Death & Bereavement

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرِيضِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُؤْذِنَ إِخْوَانَهُ بِمَرَضِهِ فَيَعُودُونَهُ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ وَ يُؤْجَرُونَ فِيهِ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ نَعَمْ هُمْ يُؤْجَرُونَ بِمَمْشَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَكَيْفَ يُؤْجَرُ هُوَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ بِاكْتِسَابِهِ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيهِمْ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَ يُمْحَى بِهَ

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If one among you becomes ill, he should allow his brothers in belief to visit him during his illness, so that he may receive reward for it (for giving permission to visitors) and they may also receive reward for their visit.’ He (the Imam) was asked, ‘Their receiving reward for the

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ إِذَا مَرِضَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَأْذَنْ لِلنَّاسِ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘If one of you becomes ill he should allow people to visit him; everyone’s prayer has a chance to receive acceptance.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ عَائِداً لَهُ فَلْيَسْأَلْهُ يَدْعُو لَهُ فَإِنَّ دُعَاءَهُ مِثْلُ دُعَاءِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one of you visits his brother in belief during his illness, he should ask him (the patient) to pray for him; a patient’s prayer is like the prayer of the angels.’”

لَا عِيَادَةَ فِي وَجَعِ الْعَيْنِ وَ لَا تَكُونُ عِيَادَةٌ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ فَيَوْمٌ وَ يَوْمٌ لَا فَإِذَا طَالَتِ الْعِلَّةُ تُرِكَ الْمَرِيضُ وَ عِيَالَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that visit is not necessary for one’s illness of eyes, also not before every three days, unless needed in which case it should take place with a one-day interval in between. If an illness prolongs, then the patient is left in the care of his family.”

الْعِيَادَةُ قَدْرَ فُوَاقِ نَاقَةٍ أَوْ حَلْبِ نَاقَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that duration of visiting a patient is as long as a baby- camel is given the chance to suckle the mother during milking the camel or as long as it takes to milk a camel.”

مَرِضَ بَعْضُ مَوَالِيهِ فَخَرَجْنَا إِلَيْهِ نَعُودُهُ وَ نَحْنُ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِي جَعْفَرٍ فَاسْتَقْبَلَنَا جَعْفَرٌ ع فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ فَقَالَ لَنَا أَيْنَ تُرِيدُونَ فَقُلْنَا نُرِيدُ فُلَاناً نَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ لَنَا قِفُوا فَوَقَفْنَا فَقَالَ مَعَ أَحَدِكُمْ تُفَّاحَةٌ أَوْ سَفَرْجَلَةٌ أَوْ أُتْرُجَّةٌ أَوْ لَعْقَةٌ[2] مِنْ طِيبٍ أَوْ قِطْعَةٌ مِنْ عُودِ بَخُورٍ فَقُلْنَا مَا مَعَنَا شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْ هَذَا

“A servant of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), informed me that once one of the followers of the Imam became ill and we went to visit him. We were a group of the followers of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.). He (the Imam) met us at a distance on the way and asked, ‘Where are you going?’ We replied, ‘We like to visit so and so pa

تَمَامُ الْعِيَادَةِ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ تَضَعَ يَدَكَ عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ وَ تُعَجِّلَ الْقِيَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَإِنَّ عِيَادَةَ النَّوْكَى أَشَدُّ عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ مِنْ وَجَعِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that visiting of a patient is complete upon placing your hand over his arm (praying) and standing up quickly to leave; an unwise visiting of a patient is harder for him than the pain due to illness.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ تَمَامُ الْعِيَادَةِ أَنْ تَضَعَ يَدَكَ عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Visit of a patient is complete when you place your hand on him when you meet him.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص قَالَ: إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْعُوَّادِ أَجْراً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَنْ إِذَا عَادَ أَخَاهُ خَفَّفَ الْجُلُوسَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْمَرِيضُ يُحِبُّ ذَلِكَ‌ وَ يُرِيدُهُ وَ يَسْأَلُهُ ذَلِكَ وَ قَالَ ع مِنْ تَمَامِ الْعِيَادَةِ أَنْ يَضَعَ الْعَائِدُ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الْأُخْرَى أَوْ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the visitors who receive the greatest reward from Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, is one whose visiting time is short, unless the patient likes otherwise and asks him to stay for a longer time.’ He has also said, ‘A visit is complete when

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ مَاتَ دُونَ الْأَرْبَعِينَ فَقَدِ اخْتُرِمَ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ دُونَ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً فَمَوْتُهُ مَوْتُ فَجْأَةٍ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one dies before the age of forty, his life is cut short, and if one dies before fourteen days from the day of his falling ill, such death is a sudden death.’”

