Question

An Imam told me that when someone is about to pass away from the world, he should say the entire Shahadah, (La ilaha illallah Muhammadur rasulullah),

not just La ilaha illallah.

I am confused because most Hadiths I read says a person’s last words should be: La ilaha illallah.

So please tell me: When a person is about to depart from this world, should his last words should be La ilaha illallah or La ilaha illallah Muhammadur rasulullah?

 

Answer

Although many narrations merely mention: la ilaha illallah, this should be understood as a reference to the entire Shahadah; la ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.

This is a common occurrence in the Hadiths.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) mentions; ‘The meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ in this and other Hadiths, is actually the entire Shahadatayn (i.e, including Muhammadur Rasulullah).’

Another famous commentator of Sahih Bukhari; Ibnul Munayyir (rahimahullah) states: ‘The statement la ilaha illallah [that appears in the Hadiths] is actually an abbreviation of the entire Shahadatayn (i.e, including Muhammadur Rasulullah).’

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1237. Also see: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 8965)

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar