Death

Death is the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include aging, predation, malnutrition, disease, suicide, homicide, starvation, dehydration, and accidents or major trauma resulting in terminal injury. In most cases, bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death.

125741

Parents . Death . God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Divine Guidance . Paradise . Salah (Prayers)

My parents are Muslim but they don't pray. Is it permissible for me to ask Allah (swt) to forgive my parents, and to guide and grant them Jannah? And can I keep praying for a Muslim even after his death?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes it is very good to pray for the guidance and forgiveness of your parents.

It is also allowed to pray for deceased Muslim for forgiveness and mercy from Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.

124830

Khums . Zakat . Kafan . Death

Is Khums or Zakat compulsory on a personal Kafan which is never worn and kept only to be used in the event of death?

If it remains with you for one year, you should take out 20% of its current value.

Wassalam.

124253

Islam . Atheism . Death

According to Islam what happens to atheists after they die? Are they punished in an equal manner to those who believed in other deities?

Atheists who don't believe in The Creator, Allah, despite seeing the creatures and the Most sophisticating universe which guides to the Biggest Fact of The One Creator, have insisted on denying The Truth. Allah, Knows how to deal with them. May Allah protect us and our families from denying the truth.

Wassalam.

124342

Anxiety . Fear . Death

I suffer from very severe anxiety and fear especially about death and dying. How can I, as a Muslim, overcome these feelings?

Most of people misunderstand the fact of death and think it as terrible and fearful. The terrible death is only for the sinners who did insist on wrong till their death and never repented. Death for the believer is bounty and great relief from the sufferings of this worldly life. When we read Quran, we find that the moment of death of a believer is the start of new life of mercy, bounties and peace. (Refer to Sura Al-Waqi'ah). We also read in Quran that pious believer is been received by the angles on his death with peace and good news of entering Paradise: Those (Believers) whose souls are taken back by the angles, angles tell them: Peace be upon you, enter the Paradise for the good which you used to do. Sura 16, Verse 32.

Authentic Hadeeths stated that every believer will have the pleasure of seeing the Prophet (SAWA) and Ameerul Mo'mineen (AS) and other Infallible Imams (AS) on his death and they will give him best news of Paradise.

It is narrated in a Hadeeth that death is the happiest day for the believer.

Understanding these facts should make the believer not only free from fearing death but also longing for that happiness. We read in Ziyarat Ameen Allah ; O Allah make me longing for the happiness of meeting Your Mercy ( Death). مشتاقة إلى فرحة لقائك.

Death is ordained by Allah, The Most Merciful, on all the creatures and it is part of His Mercy. Enemies of Allah will face the results of their bad deeds, but believers and pious servants of Allah will meet The Great Mercy of Allah.

Wassalam.

123315

Mother . Dream . Death . Anger

If I haven't see my mother in my dream after her death, while she has appeared in the dreams of other relatives, does that indicate her anger at me?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 month ago

No - some people remember their dreams better than others or are more open to these things. Also you can't be sure that other people's dreams are actual communication, although sometimes you get an idea one way or the other.

Inshallah she would not have reasons to be angry to you after she has passed on - many things we are angry about in life become unimportant once we are not dealing with the material and social realities of this world. Allah also says in the Qur'an that He will remove bad feelings from people's hearts in jannah.

However if you are concerned that she is angry at you, you could pray that she forgives you.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

113481

Death . Traditions . Society

What is the reality of death anniversary in Islam?And what should one do when your relatives perform certain rituals that are not a part of Islam but just traditions of that society?Is it fine if I don't attend such rituals?

Remembering the deceased and praying for them or feeding or reciting Quran or arranging a Majlis on their behalf is always good, whether it is done in yearly basis or monthly or weekly or even daily. Attending such gatherings is good specially when you are invited by a relative of a Momin friend to attend. You will have then the reward of accepting the invitation of your relative or a Momin as well as gifting a reward to the deceased. Wahhabism object on such gatherings because of their misunderstanding and narrow-mindedness.
Wassalam.

