ONE HADITH A DAY

Let none of you die except while having good expectations of Allah

Narrated by Muslim · Authentic

عَنْ جَابِرٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ وَفَاتِهِ بِثَلَاثٍ يَقُولُ: «لَا يَمُوتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ بِاللهِ الظَّنَّ».

“Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) three days before his death saying: "Let none of you die except while having good expectations of Allah."”

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is urging Muslims not to die except while having good expectations of Allah by making their hope for Allah's mercy and pardon outweigh when being in a state of moribundity. Because fear is required to improve deeds; however, this is not a state for offering deeds. Hence, the prevalence of hope is required here.

Benefits

• Keenness of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on guiding his Ummah and his deep compassion for them in all of his states; even in his final illness, he was advising his Ummah and guiding them to the means of salvation.
• At-Tībi said: Perform good deeds now so that you have good expectations of Allah at the time of death, as those whose deeds are evil have ill expectations of Allah at the time of death.
• The slave's most perfect state is having a moderate level of hope and fear along with the prevalence of love, as love is the mount, whereas hope is the conductor, fear is the driver, and Allah is the One Who helps one reach his destination through His favor and generosity.
• Anyone who is near a dying person should help him have strong hope and good expectations of Allah, as in this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said this three days before his death.

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