Islamic Practice Guides the Dying with Declaration of Faith

In Islam, it is a recommended practice to guide a Muslim facing death (sakaratul maut) to recite the kalimat tauhid, the declaration of faith: 'Laa ilaaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah). This act, known as talqin, is intended to assist the person in concluding their life with the most virtuous words, thereby seeking a favorable end, or 'husnul khatimah'.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged Muslims to help those at the point of death utter this phrase. Numerous hadiths indicate that whoever's final utterance is the kalimat tauhid is promised entry into paradise by Allah. The book 'At-Targhib wat Tarhib' quotes the Prophet as saying, "Equip those who are dying among you with the words 'Laa ilaaha illallah,' for whoever's last words are 'Laa ilaaha illallah,' will enter paradise."

Islamic scholars explain that the practice of talqin is sunnah, or recommended, based on several hadiths. Imam Al-Qurthubi, in his book 'At-Tadzkirah,' discusses talqin for the dying, citing a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim from Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri. The hadith states, "Talqinkanlah orang-orang yang akan meninggal di antara kalian dengan kalimat Laa Ilaaha Illallah" (Guide those who are dying among you to say 'Laa ilaaha illallah').