Islam. “So do not die except as Muslims.” That is, as believers; it is also said: as those sincere in devotion; and it is also said: as those who entrust their affairs to Allah. Although, in its apparent wording, the prohibition concerns dying, they are in fact prohibited from abandoning Islam. Its meaning is: Remain steadfast in Islam, so that death does not come upon you except while you are Muslims. Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Except while you are Muslims” means: having a good opinion of your Lord.

Abd al-Wahid ibn Ahmad al-Mulayhi informed us; Abu Muhammad Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Shurayh informed us; Abu al-Qasim Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Baghawi informed us; Ali ibn al-Ja'd informed us; Abu Ja'far al-Razi informed us, from al-A'mash, from Abu Sufyan, from Jabir ibn Abdullah, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say three days before his death: “Let none of you die except while thinking well of Allah, Exalted is He.” (1)

“Or were you witnesses when death came to Jacob, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We shall worship your God and the God of your fathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—one God; and to Him we submit.’ (133) That was a community which has passed away. It will have what it earned, and you will have what you earned; and you will not be questioned about what they used to do.” (134)

“Or were you witnesses?” That is, were you witnesses? It means: You were not present when death came to Jacob—that is, when Jacob drew near to death. It is said that this was revealed concerning the Jews, when they said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Do you not know that, when Jacob died, he enjoined Judaism upon his sons?” According to this view, the address is directed to the Jews.

Al-Kalbi said: When Jacob entered Egypt, he found them worshipping idols and fires. So he gathered his children, fearing that they might do the same. Then Allah, Exalted is He, said: “When he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’” Ata said: Allah Most High did not cause any prophet to die until He gave him the choice between life and death. When Jacob was given this choice, he said: “Grant me respite, so that I may ask my children and enjoin them.” Allah granted him this, so he gathered his children and grandchildren and said to them: “My appointed term has come; what will you worship after me?” They said: “We shall worship your God and the God of your fathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac.” Ishmael was their paternal uncle, and the Arabs call a paternal uncle “father,” just as they call a maternal aunt “mother.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A man’s paternal uncle is like his father.” (2)

Concerning his uncle, ⦗19/b⦘ al-Abbas, he said: “Bring my father back to me, for I fear that Quraysh may do to him what Thaqif did to Urwah ibn