“O Allah, help me with the throes of death,”—or, in another wording, “with the agonies of death.” That is, assist me in them so that I may endure, remain patient, stay composed, and keep my mind from wavering, and so that my final words may be the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. For the moment is momentous, a time of terror and severity; if Allah does not aid you and grant you patience, you stand in grave danger. For this reason he also said, “O Allah, help me with the overwhelming pangs of death,” and in yet another narration, “There is no god but Allah; truly death has its agonies.” The Prophet ﷺ spoke the truth when he recited: “And the agony of death will come in truth; that is what you tried to evade” (Q 50:19).

We ask Allah to help us and you with the overwhelming pangs of death, to grant us all a blessed conclusion, to take our souls while we are upon faith and monotheism, and to receive us while He is pleased with us. Indeed, He is capable of all things.