd, 4
[14] Al-Bukhari, Dress, 36
[15] At-Tirmidhi, Medicine,35
[16] Al-Bukhari, Advice, I
[17] An-Nisa, 78
[18] Al-Jumu’ah, 8