Concern for passing away with faith

Dear Islamic brothers! From amongst the countless qualities held by Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, one of them was his yearning and concern to pass away with his faith intact.

His blessed daughter, the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah ꜤĀˈishah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا narrates, “My father would recite this supplication morning and evening:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ خَيْرَ عُمْرِي آخِرَهُ وَخَيْرَ عَمَلِيْ خَوَاتِمَهُ وَخَيْرَ اَيَّامِيْ يَوْمَ اَلْقَاكَ

O Allah! Make the end of my life the best part of it; make my final deeds my best; and make the best of my days the day I meet You.”

Somebody asked, “O Abū Bakr! You are a Companion of the Prophet and his Companion in the Cave. Why do you make this supplication?”

He replied, “Sometimes, a person performs deeds of the people of Paradise throughout his life, yet his life concludes with deeds of the people of Hell. Other times, a person spends his life performing deeds of the people of Hell, yet concludes his life with deeds of the people of Paradise.”^[1]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! This is an extremely profound statement. What we are at this moment holds its own importance, but what we become at the end of our lives is far more crucial. It is a great blessing that we are Muslims today. What is critically important is that we die as Muslims.

Allah Almighty forbid, if we lose our faith as we die, or spend our final days committing the deeds of those who will go to Hellfire, this will lead to unimaginably severe consequences.

In an extensive Hadith, the Final Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  proclaimed:

The children of Ādam were created in varying categories.

Some are born as believers, live in faith, and die as believers.

Some are born disbelievers, live in disbelief, and die as disbelievers.

Some are born believers, live as believers, but die as disbelievers.

Some are born disbelievers, live in disbelief, but die as believers.^[2]