of what is lawful and the paths approved by the Law. He scrutinizes the permissibility of his income and the soundness of his contracts, steering clear of doubtful matters. Most of the time his provision only meets his basic needs; he dies without ever tasting an easy, comfortable life or the softness of luxurious food. He passes away, the sweat pouring from his brow because of life’s relentless toil, as the Exalted says: “We have certainly created man in hardship” (Q 90:4).

2. The second meaning is that the believer endures such severity in the throes and pangs of death that Allah thereby wipes out whatever sins remain upon him. For that reason the Prophet ﷺ said, “The righteous servant indeed struggles with death and its agonies.” Ibn Abī al-Dunyā also transmitted with his chain from ʿĀʾishah that she said, “I was present at my father’s death and he fell into a swoon,” and the Prophet ﷺ, during his own final illness, declared, “Indeed, death has agonies” (al-Bukhārī 4184).

Therefore the believer dies with sweat dripping from his forehead because of the severity of the death-throes, so that Allah may purge his sins at the last stage of this world and the first station of the Hereafter, allowing him to leave this life pure and flawless.