مَنْ مَاتَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً كَانَ مَوْتُهُ مَوْتَ فَجْأَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one dies from an illness within fourteen days, such death is a sudden death.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ عَادَ امْرَأً مُسْلِماً فِي مَرَضِهِ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ إِنْ كَانَ صَبَاحاً حَتَّى يُمْسُوا وَ إِنْ كَانَ مَسَاءً حَتَّى يُصْبِحُوا مَعَ أَنَّ لَهُ خَرِيفاً فِي الْجَنَّةِ[3].

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘If one visits a Muslim patient, that day seventy thousand angels pray for him from morning until night, if the visit is in the morning and until morning, if the visit takes place in the evening, and such visitor will have a house in paradise.”’

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, seventy thousand angels escort him and ask Allah to forgive his sins until he returns back home.”

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً خَاضَ فِي الرَّحْمَةِ خَوْضاً فَإِذَا جَلَسَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ فَإِذَا انْصَرَفَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ وَ يَسْتَرْحِمُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَقُولُونَ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَتْ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ إِلَى تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ مِنْ غَدٍ وَ كَانَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ خَرِيفٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْخَرِيفُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ زَاوِيَةٌ فِي الْجَن

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient, he enters deep into mercy, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether. When he returns, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels to ask forgiveness and mercy for him saying, “You did a good deed, may paradise become your dwelling,” un

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي مَرَضِهِ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْعُوَّادِ يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient just for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Allah assigns an angel of the visiting angels to visit him in his grave and ask forgiveness for him up to the Day of Judgment.’”

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَبَداً سَبْعِينَ أَلْفاً مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ يَغْشَوْنَ رَحْلَهُ‌[1] وَ يُسَبِّحُونَ فِيهِ وَ يُقَدِّسُونَ وَ يُهَلِّلُونَ وَ يُكَبِّرُونَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ نِصْفُ صَلَاتِهِمْ لِعَائِدِ الْمَرِيضِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a Muslim patient, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels who come to his house saying Tasbih, Taqdis, Tahlil and Takbir up to the Day of Judgment. Half of their Salah (prayer) is for the visitor of the patient.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً مَرِيضاً فِي مَرَضِهِ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ فَإِذَا قَعَدَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ اسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَ إِنْ عَادَهُ مَسَاءً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient in his illness in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether and they ask Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, until nightfall to forgive him. If his visit takes place

مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مَلَكاً يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, assigns an angel to visit him in his grave.”

أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ عَادَ مُؤْمِناً حِينَ يُصْبِحُ شَيَّعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ فَإِذَا قَعَدَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ اسْتَغْفَرُوا لَهُ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَ إِنْ عَادَهُ مَسَاءً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a believing person visits a believing patient in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him. When he sits down, mercy covers him altogether until nightfall. If he visits in the evening, similar things happen for him until the next morning.”

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى بِهِ مُوسَى رَبَّهُ أَنْ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا بَلَغَ مِنْ عِيَادَةِ الْمَرِيضِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ[1] فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أُوَكِّلُ بِهِ مَلَكاً يَعُودُهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ إِلَى مَحْشَرِهِ.

‘One of the conversations of Moses with his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who visits a person during his illness?’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, replied, ‘I assign an angel to visit him in his grave until the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضاً نَادَاهُ مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِاسْمِهِ يَا فُلَانُ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَ لَكَ مَمْشَاكَ بِثَوَابٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ[2].

‘If one visits a patient, a caller from the heaven calls, “O so and so, you have done a good deed. I congratulate you for your walking to paradise.’””

