Is it Permitted to Pray to Die as a Muslim?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: As salamu alaikum,
Is it allowed to pray to always remain Muslim or to pray that one dies a Muslim? Could one say: “I know I will die a Muslim” or do we believe that only God knows what state we will die in?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Yes, praying to die as a Muslim is ​permitted​. We don’t know how we’ll end up​,​ and this is one of the wisdoms in praying for a good ending (husn al-khatima).
Allah Most High said, “You who believe, be mindful of God, as is His due, and make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment.” [3.102]
Ibrahim (Allah bless him and give him peace) supplicated for firm-footedness and an increase in Islam when he said, “”Our Lord, make us devoted to You; make our descendants into a community devoted to You. Show us how to worship and accept our repentance, for You are the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful.” [2.128]
And Yusuf (Allah bless him and give him peace) ​humbly ​supplicated, “My Lord! You have given me authority; You have taught me something about the interpretation of dreams; Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Let me die in true devotion to You. Join me with the righteous.” [12.101]
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.