The Minor day of Judgement-al-ihtidhaar

There is a period before death called al-ihtidhaar. It is preparation for death. During this stage, the angels descend. Allah says: “Until when death approaches one of you. Our Messengers take his soul and they never neglect their duty.” During this stage, angels descend and the person going through death can see them. RasulAllah says: “If the believing soul is leaving this world and moving into alAkhirah [in the interface] angels will descend from the heavens. White, bright faces like the sun. They have with them a coffin from paradise and incense from paradise. So he can see them. And then the angel of death will descend. And then he will sit next to his face/head. He will say, ‘Oh you pure soul, come out to the forgiveness of Allah and His Pleasure.’ This soul will come out so smoothly, like a drop of water rolling out of a jug. 

For the kaafir, if he is leaving the dunya and approaching akhirah, then dark angels will come down. They are carrying coffins made of harsh materials. The angel of death will come down, sit beside him and say, ‘O you evil soul! Come out to the anger of Allah subhaana wa ta’aala and His Wrath!’ When the angel of death will make that announcement, this soul will run around in the body. The angel of death will grab the soul and pull it out, as if you are pulling out wet wool from thorny branches.”

During this stage, there may be some discomfort for the believing soul. Allah gives comfort to the believer. He says: “Verily, those who say that there Lord if Allah and then they stay firm. On them the angels will descend, saying ‘Fear not, nor grieve, but receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised.’” (41:30) They did not say that ‘Allah is our Lord’ and then go on a crooked path. Not fasting one day and then drinking alcohol the next day. These people stayed firm, and the angels will give them glad tidings.

For the disbeliever, Allah says, “And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve. They smite their faces and their backs, saying ‘Taste the punishment of the blazing fire. This is because of that which your hands forwarded. Verily, Allah is not unjust to His slaves.” Allah is not committing injustice to you. It is your actions that caused you this.

Ataa’ ibn Rabah says: “There are three benefits of remembering death:

1. Ta’jeel at-tawbah: hastening repentance. You would prepare for akhirah and you would repent.

2. Ar-Rida bil Qaleel: content with the minimum. You will be happy with whatever Allah has given you because you know it is a temporary residence. This is not where we belong; therefore you wouldn’t give it much concern and attention. Whatever Allah gives, Alhamdulillah.

3. Not fight and compete with people of this world over this world. And that would cause you to have tranquility in your heart. What makes people anxious and obnoxious is competing over material things. This world is large and our desires are large. RasulAllah says that if the son of Adam has a valley of gold he would request another one and nothing would please the son of Adam except dirt. Nothing would satisfy this greed except the dirt. When you go back to the dirt, it will close all of those desires. This world is not worth fighting.