Q. Does sudden death indicate anything concerning the person who dies, as he might not have a chance to seek God’s forgiveness for his sins? Did the Prophet pray for refuge from sudden death?
M. Sadikh
A. Everyone of us is exposed to death at any moment. Death could come gradually, as happens with many people who attain to old age, or it could come quickly or suddenly, as in an accident or in a case of cardiac arrest. It does not indicate to us anything concerning the destiny of the person concerned. If it comes to a good believer who is always keen to abide by the divine rules and Islamic values, such a person is always well prepared to meet God. On the other hand, a person may suffer a long illness, and doctors may indicate to him that his life expectancy is no more than a few months, but he may still not take advantage of the warning so as to stop his erring ways. The Prophet did pray seeking shelter with God from death coming all of a sudden, but this does not mean that it lowers one’s standing with God. It is only because of the problems that arise from such sudden death, and the terrible sense of bereavement the person’s relatives would endure. What is important to realize is that we should always remember to seek God’s forgiveness of our sins.
