Allah’s division of people at the time of death into three categories.
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The Shaykh : As for at the time of death, Allah the Exalted also divided people into three categories. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-Waqi'ah 56:83-84] This means: the soul, it has reached the throat, because the soul exits from the lower part of the body to the upper part of the body.
[Al-Waqi'ah 56:84-85]
At that time, what are you looking at?
It is said: You are looking at the deceased, and you are unable to do anything.
If a person could ransom this deceased person with his own soul, he would do it, but he cannot; he cannot prevent this soul that has reached the throat, ever.
And it is said: You are looking. This is an address to those who are present at the deathbed; you are looking at the angels. For this reason, He said:[Al-Waqi'ah 56:85].
Meaning: You do not see the angels who are present with this deceased person.
Allah the Exalted said after this:[Al-Waqi'ah 56:88-89].
Who are the near ones?
The forerunners are the near ones, due to His saying at the beginning of the surah:.
[Al-Waqi'ah 56:90-91].
[Al-Waqi'ah 56:92-94].
So search, my brother, within yourself: Are you among the forerunners? Do you, whenever a characteristic of goodness is mentioned to you, whether it is worship of Allah or kindness to the servants of Allah, hasten to it and seize the opportunity to reach it?
Or are you among those who are lax?
And are you fulfilling what Allah has made obligatory upon you, leaving what Allah has forbidden for you, or are you neglecting that and destroying yourself...?
In any case, these are admonitions, and the Qur'an is sufficient as an admonisher. So we ask Allah the Exalted to make us all among those who are admonished by the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and benefit from it, and the Book becomes a guide for them to Paradise, not a driver for them to the Fire.
O Allah, send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.
(83) Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat (84) And you are at that time looking on -
فلولا إذا بلغت الحلقوم وأنتم حينئذ تنظرون(84) And you are at that time looking on - (85) And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
وأنتم حينئذ تنظرون * ونحن أقرب إليه منكم ولكن لاتبصرونAt that time, what are you looking at?
It is said: You are looking at the deceased, and you are unable to do anything.
If a person could ransom this deceased person with his own soul, he would do it, but he cannot; he cannot prevent this soul that has reached the throat, ever.
And it is said: You are looking. This is an address to those who are present at the deathbed; you are looking at the angels. For this reason, He said:
And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
ونحن أقرب إليه منكم ولكن لاتبصرونMeaning: You do not see the angels who are present with this deceased person.
Allah the Exalted said after this:
(88) And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah, (89) Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
فأما إن كان من المقربين فروح وريحان وجنة نعيمWho are the near ones?
The forerunners are the near ones, due to His saying at the beginning of the surah:
The forerunners, the forerunners, those are the near ones.
السابقون السابقون * أولئك المقربون(90) And if he was of the companions of the right, (91) Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
وأما إن كان من أصحاب اليمين فسلام لك من أصحاب اليمين(92) But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, (93) Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water (94) And burning in Hellfire
وأما إن كان من المكذبين الضالين * فنزل من حميم وتصلية جحيمSo search, my brother, within yourself: Are you among the forerunners? Do you, whenever a characteristic of goodness is mentioned to you, whether it is worship of Allah or kindness to the servants of Allah, hasten to it and seize the opportunity to reach it?
Or are you among those who are lax?
And are you fulfilling what Allah has made obligatory upon you, leaving what Allah has forbidden for you, or are you neglecting that and destroying yourself...?
In any case, these are admonitions, and the Qur'an is sufficient as an admonisher. So we ask Allah the Exalted to make us all among those who are admonished by the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and benefit from it, and the Book becomes a guide for them to Paradise, not a driver for them to the Fire.
O Allah, send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.