What Does Islam Say About Dying While Fasting?
Ramadan is the
month of mercy, the month of pardon, the month of forgiveness, and the month of
salvation from the Fire. In it, hearts look toward hope and optimism, longing
for acceptance and reward.
If a
Muslim reaches this blessed month, strives to perform righteous deeds during
it, and then death overtakes him, this is considered a sign of a good ending (husn Al-khatimah). The hearts hope that such a person
will be among the people of Paradise. Indeed, dying while engaged in obedience
to Allah is one of the causes of attaining a good end and entering Paradise.
Dying While Fasting: A Sign of a Good
Ending
Fasting is one
of the pillars of Islam. The Quran commanded it during the month of Ramadan, as
Allah the Exalted says, {Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was
revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive
authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast.} [Al-Baqarah 2:185]
The
Prophet (peace
be upon him) explained that fasting leads to the
forgiveness of sins. In the two authentic collections of Al-Bukhari and Muslim,
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) said: “He
who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have
his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and
seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.”
Thus,
whoever fasts Ramadan and performs its night prayers with faith and sincerity
is among those granted forgiveness by the permission of Allah. Therefore, if a
person dies in such a state, there is hope that it will be regarded as a good
ending, and that he will be resurrected upon the deed upon which he died.
In Sahih
Muslim, Jabir Ibn `Abdullah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) say: “Every
one will be raised in the condition in which he dies.”
Whoever Dies While Fasting May Be Among
the People of Paradise
No one
can definitively declare that a specific person will enter Paradise or Hell
except through revelation from Allah. When a Muslim dies while performing an
act of obedience, we do not state with certainty that he will enter Paradise,
because we do not know whether his deeds were accepted by Allah. However, we
hold a good opinion and hope that Allah accepts his deeds and rewards him for
them.
If dying
upon obedience is a sign of a good ending, then a good ending is itself a sign
that its possessor will be among the people of Paradise.
Indeed,
the noble Sunnah confirms that Allah has designated a special gate in Paradise
for those who fast. In Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Sahl Ibn Sa`d reported that
the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said: “In Paradise there is a gate which is
called Ar-Rayyan through which only the people who fast would enter on the Day
on Resurrection. None else would enter along with them. It would be proclaimed:
Where are the people who fast that they should be admitted into it? And when
the last of them would enter, it would be closed and no one would enter it.”
Thus,
whoever dies while fasting may hope to enter Paradise through the gate of
Ar-Rayyan.
Another
hadith states that whoever concludes his life with fasting will enter Paradise.
In Musnad Ahmad, with a chain of narration authenticated by Al-Albani,
Hudhayfah reported: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) leaned against my chest and said: ‘Whoever says: “There is no god but
Allah,” seeking Allah, and it is the last thing of his life, will enter
Paradise. Whoever fasts a day seeking Allah, and it is the last thing of his
life, will enter Paradise. And whoever gives charity seeking Allah, and it is
the last thing of his life, will enter Paradise.’”
This
applies to anyone who dies while fasting.
The Special Virtue of Dying During
Ramadan
As for
one who dies during the month of Ramadan, there is even greater virtue and
reward, for Allah bestows His generosity and bounty abundantly in this blessed
month.
Ramadan
contains many virtues. Among them is what is narrated in the two authentic
collections from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) said: “When
there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates
of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.”
Al-Qurtubi
explained the meaning of this hadith, saying that Paradise is opened and
adorned for those who die during Ramadan due to the virtue of the acts of
worship performed in it, while the gates of Hell are closed to them so that
none of those who die in it enter the Fire. (Al-Mufhim Lima Ashkala Min
Talkhis Kitab Muslim, 3/136).
Al-Qadi `Iyad
said that the opening of the gates of Paradise may also refer to the
opportunities Allah grants His servants in this month for acts of worship that
are not found in other times—such as fasting, night prayer, and performing
righteous deeds. These acts become causes and gateways for entering Paradise. (Ikmal
Al-Mu`lim Bi Fawa’id Muslim, 4/6).
From all
of the above, it becomes clear that when a believer dies while fasting, this is
considered a sign of a good ending, and it is hoped that he will be among the
people of Paradise.
For Further Reading:
- 6 Virtues and Rulings for Performing `Umrah in Ramadan
- 5 Golden Benefits of Ramadan for the Muslim Family
- 10 Divine Virtues of Ramadan
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