What is the difference between one who dies while sleeping and one who dies while awake?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
He also asks about the sleeper when he dies, saying: Does he feel the pains of death as if he were not sleeping? In other words, what is the difference between death for one who was sleeping and for one who was awake? And is one who dies while sleeping considered better in the sight of Allah? Especially if he slept in a state of wudu (ablution), having recited the tashahhud, in a proper manner, remembering Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and his last words were a true testimony of faith. Ah, ah, ah.
The Shaykh:
As for death, Allah knows best its conditions and what the deceased encounters when his soul departs, whether he was sleeping or awake; these are matters we do not know. And as for... that... or if he dies... while sleeping... he dies while sleeping.
The questioner:
Is it better? Yes, it is mentioned in the hadith.
The Shaykh:
That if a Muslim says, "Peace," while in a state of wudu (ablution) on his right side, and says, "O Allah, I have placed my side to You, and I have submitted my soul to You, and I have turned my face to You, in hope and fear of You. There is no safety from You except in You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent," and he does not speak any words after this supplication, and sleeps on his side, and then his soul is taken while he is sleeping, he will enter Paradise, as mentioned in the hadith.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3116Sahih (Al-Albani) As also mentioned in the hadith. So there is no doubt that this is a good ending. It is hoped for one who dies in such a state, testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that this was his last word. Likewise, for one who says this supplication when he sleeps and places his side on the ground, and acts according to the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this matter, it is hoped that he will enter Paradise. Is this among the causes of entering Paradise?
He also asks about the sleeper when he dies, saying: Does he feel the pains of death as if he were not sleeping? In other words, what is the difference between death for one who was sleeping and for one who was awake? And is one who dies while sleeping considered better in the sight of Allah? Especially if he slept in a state of wudu (ablution), having recited the tashahhud, in a proper manner, remembering Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and his last words were a true testimony of faith. Ah, ah, ah.
The Shaykh:
As for death, Allah knows best its conditions and what the deceased encounters when his soul departs, whether he was sleeping or awake; these are matters we do not know. And as for... that... or if he dies... while sleeping... he dies while sleeping.
The questioner:
Is it better? Yes, it is mentioned in the hadith.
The Shaykh:
That if a Muslim says, "Peace," while in a state of wudu (ablution) on his right side, and says, "O Allah, I have placed my side to You, and I have submitted my soul to You, and I have turned my face to You, in hope and fear of You. There is no safety from You except in You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent," and he does not speak any words after this supplication, and sleeps on his side, and then his soul is taken while he is sleeping, he will enter Paradise, as mentioned in the hadith.
If anyone's last words are "There is no god but Allah" he will enter Paradise.
وكذلك من كان آخر كلامه لا إله إلا الله دخل الجنة
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما الفرق بين من مات وهو نائم ومن مات وهو مستيقظ؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.
