For A True Muslim, Death Is a Happy Beginning

It is unfortunate that the image of death is linked in our minds to perdition and the lonely life of the grave. Death really is a journey from the world of distress to that of liberty and from the world of earthly constraints, with its pains and problems, to the world of the happy and eternal beginning near to His ‘good pleasure’, for those who seek the spiritual pleasures of the upper world, and in Paradise for those who seek the material pleasures.
What really uncovers the extent of the nearness of a man to his Lord is the attitude towards death. He who fears death actually fears the uncertain world that comes after it. This is why the Qur'an made longing for death a sign of those who claim to be friends of Allah, namely, the Children of Israel. Allah urged Abraham on meeting Him when He sent down Death’s Angel for the second time to reclaim his soul by saying, “Do you know of a lover who hates meeting his loved one?” That was in response to Abraham’s question, “Do you know of a friend who takes away the life of his bosom friend?” when Death’s Angel came to reclaim his soul in the first time.
Preparing for death is best started during youth years when the activity is at its peak. Otherwise, man may not be able to attain the higher ranks of perfection in the late years of his life when the body, as well as the will, grow weaker. Those who postpone repentance until after the end of the reckless years of youth are making a mistake. Can they guarantee life in the first place? Secondly, can they guarantee their repentance?
It is highly recommended that we apply the policy of ‘conditional association’ used in modern psychology. It consists of making a linkage between the positive and the negative aspects and their eventual results in this life and the life to come. If someone has the image of obedience linked (in an indisputable way) with the ‘honorable seat in the presence of the Mighty King’- i.e., Paradise - and that of disobedience linked (in an emotional way) with the notion of the suffering in the life to come , he will see obedience and disobedience through these images alone. Consequently, he will not have the need to disobey and the presence of the objection will not be necessary. As well, he will not have an objection to disobedience to hinder the effect of the need. This in short is the equation of piety.
Being aware of how short life is and the eventual vanishing of all its pleasures, the allowed and the disallowed ones, is an incentive to regard lightly its possessions. This is why the Tradition describes death as ‘the pleasures’ destroyer’. We are commanded to frequently remind our self of death so that we will not be deceived by the life’s sweetness only to wake up at the time of the reckoning when it is too late.
Among the stages of death, that most men have to go through is the death’s agony. The separation of the soul that lived within the body for so long is the hardest possible experience. It is likened to the separation of the newborn from its mother and the pain that accompanies it, and the pulling out of a prisoner’s nails when his torturers want to make him experience slow death. How would it be then if the whole body is to be separated from the soul?
The Prophetic Traditions dealt with some of the causes that ease up the agonies of death by saying (in order to alarm people), “O Allah, help me over the death’s agonies”.
Among these causes are maintaining the relationship with relatives and cherishing the parents. It is really striking how frequently these two elements are mentioned; it could be because of the natural distracters from fulfilling the obligations towards these two groups, which could be because one does not get to choose his relatives and may disagree with them on different things. This is why Allah had to emphasize on them.
Among other causes of easing up of the agonies of death is working to lead and guide the negligent and the straying people, for Allah keeps the reward for this service to the moment of death. The Tradition implies that “He who helps those who do not understand well will receive Allah’s help during the agonies of death regarding the Shahada (the doctrinal formula) and what is linked to it”. This is because Satan tries, even in the last moments of man’s life, to take away from him the foundation of his happiness, which is the belief in Allah, when he fails to achieve it in the course of the man’s life.
Calling on people to follow the way of Ahlul-bayt (the Prophet’s family) is a way leading to the happy end. Abu-Baseer, a companion of Imam al-Sadiq (a) helped guide a man to the way of Ahlul-bayt (a). On his death’s bed, that man said to Abu-Baseer, “I accept what you offered me, so do I get to enter Paradise?” Abu-Baseer replied, “I guarantee it for you on behalf of al-Sadiq (a)”. The man then passed away. Afterwards, when Abu-Baseer came to visit Imam al-Sadiq (a), he (the imam) started him by saying, “Your friend has been furnished with Paradise”.