384. Accepting faith in One God in the final hours of one’s life.
Verses (4:18, 6:158, 10:91, 10:98) of the Quran talk about accepting faith in One God in the final hours of one’s life and whether the same is conceded by the Almighty. A person is at liberty to accept Islam any time, as his way of life, and this has been accepted by the Almighty.
But during the lifetime of the prophets, when the Almighty decided to decimate entire communities that did not accept Him, even a single person’s acceptance was not conceded.
Verse 10:91 of the Quran talks of Phiroun’s acceptance not being conceded by the Almighty.
During the lifetime of the prophets, the Almighty sent signs warning of the impending disasters awaiting people who rejected Him, and those who took cognizance of such signs and took faith in a single God were spared.
When the community of Prophet Yunus sensed the signs of God’s wrath was about to descend on them, they reformed themselves to accept the one and only God. The Almighty asks in the Quran whether others with the same attitude will emulate the community of Prophet Yunus.Such situation will not arise after Prophet Muhammad‘s period, as no prophet is expected to appear after him, God accepts people entering the fold of Islam any time of their life.
But the Almighty would display certain signs before the destruction of this world, and those accepting Him as the Only God are to be rejected by Him.
Verse 6:158 of the Quran says ‘Oh! Muhammad they expect the advent of the angels or your And when the signs of your Lord reach them, except those that have already reposed their faith in the great God, and performed good deeds, others would not benefit on that day. Let them dwell on their expectations, and we on ours.’
Prophet Muhammad has already explained about the signs and evidences from God’s side.
He says unless the sun rises from the west the day of destruction will not dawn, and at the time of that kind of a sun rise, those who pledge their faith in God Almighty, would not stand to benefit is conveyed in this verse. Bukhari (6506, 6535, 7121)
Similarly praying for mercy at the time of life coming to an end, and accepting Islam at that moment is not accepted by the Almighty can be found through verse 4:19.
