Steadfastness on the religion & a pleasant ending

22nd June 2008

The Seven Waz, which lead to a pleasant ending (death) according to the Holy Quran and Hadith:

1. After every fard prayer the following supplication should be made with full sincerity : Rabbanna laa tuzig quluu-ba naa ba-da’iz hadaytana wahab lanaa miladunka rah-mah, innaka antal-wah-haab (surah Ale Imran, 8) ‘O Lord! Let not our hearts divide from the truth after you have guided us and grant us Mercy from you. Truly, you are the Bestower.’

In this verse of the Quran, Allah (swt) has taught us the method by which to seek a pleasant ending (death), verily Allah will bestow this on those who ask of it, InshAllah. (Roohul Ma’ani)

2. Ask Allah (swt) for Mercy at all times: Hazrat Anas (ra) relates that when RasulAllah (saw) would experience any form of distress or difficulty he would frequently recite and supplicate using the words, Ya Hayu ya qayoom bi Rahmatika Astageeth. ‘O Everlasting one, we seek your Mercy from you!’ The recitation of this dua frequently will bless the recitor with a pleasant ending in this World, InshaAllah. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: ‘Verily, the human self is inclining to evil, except when my Lord bestows his mercy upon whom he will. Verily, my Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (Surah Yusuf, 53)

Alamah Aroosi Baghdadi (rah) states: ‘If any person is caught by the trappings of the evil self (nafs) and is also devoid of the Mercy of Allah, then it is feared that his end will be an evil one.’ (Roohul Ma’ani)

When an individual is under the Mercy of Allah then the evil self cannot lead them to destruction. If he is drowning in 1000 sins, and then he is guided aright through the Mercy of Allah, there is no despair. (Mathnawi)

3. To use the Miswak (tooth stick). It is proven from the hadith that Nabi Karim (saw) would frequently use the miswak during the day & night. Aisha (ra) relates that RasulAllah (saw) said: ‘The Miswak is a means of cleansing the mouth thoroughly and gaining the pleasure of Allah (swt) also.’ (Musnad Ahmad, Buhkari)

The cleansing of the mouth is a requirement and action every individual has to undertake. Through this hadith it is proven that the use of the Miswak not only cleanses the mouth but it is an action that is liked by Allah (swt). By attaining the pleasure of Allah (swt) each person has a means of attaining success in the hereafter.

Alamah Abideen Shami (rah) has written: ‘From the many benefits of using the Miswak, one important benefit is that the individual who performs Miswak is reminded of the Kalima through it’s blessing at the time of death. May Allah (swt) bless us all with this favour.’ (Shami vol 1, pg 85)

4. To constantly thank Allah (swt) for the blessing of Iman. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: ‘If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are ungrateful, verily, my punishment is indeed severe.’ (Surah Ibrahim, 7)

The gratitude shown and expressed for the understanding that Allah (swt) has blessed us with will be a means of safeguarding our Iman and also elevating it further, InshAllah.

5. To be safeguarded from the evil gaze. It is related in a hadith Qudsi from Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) who relates that RasulAllah (saw) said: ‘The evil gaze is a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Iblees (Shaytan). That person who due to the fear Allah, saves his gaze from evil places/things, Allah (swt) will grant him such a sweetness of Iman that he will feel it in his heart.’ (Tibrani, Qanzul Amaal vol 5, pg 328)

Allamah Ibn Qayim Jawzih (rah) states: ‘Whomsoever, due to the fear of Allah saved his gaze from evil things & places, he will be granted the light of Iman in his heart.’

Mullah Ali Qari (rah) states: ‘Once the sweetness of Iman enters a persons heart, it never leaves, the action of safeguarding the gaze and its guaranteeing a pleasant ending with Iman is proven’.

6. The supplication after the Azaan. This is also called the supplication of intercession. To listen to and respond to the call of the Muazzin during the Azaan. On the completion of the Azan, reciting durood first then the supplication: ‘Al-laa hum-ma Rab-ba Haa-dhi da,wa-tit taam-maa ti Was-sa laa til qaa’ima-ti say-yi-da-naa muhammada-nil wa-see-la-ta wal fa-dhee-la-ta wab’ath-hu ma-qaa-mam mah-moo-da-nil-la-thee wa,at-ta-hoo in-naka laa tukh-liful mee,aad (Bukhari, Baihaqi)

RasulAllah (saw) stated: ‘The individual who recites this supplication after the Azaan, from him my intercession is guaranteed.’ (Bukhari) Mullah Ali Qari (rah) relates: ‘In this the glad tidings of a pleasant ending are present, that his end will be with his Iman intact. This is due to the fact that the intercession of the Prophet (saw) cannot be attained by a disbeliever.’ (Mirqaat Shara’ Mishkaat vol 2, pg 163)

7. To stay in the company of the pious and to love them solely for the pleasure of Allah (swt).
The greatness of the people of dikr, the pious and friends of Allah are mentioned in the hadith of Bukhari. An individual attended the gathering of a friend of Allah for a need he had, and sat there for a short time. Allah (swt) mentioned to the angels that the group doing dikr and remembering all had been forgiven. One angel mentioned: ‘O Allah, a sinner has attended this gathering for a specific need he had and not for any other reason.’ So Allah (swt) said: ‘Those who sit in the company of my pious servants cannot be devoid of my favour.’

Hazrat Hakim-ul-Ummat Thanwi (rah) states: ‘Through the company of the friends of Allah, a person is safeguarded from the dangers which would take a person away from Islam.’

In Bukhari & Muslim it is mentioned that RasulAllah (saw) stated 3 things through which the sweetness of Iman can be attained: (1) To love Allah & his Prophet (saw) above all other things, (2) To love someone purely for the sake of Allah, (3) To hate going into disbelief after Iman, as one would hate going into the Fire.

May Allah (swt) grant us the ability to act on what has been related and grant us the blessing of a pleasant end with our Iman intact, Ameen!


Mufti Yusuf Danka