إِذَا حَضَرْتَ الْمَيِّتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ فَلَقِّنْهُ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ.[3]

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when one is about to die, before he dies, you should dictate to him the two testimonies: ‘No one, other than Allah who has no partners, deserves to be worshipped and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.’”

إِنَّكُمْ تُلَقِّنُونَ مَوْتَاكُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ نَحْنُ نُلَقِّنُ مَوْتَانَا مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should dictate to your dying people, ‘Only Allah is the Lord to be worshipped.’ We, however, (in addition) dictate to our dying people, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’”

إِذَا أَدْرَكْتَ الرَّجُلَ عِنْدَ النَّزْعِ فَلَقِّنْهُ كَلِمَاتِ الْفَرَجِ- لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبِّ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَ مَا فِيهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ مَا تَحْتَهُنَّ وَ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع لَوْ أَدْر

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If you find a man in dying condition, dictate to him the relieving words: ‘Allah, the Most Forbearing, the Most Honorable, is the only Lord who must be worshipped. Allah, the Most High, the Most Great, is the only Lord who must be worshipped. It is Allah, Lord of seven heavens and seven e

مَرِضَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فَأَتَيْتُهُ عَائِداً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي إِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدِي نَصِيحَةً أَ تَقْبَلُهَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ قُلْ- أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَشَهِدَ بِذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا لَا تَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْكَ عَلَى يَقِينٍ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ مِنْهُ عَلَى يَقِينٍ فَقُلْتُ قُلْ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُ

‘It is only Allah who must be worshipped and He has no partner.’ He then testified to this fact. I then said, ‘This will not be of any benefit unless you are certain about it.’ He said that he is certain about it. I then asked him to say, ‘I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.’ He then testified to this

كُنَّا عِنْدَهُ وَ عِنْدَهُ حُمْرَانُ إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَوْلًى لَهُ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا عِكْرِمَةُ فِي الْمَوْتِ وَ كَانَ يَرَى رَأْيَ الْخَوَارِجِ وَ كَانَ مُنْقَطِعاً[3] إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنْظِرُونِي‌[4] حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكُمْ فَقُلْنَا نَعَمْ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنِّي لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُ عِكْرِمَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ النَّفْسُ مَوْقِعَهَا لَعَ

“Humran and we were present before abu Ja’far (a.s.), when a servant came in. He said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘Ikrimah is in dying condition and he believes in the point of view of the al-Khawarij. However, he is (also) inclined to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) .’ The Imam then said to us, ’Wai

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَحْضُرُهُ الْمَوْتُ إِلَّا وَكَّلَ بِهِ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ شَيْطَانِهِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ بِالْكُفْرِ وَ يُشَكِّكَهُ فِي دِينِهِ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ نَفْسُهُ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا حَضَرْتُمْ مَوْتَاكُمْ فَلَقِّنُوهُمْ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُهُ ص حَتَّى يَمُوتَ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى قَالَ: فَلَقِّنْهُ كَلِمَاتِ الْفَرَجِ وَ الشَّه

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that at the time of everyone’s death, Satan assigns one of his devils to urge the dying person to disbelief and tries to make him doubt his religion until the time his soul departs. The devil is not able to control a believing person. When you find one of you in dying condition you shou

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَداً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ لَهُ قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبِّ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* فَإِذَا قَالَهَا الْمَرِيضُ قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ بَأْسٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would find any member of his family in dying condition, he would ask him to say, ‘It is Allah, the Most High, the Most Great, alone who must be worshipped. It is Allah, Lord of seven heavens and the Lord of seven earths, all that is between them and t

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ عَابِدَ وَثَنٍ وَصَفَ مَا تَصِفُونَ‌[1] عِنْدَ خُرُوجِ نَفْسِهِ مَا طَعِمَتِ النَّارُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ شَيْئاً أَبَداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘By Allah, even if a worshipper of an idol, in his dying condition, says what you say, fire will never consume anything from his body.’”

لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قُلْ- لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبِّ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَ‌[4] وَ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* فَقَالَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي اسْتَنْقَذَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah once visited a man from the tribe of Hashim in his dying condition. The Messenger of Allah told him to say, ‘Allah, the Most Forbearing, the Most Honorable, is the only Lord who must be worshipped, Allah, the Most High, the Most Great is the only Lord who mus

حَضَرَ رَجُلًا الْمَوْتُ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ فُلَاناً قَدْ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَنَهَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَعَهُ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ وَ هُوَ مُغْمًى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ كُفَّ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى أَسْأَلَهُ فَأَفَاقَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص مَا رَأَيْتَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ بَيَاضاً كَثِيراً وَ سَوَاداً كَثِيراً[1] قَالَ فَأَيُّهُمَا كَانَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَيْك

The Messenger of Allah decided to visit him along with a group of his companions and they found him fainted. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘O angel of death, do not do anything to him; I want to ask him a question.’ The man regained consciousness and the Holy Prophet asked, ‘What did you see?’ He replied, ‘I saw a great

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ كَانَ مُسْتَقِيماً فَنَزَعَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَغَسَّلَهُ‌[3] أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ حُمِلَ إِلَى مُصَلَّاهُ فَمَاتَ فِيهِ.

“Abu Sa’eed al-Khudriy, one of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, was a straightforward person. He remained in dying condition for three days. His people gave him a bath and carried him to the place where he would say his prayers; then he died.’””

إِذَا عَسُرَ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ مَوْتُهُ وَ نَزْعُهُ قُرِّبَ إِلَى مُصَلَّاهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), has said that if dying and separation of body and soul becomes difficult for one, he should be placed where he would perform his Salah (prayer).”

إِذَا اشْتَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ النَّزْعُ فَضَعْهُ فِي مُصَلَّاهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ أَوْ عَلَيْهِ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If dying becomes difficult for a person, you should place him in the place where he would perform his prayer.’”

قَالَ: إِنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ قَدْ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ هَذَا الرَّأْيَ وَ إِنَّهُ قَدِ اشْتَدَّ نَزْعُهُ فَقَالَ احْمِلُونِي إِلَى مُصَلَّايَ فَحَمَلُوهُ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ هَلَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), has said that abu Sa’eed al-Khudriy, a person of God-given good point, faced difficulties when dying. He asked his people to place him where he would perform his prayers and when they did as they were told, he died shortly thereafter.”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَقُولُ لِابْنِهِ الْقَاسِمِ‌[2] قُمْ يَا بُنَيَّ فَاقْرَأْ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ أَخِيكَ- وَ الصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا حَتَّى تَسْتَتِمَّهَا فَقَرَأَ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ- أَ هُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقاً أَمْ مَنْ خَلَقْنا قَضَى الْفَتَى فَلَمَّا سُجِّيَ‌[3] وَ خَرَجُوا أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ كُنَّا نَعْهَدُ الْمَيِّتَ إِذَا نُزِلَ بِهِ‌[4] يُقْرَأُ عِنْدَهُ‌ يس. وَ الْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيم

Son, stand up and recite Surah thirty-seven (of the Holy Quran), near the head of your brother, to the end.’ Al-Qasim began to recite, when he reached the passage, ‘Is their creation more powerful or those whom We have created’ (37:11) the young man passed away. When his body was prepared for burial they came out and Y

فِي تَوْجِيهِ الْمَيِّتِ تَسْتَقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ الْقِبْلَةَ وَ تَجْعَلُ قَدَمَيْهِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْقِبْلَةَ.[5]

