“And He is able, whenever He wills, to gather them together.” [al-Shura 42:29] That is, whenever He wills to gather them, He is fully able to do so.

Likewise, in the account of the last man whom Allah admitted into Paradise, Allah said to him: “Indeed, I am able to do whatever I will.” (1) This is because it relates to a particular act.

“O Allah, whomever among us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam and the Sunnah; and whomever among us You cause to die, cause him to die upon them both. O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, ...”

His statement, “O Allah, whomever among us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam and the Sunnah; and whomever among us You cause to die, cause him to die upon them both”: this wording has not been reported. What has been reported is: “O Allah, whomever among us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam; and whomever among us You cause to die, cause him to die upon faith.” (2)

Thus, what is reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is more deserving of being followed: whomever Allah keeps alive, may He keep him alive upon Islam and complete submission; and whomever He causes to die, may He cause him to die upon faith.

The wisdom behind this is that, at the time of death, a person may be unable to manifest outward submission, for he is exhausted and at the end of his strength. Thus, supplicating that he die upon faith in this state is more fitting, since faith is certainty, and a person’s dying upon certainty is more complete.

Islam, on the other hand, is outward submission through deeds. It may be found in a true believer, one weak in faith, and even a hypocrite.

A point: The supplication reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is more deserving of being adhered to than a supplication that has not been reported, although there is latitude in the matter.

His statement, “O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him”: this is the specific supplication, and he began