by Asma bint Shameem
ANSWER
No it’s not allowed to pray for one’s own death or the death of a loved one no matter what the hardship or circumstances;
rather they should be patient and seek reward with Allaah.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“No one of you should wish for death because of some harm that has befallen him.
If he must wish for it, then let him say: ‘O Allaah, keep me alive so long as living is good for me, and cause me to die when death is good for me.”
(al-Bukhaari 6351)
🍃Ibn ‘Umar radhi Allaahu anhu heard a man wishing for death, and he said:
“Do not wish for death, for you will surely die; rather ask Allaah for well-being.”
🍃Ibraaheem ibn Adham said:
“Death has a cup and no one can bear it except one who fears Allaah and is obedient to Him, and expecting it.
Even ‘Umar said at the time of death:
If I possessed all that exists on earth, I would offer it as a ransom to be spared the terror of the moment of death.”
🔺A long life is a great opportunity for the believer to earn good deeds.
The longer the life, the more the good deeds he can collect.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best of people is the one who lives long and does good.”
(Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi, 110; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)
🍃And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“No one of you should wish for death or pray for it before it comes, for when one of you dies, his good deeds come to an end and for the believer a long life will not increase him in anything but good.”
(Muslim 2682)
🍃Shaykh al-Fawzan explains the above hadeeth:
“Let none of you wish”
this is a prohibition, a prohibition emphasized from the Prophet ﷺ.
Thus wishing is to seek, meaning let none of you seek death (due to harm) meaning due to harm that befalls him; a harm in his body such as sickness and the like, or a harm in his wealth, or in his family.
Thus whoever is afflicted with harm in his wealth, or his family, or his person, it is upon him to be patient and seek the reward.
And it is not permissible for him to wish for death because his life is better for him.
If he has righteous actions then he can increase (do more good deeds). And if he does not have righteous actions then it is hoped that he will repent, it is hoped that he will repent.
Thus his life is better for him.
This is as it relates to the believer…..
if he is a sinner or an evil doer, his life is better for him because it is hoped that he will repent thus meeting Allaah the Exalted while he has repented.
This is because his belief in Allaah will drive him to repentance.
Thus this hadeeth contains a prohibition from wishing for death, so it is hated, or it is haram, if it is due to harm that has befallen the person.
Firstly: This is because this negates patience, wishing for death negates patience.
And the Muslim is requested to be patient upon that which he is tested with.
Secondly: It prevents his life which is better for him.
If he performs righteous actions then he can increase and do more and if he does evil then it is hoped that he will repent.
And because he does not know what is after death.
It is possible that what is after death—and with Allaah refuge is taken—will be more severe than the harm he is experiencing.
Thus he does not know what he will encounter.
This is as it relates to the person wishing for death due “worldly affairs”.
As for the person who wishes for death due to the “religion”, he wishes for death in an effort to safeguard his religion;
if it is during the times of trials and tribulations and he fears for his religion then there is no harm in wishing for death.”
🍃Imaam Al-Nawawi said:
“This hadeeth clearly indicates that it is makrooh to wish for death because of some harm that has befallen one, such as loss or distress caused by an enemy, or other such hardships of this world.
But if a person fears harm or fitnah with regard to his religious commitment, it is not makrooh to wish for death, according to this hadeeth, and several of the salaf did that.”
So unless a person fears for his religion, or wants to die for the sake of Allaah as a shaheed in the battlefield or other valid reasons, it’s not allowed to ask for death.
Rather he should be patient and seek his rewards with Allaah.
And Allaah knows best
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