Fatwa ID: 04538

Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Adnan

Question

I am having fear of death. I feel chest pain and other symptoms of a heart attack but got checked up the heart is normal. I feel physical pain. And that leads to death anxiety. Any solutions. I pray five times daily. I read the Quran almost daily. I have faith in death but it's disturbing my daily routine and my work. I don't feel any interest in anything and I am like thinking all the way how I am going to die what is going to happen next I don't have enough good deeds to go to heaven I am afraid of azab. Please help me.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

Being in-between fear and hope in regards to your hereafter is important. Having too much hope is detrimental as it is ultimately the choice of Allah Ta’ala whether he chooses to forgive or not and then that leads to a lack of effort in adhering to the commands of Islam and refraining from the prohibitions. Similarly, having too much fear and lack of hope is detrimental because it leads to a depressed state. The best way to overcome one of the extremes is to read literature about the other. You may read some anecdotes from Fazaailul Amaal about Allah Ta’ala’s mercy, inshaaAllah that may help. Also, read the duaa below for anxiety.

The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam entered the mosque one day and saw an Ansari (a resident of Madinah) man there by the name of Abu Umamah. The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam asked him,

‘O Abu Umamah, why are you sitting in the mosque at a time that is not a prayer time?’ He replied: ‘I was forced to do so by sorrow and debt.’ The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam then asked: ‘Shall I teach you a supplication by which Allah will remove your sorrow and pay for you your debts?’ He answered: ‘O yes, Messenger of Allah!’ The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam then said: ‘Say every morning and evening:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ ، وَ أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ , وَ أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَ الْبُخْلِ , وَ أعُوذُ بِكَ مِن غَلَبَة الدَّيْن و قَهْر الْرِّجَالِ

(Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge with You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.)

Abu Umamah said: ‘I did that and Allah removed my distress and paid for me my debt.’ (Abu Dawud)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Muhammad Adnan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham