An Imam told me that when someone is about to pass away from the world, he should say the entire Shahadah, (La ilaha illallah Muhammadur rasulullah),
not just La ilaha illallah.
I am confused because most Hadiths I read says a person’s last words should be: La ilaha illallah.
So please tell me: When a person is about to depart from this world, should his last words should be La ilaha illallah or La ilaha illallah Muhammadur rasulullah?
Answer
Although many narrations merely mention: la ilaha illallah, this should be understood as a reference to the entire Shahadah; la ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.
This is a common occurrence in the Hadiths.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) mentions; ‘The meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ in this and other Hadiths, is actually the entire Shahadatayn (i.e, including Muhammadur Rasulullah).’
Another famous commentator of Sahih Bukhari; Ibnul Munayyir (rahimahullah) states: ‘The statement la ilaha illallah [that appears in the Hadiths] is actually an abbreviation of the entire Shahadatayn (i.e, including Muhammadur Rasulullah).’
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1237. Also see: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 8965)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar