Is it too late to take the shahada if you are terminally ill?
Never delay taking the shahada
Anyone who is considering becoming Muslim, should not delay their shahada. None of us know how long we have in this world. This life is temporary and we must all leave it. As only Allah knows the time and place of our death, someone who has a terminal condition may still survive their doctor’s prognosis by days, weeks, months or even years. On the other hand, they may get run over by the proverbial bus before that.
If someone has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, they should take their shahada straight away. They do not need to go through any formal process, they can take the shahada at any time.
The testimony can be declared by saying the following statement with conviction and understanding its meaning:
“Ashhadu anna Laa ilaaha illaa Allah, wa anna Muhammadan rasulu Allah.”
“I testify that there is no true god [deity] but God [Allah], and Muhammad is the Messenger and servant of God.”
Allah is the All Hearing and He will know that they have accepted Islam. If anyone has converted and would like a certificate to show they are Muslim, they can repeat their shahada to an imam.
Terminal illness
The diagnosis of a terminal illness brings the reality of our inevitable departure from this temporary life into sharper focus.
Though terminal illness means that someone has an illness which may eventually cause them to pass away of that cause, however, no one actually knows the time frame and the exact circumstances in which they will leave this life. The reality is that everyone will pass away. As Allah stated in the Quran:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ
Every one shall taste death. (3:185)
When is the shahada too late?
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِ مَا لَمْ يُغَرْغِرْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْن مَاجَه.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Allah accepts the repentance of His slave so long as the death rattle has not yet reached his throat. (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
The only time when the shahada is not accepted is once the angel of death has arrived to take away one’s soul and they are in the throes of death. This is what happened with Firaun (Pharoah) who tried to declare his belief in Allah once he started to drown and realised that his end had come, however his shahada was not accepted.
Before one is gasping their last breaths, Allah, who is merciful, will accept the repentance of all sincere souls. There is no time better than the present to take the shahada.
Ask Allah for well-being
Anyone who is sick should ask Allah to grant them good health and cure. It is also beneficial to ask for a good death. Everyone who believes and has a good opinion of Allah will never be disappointed.
Forgiveness of sins
The best news for those who embrace Islam is that their sins are wiped out.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِن يَنتَهُواْ يُغۡفَرۡ لَهُم مَّا قَدۡ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُواْ فَقَدۡ مَضَتۡ سُنَّتُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning) [Al-Anfal 8:38]
During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted confirmation that his sins would be forgiven if he became Muslim.
`Amr ibn Al-`As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When Allah put Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “Give me your right hand so that I may swear allegiance to you.” He held out his hand and I withdrew my hand. He said, “What is the matter, O `Amr?” I said, “I want to stipulate a condition.” He said, “What do you want to stipulate?” I said, “That I will be forgiven.” He said, “Do you not know that Islam destroys that which came before it?” “Islam destroys that which came before it” means that it erases it and wipes it out. (Stated by An-Nawawi in Sharh Muslim)
Saying the shahda when you are dying
Muslims who are ill and dying should keep repeating the shahada, as it deletes sins. It is a purification.
The Prophet (peace be on him) said:
La ilaha illallah will not leave a trace of any of your sins. Nothing can compete with it. (Musnad Imam Ahmed)
Saying ‘There is no God but Allah’ is the key to Paradise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Everything has its key, and the key to Paradise is the witnessing that there is no god but Allah. (Tabarani)
Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the key for the gate of Paradise is the testimony of ‘La ilaha illa allah’ (There is not God but Allah).
No one but who says it with sincerity is admitted to Paradise. (Muslim)
It is a very good sign if you end your life with the shahadah on your lips. If you die in sujud or reciting Quran that is good, because you will be resurrected in that position.
Those around the the dying person should keep repeating ‘La ilaha illallah‘ (There is none worthy of worship but Allah) to help them as the first question we are asked in the grave is ‘Who is your Lord’.
We ask Allah to grant us mercy in our life and at our death. Ameen
- Reflections on sa’ee: A mother’s energy, trust in Allah and the legacy of Hajar
- Be with Allah. Victory is destined.
- Major Principles of Islam: Wafa (loyalty and fullfilling commitments)
- Is it too late to take the shahada if you are terminally ill?
- What made the Prophet (peace be upon him) cry?
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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