He appears with flames upon his face when taking the soul of a non-Muslim, completely dark when taking the soul of a person with corrupt beliefs, harsh and unappealing when taking the soul of a sinner, and with a shining face when taking the soul of somebody who repents (meaning, a pious person).^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! We learn that the angel of death does not take everybody’s soul in the same way. The method depends on whether the person is pious, sinful, or a non-Muslim. May we be blessed to see our beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as we pass away! If this happens, our souls will leave our bodies with ease اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

On the other hand, if we are punished for the sins we commit day and night, and as a result, the angel of death arrives in a terrifying form, everything will become extremely difficult for us. Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said, “Simply seeing the Angel of Death ˹if he comes in his terrifying form˺ is greater in severity than the strike of a thousand swords.”

The throes of death

Dear Islamic brothers! When a person nears death, he has thousands of things he is sad about: leaving the world, parents, siblings, family, loved ones; dreams that went unfulfilled or guilt over previous sins. Sadness of such nature overwhelm a person at that time. If—God forbid—a person is punished for his sins at that time, and the angel of death arrives in a terrifying form, who can imagine what a person will feel at that time? How will a person face the angel of death?

The matter does not end there. Alongside all of this, a person will also experience the throes and agonies of death.