What is the ruling on supplicating for one's own death, and what is the recompense for that? And what should a person do if he feels distress in his soul?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on supplicating for one's own death? And what is the recompense for that? And what should a person do if he feels distress in his soul and worries that afflict him? I ask the honorable Shaykh for guidance and advice in this matter?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
It is not permissible for anyone to supplicate for his own death, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 64:1450 And if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a person from wishing for death, how much more so for one who supplicates for his own death? It is obligatory for one who is afflicted with a matter that constricts his chest and whose worries pile up upon him, it is obligatory for him to be patient, to seek reward from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to await relief. These are three matters:
Patience, seeking reward, and awaiting relief from Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
This is because when a person is afflicted with a calamity, whether from worry or otherwise, Allah expiates his sins and transgressions through it. And how numerous are the sins and transgressions of the children of AdamSunan Ibn Majah 4251Hasan (Darussalam) And if he is patient and seeks reward from Allah, he is rewarded for that, meaning two things are obtained for him:
Expiation and reward. And if he awaits relief from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he is rewarded for that a third time, because awaiting relief is having a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and having a good opinion of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is a righteous deed for which a person is rewarded.
And if a person uses, in a state of worry and distress, what removes that from the dhikr, such as the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Anbya 21:87] then he benefits from it, as Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said regarding Dhun-Nun: [Al-Anbya 21:87-88] meaning, in this manner of salvation through this cause, We save the believers.
Then let him know that one who is afflicted with such a matter, the more he increases in the remembrance of Allah with his tongue and his heart, the more certain it is that his condition will change and his heart will find tranquility, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ar-Ra'd 13:28] And afflictions with these matters have not increased in the present age except due to people’s piling upon the worldly life and seeking entertainment for their bodies without purifying their hearts. For this reason, you find with many people negligence regarding the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and turning away from it, and piling upon the worldly life and its adornments. Therefore, afflictions have increased greatly in this age in these matters, meaning psychological illnesses, worries, and sorrows.
If people had increased their attachment to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His remembrance, these matters would have been removed from them. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:[Al-Kahf 18:28] And this is the condition of many people today, unfortunately, that Allah has made their hearts negligent of His remembrance, and they followed their desires, and their affairs were in disarray. Hours, indeed days, pass over them and they have produced nothing.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
It is not permissible for anyone to supplicate for his own death, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Let none of you wish for death due to a hardship that befalls him. If he must do so, let him say: O Allah, keep me alive as long as You know life is better for me, and cause me to die when You know death is better for me.
لا يتمنينّ أحدكم الموت لضر نزل به ، فإن كان لا بد فاعلاً فليقل : اللهم أحيني ما علمت الحياة خيراً لي، وتوفني إذا علمت الوفاة خيراً ليPatience, seeking reward, and awaiting relief from Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
This is because when a person is afflicted with a calamity, whether from worry or otherwise, Allah expiates his sins and transgressions through it. And how numerous are the sins and transgressions of the children of Adam
Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.
فكل بني آدم خطاء ، وخير الخطائين التوابونExpiation and reward. And if he awaits relief from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he is rewarded for that a third time, because awaiting relief is having a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and having a good opinion of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is a righteous deed for which a person is rewarded.
And if a person uses, in a state of worry and distress, what removes that from the dhikr, such as the saying of Allah the Exalted:
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ(87) And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (88) So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذْ ذَهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَنْ لَنْ نَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَلِكَ نُنْجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَThen let him know that one who is afflicted with such a matter, the more he increases in the remembrance of Allah with his tongue and his heart, the more certain it is that his condition will change and his heart will find tranquility, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
أَلا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُIf people had increased their attachment to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His remembrance, these matters would have been removed from them. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:
and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.
وَلا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًاThe questioner : May Allah bless you.