121625

Ashura . Grave . Ziyarat . Death

Can Ziarat Ashura be recited for a deceased person for his benefit in the grave?

Yes of course. Ziyarat Ashura is a great Ziyarat and it is recommended to recite it every day. Reciting it on behalf of a deceased will make the deceased get great reward as well as the reciter himself.

Wassalam.

121112

Qadha . Death . Salah (Prayers)

Is there a Qaza for Salatul Ayat for the deceased who may have missed them?

Yes, Qaza of Salatul Ayat is obligatory just like any other missed obligatory Prayer.

Wassalam.

121713

Death . Satan

Is it true that Shaytan will try to deceive us by taking on the appearance of our loved ones in the last seconds of our death?

This is unlikely and not substantiated in Qur'an and hadith.

Shaytan's job is to deceive us in this world, not at death. There would be no purpose for him to do that there.

Sometimes, when people are dying, they see their loved ones. This is also mentioned in some of the accounts of Karbala that are recited yearly regarding the shuhada'. Whether this is actually seeing them in the barzakh or some other metaphysical phenomenon, God knows best. But it is unlikley to be Shaytan.

120954

Death . Umar b. al-Khattab . Imam Ali

Did Umar somehow know that the Prophet (s) had asked Imam Ali (as) not to use his sword to claim his right after the death of the Prophet (s)?

Yes he and his group and many companions knew that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) had ordered Imam Ali (AS) not to fight against those who will deviate from his orders and grab his right. That is why Umar and his group did what they did against Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Wassalam.

120963

Narrations . House . Death

What do the narrations emphasise about Thursday night? Do our deceased come back to our house? And where can I find more information on this topic?

We have narrations in Mustadrak al-Wasaa'il (2:484) from the Prophet (SAWA) that the spirits of the believers come back on Fridays near their homes and every one from them will call him family members who are alive: O my family, O my children, O my father, O my mother, O my relatives; have a sympathy on me, may Allah have sympathy on you....

Wassalam.

أرواح المؤمنين ليلة الجمعة
2525 / 24 وقال (صلى الله عليه وآله): " ان أرواح المؤمنين تأتي كل جمعة إلى السماء الدنيا بحذاء دورهم وبيوتهم ينادي كل واحد منهم بصوت حزين باكين: يا أهلي، ويا ولدي، ويا أبي، ويا أمي وأقربائي اعطفوا علينا يرحمكم الله بالذي كان في أيدينا والويل والحساب علينا والمنفعة لغيرنا وينادي كل واحد منهم إلى أقربائه: اعطفوا علينا بدرهم أو برغيف أو بكسوة يكسوكم الله من لباس الجنة "، ثم بكى النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) وبكينا معه، فلم يستطع النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) أن يتكلم من كثرة بكائه، ثم قال: " أولئك إخوانكم في الدين، فصاروا ترابا رميما، بعد السرور والنعيم فينادون بالويل والثبور على أنفسهم يقولون: يا ويلنا لو أنفقنا ما كان في أيدينا في طاعة الله ورضائه ما كنا نحتاج إليكم فيرجعون بحسرة وندامة، وينادون: أسرعوا صدقة الأموات ".

مستدرك الوسائل-ج٢ ص ٤٨٤

120893

Evil . Ummah . Peace . Death

Some people filled their whole lives with really evil things and caused so much harm to the Ummah and the religion, but then apparently had good lives and even seemed to die in peace. Why is that so?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 3 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. God is Just and all people will receive rewards for their good deeds and accountability for their bad deeds. Certain people are given all of the recompenses for any good that they have done in this world, but only to find punishment for the bad they have done in the next. The blissful life in this world distracts them from reforming their ways and their end is undesirable. Conversely, some pay for all of the bad they have done in this world, only to find good in the next. The lives people lead on the outside, during our short stay in the corporeal realm, are not a benchmark for God's favor.

May you always be successful