ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Journey to the Unseen World Post-Scriptum Although the events after death have been described already and will prove to be an incentive towards preparing ourselves for the Hereafter, I wish to list some practices and occasions described by Revered personalities, which will help everybody in their preparations.

Only those who are aware of the reality and facts about the Hereafter, can inform us about this and these are Muhammad (S) and his progeny, who are the cause of creation of the Universe. The gist of their teachings is that if anybody has to undertake a journey, he should make preparations for it. Therefore daily before sleeping, Imam ‘Ali (as) used to announce from the mosque, “O People, get ready and make preparations for your journey of the Hereafter. May Allah have mercy on you.

The proclaimer of Death is announcing. Take heed. Be prepared. You will face numerous hazards there.” (Nahjul Balagha) The first occasion of these is the time when one experiences the pangs of death. “And the stupor of death will come in truth; that is what you were trying to escape” (Sura Qaf, 50:19) This is an extremely hard time. On one side there is the intensity of pain and illness, the tongue becomes mute and the body refuses to respond.

On the other hand, the crying and wailing relatives and the thought of being separated from them forever, the grief of the children becoming orphans, separation from one's mate and life-partner and from wealth and other worldly goods (in the collection of which one had spent his lifetime): the agony of death, combined with these hardships to be faced after death, all cause this time to be painful beyond imagination.

Shaykh Saduq has quoted Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as) as saying, “If anyone wishes to make the pangs of death easy and light, he should maintain good relations with his relatives and should be kind and gentle with his parents.

One who behaves thus will die easily and in his lifetime will not be troubled with paucity and will on the contrary live happily.” The Holy Prophet (S) has recommended Sura Yasin (36) and Sura al-Saffat (37) and reading the dua “La Ilaha Illa Allah al-Haleemul Karim...” (There is no power except Allah, the Forbearing and Gracious) to the end in the Qunoot as being beneficial for the time of death.