Is the Saying of the Kalima upon One’s Death a Guarantee of Paradise?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
When a person dies, whose last word is La ilaha illa’ l-Allah, will they go straight to heaven no matter what? Does it depend on the person who says it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
A person who utters the Kalima doesn’t need to have gained guaranteed Paradise; nevertheless, it is a good sign of his final moment leaving this world.
Many hadiths mention and give glad tidings of a state of good ending (Husn al khatima).
Below are a few mentioned:
Saying the Kalima Tayyiba
Muadh ibn Jabal (Allah be pleased with him) said, “whoever’s last words are ‘La ilaha illa’ l-Allah, will enter Paradise.” [Abu Dawud]
Martyred in Battlefield
The following verse:
“Never think of those martyred in the cause of Allah as dead. In fact, they are alive with their Lord, well provided for— 170. rejoicing in Allah’s bounties and being delighted for those yet to join them. There will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.” [Quran, 169-170]
It shows a person who has been martyred leaves this world with faith.
While in Ihram
Ibn Abbas reported: A man performing the pilgrimage was thrown from his camel and died while we were with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Prophet said, “Wash him with water mixed with the leaves of a lote tree and shroud him in his two garments. Do not cover his head, for Allah will raise him on the Day of Resurrection performing the call of the pilgrimage (al-talbiya).” [Bukhari, Muslim]
Final Actions are Good Deeds
Huzaifa reports from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever says La ilaha illa’ l-Allah, seeking the Countenance of Allah thereby, and that is the last of his deeds, will enter Paradise. Whoever gives charity, which is the last of his deeds, will enter Paradise.” [Ahmad]
Women Dies During Childbirth
If a woman dies as a result of childbirth or when she is pregnant. According to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “A woman who dies with a child is a martyr.” [Abu Dawud]
Dying of the Plague
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reports the Prophet (Allah bless him and give peace) said: “The plague is martyrdom for every Muslim.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
Dying on the Night or Day of Friday
Abdullah ibn Amr reports from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “there is no Muslim who dies on Friday or the night of Friday, but Allah will protect him from the trial (fitnah) of the grave.” [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]
We ask Allah (Most High) to seal our ends with good works and sound faith -Amin!
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
