Imagine if a person were in a joyous gathering full of entertainment, and he was informed that a soldier would soon arrive to whip him five times in front of everyone. That individual would surely find the event unpleasant, and life would lose its charm. Similarly, death constantly follows us and can strike with all its severity at any moment. Yet, we remain heedless, lost in the slumber of negligence.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

The Agonies of Death

The Proof of Islam, Imam Muḥammad al-Ghazālī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه describes the agonies of death as follows:

NazꜤ refers to the torment that directly affects the soul and envelops all parts of the body. The soul feels pain even in the deepest parts of the body. The agonies of NazꜤ directly attack the soul, and the pain spreads throughout the body. The soul is pulled out from every vein, tendon, and joint, as well as from the root of every hair and the entire skin, from head to toe.

Who can imagine the intensity of the pain and suffering of that moment? Our pious predecessors have stated that the pain of death is more excruciating than being struck by a sword, being sawn in half, or being cut with scissors. The body feels pain from a sword strike because it is connected to the soul. Imagine the intense agony when the sword strikes directly on the soul itself!

When someone is injured with a sword, they can call for help and cry out because their body and tongue still have strength. However, during the throes of death, the pain becomes so overwhelming that the voice and ability to cry out cease. Death overcomes the heart and drains the strength from the entire body, leaving every part weakened. The person is left helpless,