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that facing a dying person toward Qiblah is turning his face in that direction such that the undersides of his feet point toward Qiblah.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ فَقَالَ اسْتَقْبِلْ بِبَاطِنِ قَدَمَيْهِ الْقِبْلَةَ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a dying person. He said, ‘Make the undersides of his feet face toward Qiblah.’ ”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَاتَ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَيِّتٌ فَسَجُّوهُ تُجَاهَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا غُسِّلَ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ مَوْضِعُ الْمُغْتَسَلِ تُجَاهَ الْقِبْلَةِ فَيَكُونُ مُسْتَقْبِلًا بِبَاطِنِ قَدَمَيْهِ وَ وَجْهِهِ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When any of you dies prepare his body (facing) toward Qiblah. Also, when giving the body a bath a place should be prepared for this purpose where the bottoms of his feet face the direction of Qiblah.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَوْ أَنَّ مُؤْمِناً أَقْسَمَ عَلَى رَبِّهِ أَنْ لَا يُمِيتَهُ مَا أَمَاتَهُ أَبَداً وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ أَوْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَجَلُهُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ رِيحَيْنِ رِيحاً يُقَالُ لَهَا الْمُنْسِيَةُ وَ رِيحاً يُقَالُ لَهَا الْمُسْخِيَةُ فَأَمَّا الْمُنْسِيَةُ فَإِنَّهَا تُنْسِيهِ أَهْلَهُ وَ مَالَهُ وَ أَمَّا الْمُسْخِيَةُ فَإِنَّهَا تُسْخِي نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a believing person appeals before his Lord for a guarantee not to cause him to die He will never cause him to die. However, when it is the time for him to die Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, sends two fragrances; one is called causing forgetf

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يُكْرَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى قَبْضِ رُوحِهِ قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ إِذَا أَتَاهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ لِقَبْضِ رُوحِهِ جَزِعَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ لَا تَجْزَعْ فَوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص لَأَنَا أَبَرُّ بِكَ وَ أَشْفَقُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ وَالِدٍ رَحِيمٍ لَوْ حَضَرَكَ افْتَحْ عَيْنَكَ فَانْظُر

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from Sadir al-Sayrafiy who has said the following: “Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, O child of the Messenger of Allah, is a believing person forced to die?’

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا عُقْبَةُ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْعِبَادِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ الَّذِي أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَا بَيْنَ أَحَدِكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَرَى مَا تَقَرُّ بِهِ عَيْنُهُ‌[3] إِلَّا أَنْ تَبْلُغَ نَفْسُهُ إِلَى هَذِهِ ثُمَّ أَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْوَرِيدِ ثُمَّ اتَّكَأَ وَ كَانَ مَعِيَ الْمُعَلَّى فَغَمَزَنِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘O ‘Uqbah, Allah, on the Day of Judgment, will not accept anything other than what you believe in (following Ahl al-Bayt). No other thing stands between anyone of you, and the delight of the hearts, other than the time when one’s soul reaches this’ ( He (the Imam) pointed his hand tow

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا حِيلَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ الْكَلَامِ‌[5] أَتَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‌[6] فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ الْآخَرُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَمَّا مَا كُنْتَ تَرْجُو فَهُوَ ذَا أَمَامَكَ وَ أَمَّا مَا كُنْتَ تَخَافُ مِنْهُ فَقَدْ أَمِنْتَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ يُفْتَحُ لَهُ بَابٌ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ هَذَا مَنْزِلُكَ مِنَ الْجَنَّة

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a dying person loses the ability to speak, the Messenger of Allah comes to him along with whomever Allah wants. The Messenger of Allah sits near his right side and the other on his left side. The Messenger of Allah then says, ‘What you hoped for is in front of you, you are saf

فَحَضَرْتُهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ فَبَسَطَ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ابْيَضَّتْ يَدِي يَا عَلِيُ‌[5] قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ فَلَمَّا قُمْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً يُخْبِرُهُ‌[6] بِخَبَرِ الرَّجُلِ فَأَتْبَعَنِي بِرَسُولٍ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي حَضَرْتَهُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ أَيَ‌ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَمِعْتَهُ يَقُولُ

“I was present at the time of the death of one of the sons of Sabur - both being people of merits, piety and great sincerity in their belief. One of them became ill and I think he was Zachariah ibn Sabur. I visited him in his dying condition. He stretched his hand and then said, ‘O Ali, my hands have become white.’ I t

مِنْكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ يُقْبَلُ وَ لَكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ يُغْفَرُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ أَحَدِكُمْ‌[1] وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَغْتَبِطَ وَ يَرَى السُّرُورَ وَ قُرَّةَ الْعَيْنِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَبْلُغَ نَفْسُهُ هَاهُنَا وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى حَلْقِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ وَ احْتُضِرَ حَضَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ ع فَيَدْنُو مِنْهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللّ

