"None of you should wish for death because of some harm that befalls him, rather he should say: 'Allahumma ahini ma kanatil-hayatu khairanli wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairanli (O Allah, keep me alive so alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is good for me.)"'
The Book of Funerals
Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1820
Hadith Text
"None of you should wish for death because of some harm that befalls him, rather he should say: 'Allahumma ahini ma kanatil-hayatu khairanli wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairanli (O Allah, keep me alive so alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is good for me.)'"
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith contains profound wisdom regarding the believer's relationship with life and death. The prohibition against wishing for death stems from several considerations: it demonstrates impatience with divine decree, lack of trust in Allah's wisdom, and potential disregard for opportunities to earn reward through patience.
The prescribed supplication teaches complete submission to divine wisdom. "Keep me alive so long as life is good for me" encompasses both worldly and religious benefits - life is "good" when it facilitates obedience, repentance, and preparation for the Hereafter. "Cause me to die when death is good for me" refers to dying in a state of faith and divine pleasure.
Scholars explain that this teaching applies particularly during times of trial. Rather than seeking escape through death, the believer should recognize that every moment of life contains potential for spiritual advancement. The supposition that death ends suffering is incorrect - the true believer understands that the afterlife holds greater realities.
This hadith establishes the proper Islamic attitude: active acceptance of divine decree while continuously seeking Allah's mercy and guidance in all circumstances.