Sayyiduna YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم asked, "What happened to the heralds you were supposed to send before my passing?"

The Angel of Death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم replied, "The black hair turning white, the decline in physical strength, and the bending of the once-upright back, O YaꜤqūb عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم! These are indeed my harbingers sent to remind a person of approaching death."^[1]

Illness is also a herald of death

Dear Islamic brothers, from this account, we understand that before taking a soul, the Angel of Death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم sends his heralds so that the person rectifies himself, repents for his sins, focuses on obeying Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and prepare for their afterlife. Remember, apart from these three harbingers of death, various illnesses, and changes in hearing or vision (e.g., once having good eyesight or hearing, which then weakens or is lost), are also heralds of death.

Many among us have likely already received these messages of death from the heralds of the Angel of Death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, yet we remain heedless. For instance, when someone’s black hair starts turning white, they console themselves, saying, “This is due to stress or worries,” or “I’ve aged prematurely.” Similarly, illness is a prominent harbinger of death, yet we remain negligent of it, despite witnessing countless individuals succumbing to death daily due to illnesses.

Patients, especially, should remember death frequently, as what seems like a minor illness could suddenly take a lethal turn, claiming life within moments. Afterward, their loved ones may mourn, enemies may rejoice, and the heedless patient will find himself buried beneath layers of earth in the darkness of his grave, left only with his good or bad deeds.