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) say, ‘Only from you, by Allah, it (good deeds) is accepted and only your sins are forgiven. There is nothing between any one of you and bliss, joy and the delight of heart, except the time when the soul reaches here’ - pointing to his throat he continued - ‘and when that time comes the Me

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع حَدَّثَنِي صَالِحُ بْنُ مِيثَمٍ عَنْ عَبَايَةَ الْأَسَدِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيّاً ع يَقُولُ وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُبْغِضُنِي عَبْدٌ أَبَداً يَمُوتُ عَلَى بُغْضِي إِلَّا رَآنِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَيْثُ يَكْرَهُ وَ لَا يُحِبُّنِي عَبْدٌ أَبَداً فَيَمُوتُ‌ عَلَى حُبِّي إِلَّا رَآنِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَيْثُ يُحِبُّ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع نَعَمْ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِالْيَمِينِ‌[1].

“Once I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that Salih ibn Mitham narrated to me from ‘Abayah al- Asadi who had heard Ali (a.s.), say the following: ‘By Allah, everyone who dislikes me and dies in such condition, can see me at the time of his death but with dislike. Everyone who loves me and dies in such condition, can see me a

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي الْمَيِّتِ تَدْمَعُ عَيْنُهُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ مُعَايَنَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَيَرَى مَا يَسُرُّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ مَا تَرَى الرَّجُلَ يَرَى مَا يَسُرُّهُ وَ مَا يُحِبُّ فَتَدْمَعُ عَيْنُهُ لِذَلِكَ وَ يَضْحَكُ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say about a dying person, ‘His eye tears up (moistens with tears) at the time of his death.’ He then said, ‘This happens upon seeing the Messenger of Allah. He sees what makes him happy.’ He then said, ‘Is it not a fact that when a person sees someone whom he loves his eye tears up (mois

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا وَقَعَتْ فِي الْحَلْقِ أَتَاهُ مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا هَذَا أَوْ يَا فُلَانُ أَمَّا مَا كُنْتَ تَرْجُو فَأْيَسْ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ الرُّجُوعُ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا وَ أَمَّا مَا كُنْتَ تَخَافُ فَقَدْ أَمِنْتَ مِنْهُ.

‘When a soul reaches the throat, an angel comes and says to him, “O you, - or so and so - what you had hoped for, be certain, is of no avail to you, meaning returning to the worldly life, but you have become safe from whatever you were afraid of.’””

جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا يَرَى قَالَ يَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَيَقُولُ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَبْشِرْ ثُمَّ يَرَى عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع فَيَقُولُ أَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُحِبُّهُ تُحِبُّ أَنْ أَنْفَعَكَ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَرَى هَذَا ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا قَالَ قَالَ لَا إِذَا رَأَى هَذَا أَبَداً مَاتَ وَ أَعْظَمَ ذ

‘When a man’s soul reaches his chest he then sees.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, what does he see?’ The Imam said, ‘He sees the Messenger of Allah and he says, “I am the Messenger of Allah. I have good news for you.” He then sees Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.), who says, “I am Ali ibn a

كَانَ خَطَّابٌ الْجُهَنِيُّ خَلِيطاً لَنَا وَ كَانَ شَدِيدَ النَّصْبِ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ كَانَ يَصْحَبُ نَجْدَةَ الْحَرُورِيَّةَ[4] قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَعُودُهُ لِلْخُلْطَةِ وَ التَّقِيَّةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُغْمًى عَلَيْهِ فِي حَدِّ الْمَوْتِ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَا لِي وَ لَكَ يَا عَلِيُّ فَأَخْبَرْتُ بِذَلِكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَآهُ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ رَآهُ وَ رَبِّ الْك

“Khattab al-Juhniy was one of our associates and he was a hardheaded adversary of the family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam. He was a companion of Najdah al-Harawriyyah. I once went to visit him to maintain social relations and due to fear. I found him fainted in dying condition and heard him say, ‘What did I have to d