this is such an undeniable reality that no person in the world can deny in this world you will find millions of people who object to everything but when it comes to death everyone agrees that it is an inevitable truth that no one can refute this is because we witness people dying in front of us every day yet we are completely helpless to stop it neither our wealth can prevent it nor can our technology nor any trickery deceive it according to science death is a natural process that cannot be stopped though the aging that leads to
death can be somewhat slowed down however astonishingly Islam does not merely describe death as the departure of the soul from the body rather it outlines six stages of death which you I and every person in this world will experience at the time of our death each individual will perceive these stages according to their deeds some will find them peaceful while for others they will be extremely tormenting as Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran every living being shall taste death and we all know that the taste of food depends on the person who tastes it
this means that the severity of death does not remain the same for everyone rather it holds a different experience for each person according to the Quran and Hadith what are these six stages of death let us try to understand one the first stage the day of death this is the day when a person's life comes to an end and their moment of death has been decreed on this day Allah Almighty commands the angels to descend to the earth and seize the soul of that person so that they may be prepared to meet their Lord unfortunately
no one knows when this day will come and when it arrives a person does not even realize that it is their final day of life but on this day certain physical changes occur that a person can feel within their body for example a believer's heart experiences joy and peace while a wrongdoer feels pressure in their chest and heart during this stage devils and jin witness the descent of the angels as they come from the heavens to seize the person's soul but the person themselves cannot see them the Holy Quran mentions this stage in the following
way beware of the day when you will be returned to Allah then every soul will be fully repaid for what it has done two the second stage the beginning of the soul's departure this stage begins from the soles of the feet as the soul gradually moves upwards it passes through the legs knees abdomen navl and chest until it reaches a specific point known as trai at this point a person begins to feel extreme fatigue and dizziness losing the ability to stand their bodily strength starts to fade slowly but they still do not realize that their
soul is departing from their body three the third stage the journey of the soul to the throat let me explain that trai refers to the two bones located just below the throat that extend to the shoulders the Holy Quran describes this stage as follows nay when the soul reaches the throat and it is said "Who will heal him now?" And he realizes that it is the time of departure and the legs are entangled with one another surah Aliyama verses 26 to 29 during this time people around the dying person discuss how to carry their body
whether to call a doctor an ambulance or recite the Holy Quran despite being near death the person still holds on to hope for survival and makes efforts to stay alive this is the stage when the process of the soul's departure is almost complete and the lower part of the body becomes entirely lifeless the dying person can see and hear those around them but their body can no longer react or respond the fourth stage the final moments of death this is an extremely painful and difficult stage and this is because while living in this world there
was a veil over his eyes that prevented him from seeing the spiritual realm however in this moment that veil is lifted and he begins to see the angels around him this is the stage when a person for the first time starts witnessing the hereafter or the spiritual world something he had only heard about until now allah Almighty describes this moment in surah ayah 22 saying we have removed your veil and today your sight is sharp and then Allah further says then why not intervene when the soul reaches the throat and you are watching at that
moment but we are closer to him than you though you do not see this is the time when a person either sees Allah's mercy or his wrath their entire life flashes before their eyes and they witness their past deeds unfolding before them you might be surprised to know that even at this moment Satan tries to mislead the dying person hoping they might utter words of disbelief in their final moments allah describes this in the Holy Quran stating "Say my Lord I seek refuge in you from the whispers of the devils and I seek refuge in
you from their presence around me." Surah al- Muonun ay's 97 to 985 the fifth stage the arrival of the angel of death this is the stage when the angel of death enters and the person realizes whether they are among those receiving Allah's mercy or those facing his punishment whether they are righteous believers or disbelievers destined for hell allah Almighty describes this moment in the Holy Quran those whose souls are taken forcefully by the angels striking their faces and backs surah Muhammad ayah 27 on the other hand if the person is a believer or a righteous
individual their soul is extracted gently like a drop of water dripping from a water skin allah says "Oh tranquil soul return to your Lord pleased and pleasing to him so enter among my servants and enter my paradise." Surah al fajger ayah's 27-30 and after this comes the sixth and final stage this is the stage when a person's soul completely departs from their body if the person was sinful they will cry out to their Lord saying "Oh my Lord send me back so that I may do righteous deeds in the world once more." But Allah responds
"No this is merely a word that he speaks and behind them is a barrier until the day of resurrection." Surah al-Mun ayah 100 Allah further states the agony of death will come with truth this is what you tried to escape it is mentioned in an Hadith that when the time of death arrives for a believer the angels descend with a shroud from paradise wrapped in fine silk and take the soul gently while giving the glad tidings of Janna however for the wrongdoers and disobedient individuals the soul is extracted with extreme pain and hardship as the
angels pull it out like a metal rod passing through wet wool these final two stages of death are so agonizing that even prophets had to endure their severity this is the moment when the soul is on the verge of leaving the body even today many people question why so much sin and injustice occur in the world if everything happens by Allah's will but this is not true these things do not happen because Allah wills them but rather because he has granted permission allah has given humankind free will until the day of judgment to act as
they choose but after death they will be held accountable for all their deeds despite having all the power and might to stop every wrongdoing Allah allows events to unfold as a test so today let us all reflect if death were to come upon any one of us at this very moment are our deeds righteous enough to stand before Allah would we be among those fortunate souls who are shown their place in paradise before they even pass away if the answer is and are no one then be grateful for you are still alive may Allah grant
us the understanding and the ability to perform righteous deeds amen
